The Grafton, Kentish Town, NW5

Central island bar serving 2 real ales & numerous keg.

On route to a tour of the Camden Hells original brewery thought I’d take a look at the Grafton to see if, post Covid, it remains a pub with a good range of ales. If this visit was anything to go by then the answer would be no. There’s still two banks of three pumps on the bar but only one of these was badged with Fullers London Pride. There was some interesting craft options on the banks of keg taps and the pub is still as described below and a comfortable place to have a beer, especially the upstairs covered terrace if you are lucky enough to get a seat on a fine weather day as we were. I just hope we caught it on a bad day ale wise.

Big imposing corner pub.Spacious high ceilinged interior.Busy.Comfortable warm pub.Mad Goose,Landlord and Wandle on cask.

Great pub - loads of room, loads of beer choice and the landlord was wonderfully kept. Recommended. Photos at my walking blog - http://bit.ly/21Jz75P

A fine Victorian building,the open plan interior winds around a huge island bar.The high ceiling,wooden floor and loud muzak means that noise reverberates around but the lighting and use of tea lights did create a decent pub atmosphere with a few original features dotted about.There was a mixed crowd in afterwork on my Friday visit,with quite a bit of bar blocking but the 8 handpumps were offering a real cider,Hammertons N1 (in good nick),West Berkshire Good Old Boy alongside regulars TT Landlord,Purity Mad Goose and Sambrooks Wandle with two pumps unused. The tables around the interior were traditional wooden oblong or square and food is served.Looking at the dinner menu ,the median main was around £11 for what appeared standard pub grub and £4.50 for a scotch egg was taking the mick.There were small plate options but generally around £7,this may reflect the gentrification of the area. Upstairs is signed to another bar,a roof terrace and a board room but I didnt investigate that far.Monday night is Pie Night at £12 for two while there is a quiz on Tuesday . It's in the 2016 GBG and is worth a visit if in the area with the ale probably better value than the food.

First time to visit since the makeover and like other I have to say I like what they have done with the place. The beer choice has certainly improved from my last visit many moons ago and the same TT Landlord, Sambrook Wandel and Purity Mad Goose on for my visit and the one each from Hackney and ELB and the couple of halves I tried were in good nick. Well worth a visit and glad I dropped in here because I initially was going to walk straight past heading for the Camden Town Brewery

There was an impressive range of real ales on in here – Timothy Taylor Landlord; Purity Mad Goose; Sambrook Wandle; Hackney Best Bitter; and By The Horns Stiff Upper Lip. A good selection indeed. All of the pump clips bear tasting notes and ABVs - but not prices for some reason. I was given the choice of a mug or straight glass. There were single sheet menus on all the tables - sandwiches are 6.8 to 8.9 (no unnecessary £s here); The Grafton Burger is 8.5, with chips an extra 2.5. Not cheap, but par for the course in this area I suppose. This old Victorian pub is now completely opened up, but somehow has retained a vestibule in the corner with some nice etched and cut glass, as well as a complete large window at the back on the right with green banding (ex-Charrington perhaps) and some delicate stained glass panels in the upper sections. It's got a bit of the gastropub about it, with wine racks in the bar back, and no TVs or fruit machines that I could see. Furnishings are essentially normal tables and chairs, and the floor's bare boarded with what look like the original boards. There are a few benches at the front on the pavement, and in addition there's a a roof terrace (not investigated). I saw a quiz night and live entertainment both advertised which to some extent gives the lie to the gastropub. Anyway, I reckon there's nothing wrong with a pub appealing to different kinds of customers. It certainly appeals to a real ale drinker. This pub has certainly improved a lot since since its refurbishment two or three years ago, and I would be happy to visit again.