Coopers Arms, Kilburn, NW6

For an Irish pub, the Coopers has a bit a more of a subdued influence as some of its neighbours and certainly does not come across as contrived as the usual Irish Pub by numbers found elsewhere. The single carpeted room has a central bar and still retains an element of its traditional style with latticed partly coloured glass windows and panelled walls. The front of the bar has high backed seats which look freshly upholstered and from the polished and scratch free tables, I would guess that the place has been recently refurbished albeit there is still an element of scruffiness about it. 3 TVs show mainly sport (cricket and horse racing were both being shown simultaneously when I was there). The traditional Bass brewery mirror is accompanied by ubiquitous Guiness posters although the Irishness is generally underplayed on the décor front. Thick Irish accents may abound amongst the customer base and I got the impression that everyone knows everyone but I felt more at ease here as a stranger than in some of the other local pubs. Not much of a surprise that there were no Real Ales, just the standard kegs, lagers and of course, Guinness, although the presence of a redundant hand pump suggests this was not always the case. There is a dartboard round the far end of the bar and a beer garden beyond although I didn't venture this far. In short, the Coopers provides a no thrills approach but a friendly enough welcome for the unfussy drinker although it would be far from my first port of call when next in Kilburn.

Although there is nothing really remarkable about this small Irish bar I was glad to find it after a disappointing crawl of Kilburn High Road. Unsurprisingly there is no ale, but I was served a decent pint of Guinness by the polite governor. I spotted three plasma screens for showing the Sky Sports and also a dartboard which was entertaining a boisterous game. This place is fine for a couple of swift pints if passing.