The Juniper, Kilburn, NW6

What’s the expression about kicking a man when he is down? Another dud on Kilburn High Rd. It is indeed a large venue that must surely have been a grand place in times gone by to go to and have a few pints in. As with the prior venue of the Earl of Derby, there is a pool table but not even that can draw some punters in. Beer wise, another rogues gallery of no cask, most exciting keg offering was GK IPA - need I say any more. so another Guinness for me, what else could I have expected quaffing in Kilburn. The Black Lion is truly an oasis is this barren dessert of drinking establishments around here. This place had some liveliness about it in the sense there was a large group in the front window ecstatic that they were heading back to Watford after their night out. Maybe they were ecstatic after leaving this place, but they must have left with a tinge of sadness they had picked such a depressing venue for their night out.

I dropped in here enticed by the splendid exterior architecture and the rather nice tiled panel in the entranceway featuring the eponymous cockerel. But there’s not much of interest inside, apart from some attractive distillery mirrors. Nonetheless it’s a comfortable enough pub, with plenty of normal tables and chairs, as well as a pool table at the back. This is another “Irish” pub, with Irish stuff like flags around the place, and with the TV tuned to the horse racing of course. When I was in there was a small group of men and women standing around the bar having a very jolly time indeed; it seems that sort of place. There were three handpumps on the bar – two apparently unused, and the third with a GK IPA clip reversed. The John Smith’s is only £1.50 a half – cheap, although not really worth drinking. There was no sign of any food on a Wednesday afternoon. This is probably a good pub if you’re into horse racing and aren’t fussed about drinking real ale.

The Cock Tavern is a large grand looking pub from the outside. Once inside there is a large single room which is quite wide to the front,there are normal tabels and chairs to the front,the bar was on the right side,bench seating ran down the left side which faced the bar,the rear area opened out,there was a pool table in this area,the floor was bare boarded. There were no real ales on the bar,the keg option was John Smiths smooth crap which it was. I quite liked this pub,just a shame about the lack of one real ale. Pub visited 1/5/2014