The Pocket, N1

A splendid Alehouse and sister pub to The Southampton Arms In Gospel Oak, as mentioned the similarities internally are quite noticeable, the dark wood contrasts with the white butchers style tiling behind the bar. the room is long and narrow but pushes on beyond the main bar area into an open but slightly separate area. There are eight handpumps for beer on the bar counter and reminiscent of the aforementioned Southampton Arms, six mounted at the back of the bar for Cider and Perry. Ten taps for craft beer on the counter and five in the back wall serving various wines. On my second visit to this pub yesterday there was also a wooden cask barrel mounted on the bar serving a barrel aged Imperial Stout from Howling Hops priced at £5 something a half, normal cask prices are a decent £4.97 for beers up to 4.6% , stronger beers rise quite steeply at a further £1.08 per 1% rise. Both my visits have been lunchtime/early afternoon without encountering any problems such as loud chatter or folded bikes, just the one dog, a Jack Russel that wasn't in anyone's way. This pub is top and I intend many more visits.