The Albert, NW1

I really liked this pub and it would be my pub of choice in the area if the only ale available wasn't Greene King IPA and Abbot. Standard and premium lagers are also available from the very nice bar staff. There is a conservatory at the rear that overlooks the garden and there are also three picnic tables on the path outside the front of the pub. I liked the crowd in here and it certainly wasn't as stuffy or stuck up as some other nearby pubs.

This pub turned out to be better than I expected. The only ales on were GKIPA and Abbot unfortunately, but I nevertheless quite enjoyed my visit. Like other pubs in the immediate vicinity, it has intentionally moved upmarket. It’s bare-boarded, with the usual solid wood tables, but comfortable nonetheless. There was some laid back blues being played during my late lunchtime/early afternoon visit, making a very welcome change from the usual banal pop music. The service was friendly enough. It still retains some of the vestiges of its Victorian, or perhaps Edwardian, heritage. There was what looked like some old etched glasswork in a panel by the door; a cast iron (?) pillar in front of the bar; some original looking roses round the chandeliers plus decorated cornices. The leaded light windows look the real deal as a well. I would say that the food doesn’t appear cheap, but as I didn’t eat there I can’t comment on the quality and therefore can’t say if it is good value or not. I quite like the pub, but would welcome a better choice of ales. But you either like GK ales or you don’t. For me, in this case it’s the lack of decent ale choice that puts this pub in the “OK” category, rather than the “good” category.