The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, NW5

The distinctive blue facade has gone, replaced by something that may be in better taste but is somewhat lacking in the individuality stakes. Inside everything is much as before, but the beer quality has taken a dive. Only one hand pump was available on my recent visit, so I didn't see an awful lot of point in complaining because there was nothing to replace the just-about-drinkable London Pride. One of the very few other customers was obviously a Madness fan. If the hat wasn't a give-away, the fact that he selected all their greatest hits on the juke box would have provided a clue; or was it the same song over and over? Who can tell.