Tapping the Admiral, NW1

After being closed for a number of years this backstreet pub was re-opened relatively recently under its new moniker by the people who run the lovely Pineapple in Kentish Town. It doesn’t actually sit that far from the mainline rail station and is a 10 minute stroll from Camden Town and Chalk Farm Tubes (which made for a handy stop before Deacon Blue at the nearby Roundhouse), though being off the main drag you have to know where you’re headed and if you go a certain way you skirt round the edge of a 60’s estate that looks a little iffy in the dark. The interior has been fairly well done with a number of fairly eccentric knick-knacks on the walls (and ceiling – fans and chandeliers) that stay on the right side of interesting rather than twee…and I’m always a sucker for retro metal advertising boards especially when they’re from old and defunct breweries. The ambience of the place was nice, even if it was a little quiet for a weekday evening. The staff were friendly and very helpful on my visit though they forgot to mention the 20p CAMRA discount; mind you at £3.30 a pint I hadn’t really seen much of a scope for having one anyway in Camden. Four of the seven pumps were in operation and I had a nice pint of Redemption Fellowship, with W&E, Dark Star and Adnams also on. I followed that with a home-brewed winter warmer ‘grog’ which was nice if a touch expensive at £4 though it did come, oddly, with some sort of Zorro mask on the glass fashioned out of a napkin by the barmaid; whether this was standard or just her little touch I don’t know but it was fun nonetheless. There were also some ‘proper’ ciders and a more interesting keg selection than the usual. Food was offered, solid Brit-centric pub grub at a reasonable rate for the area. I was rather taken with this one and will try and make it the default destination when in the area, it’s certainly good for a calm pre-gig beer or five (especially seeing as the Roundhouse has a pretty poor bar). I shall be back…

The detailed descriptions below are accurate. Service is not only friendly but also very good, and although I was kept waiting, having arrived at the same time as a few other people, the person serving was quick to call for reinforcements and my presence was acknowledged, which is more than anyone had managed at the previous two pubs this evening. My beer choice was limited by the fact that I had to get back on my bike, otherwise I'd have been tempted to sample more than the Oldershaw Newton's Drop. I called again the next night, when two of the seven ales had changed, and on this occasion had the Dark Star Hophead. Both beers were in excellent condition. Having neglected to inform myself of the Camra members discount, I was happy paying £3.30 after the horrors of the ridiculously inflated prices that prevail down the road in Camden Town. I'll certainly be coming here again, if only for the opportunity to flash my Camra card.

A pub called the Castle originally stood here but was replaced by the current building in the 1850’s, known then as the Trafalgar in honour of Lord Nelson who often visited family in the area. The pub now stands tucked away in the back street estates just off the main Camden drag and isn’t obvious unless you are specifically looking for it. The pub has recently been renovated, renamed and reopened by the same people behind the Pineapple in nearby Kentish Town and has a Real Ale agenda at its core which, for the area, is a bold move. Externally it stands out as a survivor amid the neighbouring building and one side appears to have been a later addition making if a slight odd shape once inside. The drinking areas wrap themselves either side of a central bar and at the rear is small and cramped, covered patio area. The décor is quite plain with a mix of old and modern pictures, bare floors, half frosted windows, old road signs and candle decked tables. Despite its recent makeover it hasn’t gone so far down the line that it has lost all of its character. Generally there are 8 ales on the go with Adnams appearing to be a constant plus 7 rotational guest beers from micro breweries including many local ales. From my last visit I noted 2 from Redemption (Urban Dusk & Hopspur), 2 from Trumans (Runner & Swallow & Swift), Dark Star Hophead, Windsor & Eton Conqueror and one pump empty. Prices are reasonable for the area to start with (around £3.30 a pint) but there is a discount for CAMRA members (the website says 20p but they seemed to knock off 30p every time I waved my card at them). Foodwise they appear to have ditched the previous Thai food in favour of a more classic British menu with prices around £8-£10 for main courses. Service is friendly and the atmosphere seems civilized enough although it hasn’t been very busy on my brace of visits so far suggesting that word hasn’t really filtered out too far. Since Camden is hardly a hotbed for ale fans, if you find yourself in the area and at a loss, you’ll find this quite an oasis.

This pub has endured several incarnations, having started life as The Trafalgar Tavern and having previously been known as Tavern Inn The Town. It’s been thoroughly modernised and opened up now. There’s all kinds of incomprehensible decor on the walls, but including some antlers (ibis perhaps?), a massive poster for Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and ancient metal advertising posters for Fremlin’s and Truman’s ales. There were candles on the tables, as well less usually seen (in pubs anyway) ceiling fans and small chandeliers. Furnishings were mainly solid well scrubbed tables, and normal chairs as I recall. There was apparently also a garden at the back but we didn’t venture out there. I reckon that real ale must be king here, There were eight handpumps on the bar counter, with seven in operation when we were in on Thursday evening, and with none of the usual suspects present. We were offered tasters of an ale with which we were unfamiliar, and were given a choice of straight glasses or mugs. The CAMRA discount is still in operation as well. They specialise in Thai food, with the standard stir fries at £7.45 a pop. Notwithstanding the modern makeover to which this pub has been subjected, the ale choice makes it a pub worth going out of your way to find. Also, the modern touches didn’t detract from the pub ambience of this place – it was comfortable and not too noisy. I would definitely come back to this pub.