The Old Bell, Kilburn, NW6

This was a busy pub on my visit a bit after 7.30pm and I struggled to find a table to sit at. Pretty sport orientated with quite a few screens doing the build up to the CL games this evening. There was some outside seating at the back that was popular also this evening. Clearly no seating or drinking out the front as facing a pretty busy main road, literally a metre or so from the front door. There were four hand pumps, two dispensing L Pride and two dispensing Hobgoblin Gold. Can’t vouch for the former but the latter was well kept and I really enjoyed my pint. Thought this was a perfectly nice venue and was hovering over the 6 on my iPhone but I think 5 is pretty fair. I don’t know Kilburn that well but a good location for ticking of some OK if not quite destination pubs.

Visited in February 2010 and passed again last night. The pub dates from around 1600 when this was part of Watling Street and a route for travellers making the pilgrimage between St. Albans and Canterbury. It has been spruced up a bit since my visit, but is essentially a locals den for the consumption of televised sport.

Doesn’t look much from the outside but the inside has been given a relatively modern make-over at some point recently. An L-shaped interior with a knocked-through rear room. Herringbone flooring, powder blue walls and wallpaper. A set of booths off to the left though the glass has seemingly been removed from the dividers. Noted a nice dark wood bar back with large glass mirror. Clean and tidy inside. Rear garden overlooking the railway, nice. Four ales on; Pride (poor shape), Hobgoblin, Adnams Ghost Ship (pretty good) and Doom Bar at very reasonable prices for London, just over £3pp. Plenty busy before midday on a Friday, with these prices I can see why. Ate breakfast here and wouldn’t be inclined to do so again, it made JDW’s efforts look like 5 star gourmet. Still, it’s fair enough as a cheap and cheerful boozer, it could be much worse.

Official site of The Old Bell - www.oldbellkilburn.co.uk

Official site of The Old Bell - www.oldbellkilburn.co.uk