The Grafton, Kentish Town, NW5

This is a single high-ceilinged boarded room with a central horseshoe bar. Although knocked through, the previous multi-roomed layout is still distinguishable and there is still a feel of separate areas. Part of the bar front has green tiling with the pub name in lettering, cast iron columns have gold painted fluted tops, ceiling fans whirr away. Most of the front windows are now clear glass replacements however some attractive leaded versions remain elsewhere and the entrance lobby retains some nice etched glazing. Lighting is low key, candles on the mostly regular height small scrubbed tables, a side area had a piano. It was very busy on Saturday evening with some music competing and losing against the babble of chatter which is magnified by the high ceiling and hard surfaces. I liked the atmosphere though, a mostly mature clientele enjoying a Saturday evening out in this vibrant area. This is an Enterprise pub, not Antic, and on looking at the pub website has recently picked up an award. The beer range was certainly decent, Hogs Back TEA, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Twickenham Naked Ladies, Vale Brewery VPA, Windsor and Eton Knight of the Garter and a cider, Rosie's Pig. One pump was reversed and one unclipped. A busy Saturday evening isn't always the best time to appreciate a pub but I liked it anyway and would be interested to visit again during the day to compare.

I love the look and feel of the place since it was renovated so it's my go-to local nowadays. I'm quite happy to go by myself for a drink and to read the paper, which is usually my benchmark for a good pub. Always a good atmosphere, pretty lively at the weekend but more casual during the week. The Merlot is delicious and the new bar upstairs does a great cocktail. I'm not much of a beer drinker but they do have Camden Hells which I love and I've noticed that the ales on the pumps change often. Couple of inaccuracies in the below review. I've met the owners and it's definitely an independent pub, not a chain. Also it mentions tables formally set for diners but I've never seen this (I go there often). I enquired about booking a table for a friend's birthday dinner recently but apparently they don't allow it, which I suppose is fair enough as it gets very busy in the evening, particularly on weekends. The food is very good though.

Just down the road from Kentish Town West station, this is a compact, single room pub from the reliable Antic chain. It’s a typical corner pub, with a bare boarded interior opened out from a previous multiple room layout, now wrapped around a central servery. You enter through double doors with small, decorative glass panes and a terrazzo floored porch bearing the pub’s name. Most of the room has been filled with standard and low stool seating running around all four sides of the bar. The servery has a glazed brick bar back with a bottled beer display on shelves and a collection of pump clips. The front of the bar counter is tiled and also bears the pub’s name. Large floral displays in the front windows stand out and add a bit of colour to what was a rather dark and gloomy room on my early evening visit, whilst the walls have been decorated with a few old paintings, although the pub has been spared from Antic’s usual quirky excesses. Lots of people were eating on my Thursday evening visit, and most of the slightly raised rear half of the pub had tables formally set for diners. I noticed a sign for ‘Craft Beer and Cocktails’ pointing to an upstairs bar, but I didn’t get around to venturing that far. A few picnic benches are available outside the front of the pub, although dog owners need not worry about being left outside, as there were a couple of well behaved pooches dotted around the pub. The usual decent selection of music accompanied my visit and the barman that served me was very friendly and chatty. Five hand pumps were in operation, dispensing Taylor Landlord, East London Brewery Pale Ale (£3.95), Hogs Back TEA, By the Horns Mayor of Garrett and London Fields Black Path Porter. I opted for the Pale Ale, which was in pretty good shape, but not really worth the best part of £4. This is a solid, if slightly unspectacular pub by Antic’s high standards. I thought there was a nice buzz about the place, but came away thinking that it’s probably best visited if you’re after a bit to eat. Still, it does at least provide a good ale option if you’re making your way between Camden and Kentish Town.