The Gloucester Arms, Kentish Town, NW5

Most of the lights were off in here at 19:00 on Friday evening and the only reason I knew it was open was because a woman was standing in the doorway having a cigarette. The barmaid/landlady was nice enough, but there were only 3 other people in and they were all locals. John Smiths and standard lagers are available and I spotted a couple of plasma screens showing Sky Sports. I didn't stay long enough to have a proper look around as I found the whole experience rather depressing.

When I last came here they had just changed management so I could forgive them the mess that the pub seemed to be in. A few months later I paid another visit only to find it closed for a much needed refurbishment. I recently paid a third visit to see the results. There were certainly plenty of aesthetic improvements and it all looks a bit tidier and neater. A plasma screen had replaced the old basic telly and the manky old heaters in the fireplaces have now also gone. To the rear, the large room, more geared for functions, has seen a lick of paint and the dart board appears to have been permanently removed along with the tatty and decidedly empty trophy cabinet. There is a separate pool room accessed from the road (or via the Gents loos from inside). None of the improvement can however mask the fact that this remains a pretty basic and unappealing pub with equally unappealing customers of limited vocabulary. There is little on the beer front, just the standard keg beers. I have never seen more than half a dozen punters inside despite being situated in a largely residential area whilst every other pub in Kentish Town is usually bustling every night. I can't really say I blame people too much for staying away.