Southampton Arms, NW5

The quality and variety of the ales and ciders is unsurpassed, and the beer price is still pegged at (just) below £3, but in the evenings this pub is always incredibly noisy and crowded. There is nearly always a scrum around the bar, not because the service is slow, but because once the seats have been taken there is almost nowhere else to stand or lean where you can put down your glass. The back yard is a comparative haven of peace, but then there's the cigarette smoke... There's an eclectic record collection which is played on a pretty basic turntable, but it's almost impossible to ever hear any music because of the multitude of shouted conversations. I can heartily recommend a visit to this pub in the afternoon.