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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Lock Tavern, Chalk Farm, NW1
NW1
NW1 8AJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Lock Tavern
Visited previously on 16/06/21 in previous ownership.
Thought I would pay a return visit here also given the recent’ish acquisition by McMullen. Also have always regarded this one as one of the most pleasant Camden old school venues to sit in and have a pint of whatever (more of that below). It is bare boards, old style bar with what looks like a brass (?) topped bar counter. Seating is via high tables dotted round the perimeter of the bar, with windows at the front and side opposite the bar giving a look onto the manic traffic outside. There is a beer garden out the back and a roof terrace again but I was happy most are out in these on a pleasant evening leaving the inside of the pub very civilised.
Back to those beer options. I assumed McMullen would have their own cask beers installed here but no sight of any pumps. Instead it is 100% keg offering. I have to admit I did rather enjoy my pint of Erdinger Weissbier here. Other options were lagers (Camden Hells, Estrella, San Miguel and something called Loose Headz from People’s Captain - a new one for me), Jubel Peach, Small Beer Hazy, Guinness, Aspall cider, Stone Wood Pacific Ale and Camden Pale.
Have to admit it was a real disappointment in terms of the beer offering here. OK some decent keg options but I had expected a bit more than that. It is a really nice Central London pub but won’t bother with a return visit until cask is confirmed here. Did ask the chap behind the bar what was the expectation and his off the cuff response was at least 18 months until the new owners do a refurb. Quiz starting as I left to move on - just as the punters started to flood the inside from the roof and garden. This place would be much better than average with a decent cask beer range.
On 23rd July 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Lock Tavern
Nice old style split level interior didn’t visit the beer garden or roof terrace. Keg only.
On 5th October 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Lock Tavern
I hadn't been to what was once the Railway Tavern for around 25 years and amazingly, this is one of the more sane venues in Camden, dare I say it: an actual pub, though one still with live music.
The interior has a side bar. Furniture is of the old school type with peripheral leatherette banquette seats. The floor is bare boarded and there's a lovely etched mirror panelled array to the bar back along with some wood panelling. Music is muted and unsurprisingly, paint where applied is of the grey/blue type. The upper floor has an open terrace.
Ales: three unused pumps, thereafter just Sambrook's Wandle at £2.20 a half which was a bit warm.
Ale aside, this is in effect the only real pub on Chalk Farm Road and is something approaching normality. A wider choice of ales and in better condition would result in a higher mark.
On 4th October 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Lock Tavern
Located on the main drag between Camden Town and Chalk Farm, the Lock Tavern is a modern, somewhat trendy bar with enough pub characteristics to lure me in for a recent pre-gig drink. The servery runs down the right hand side of the main room and there is a decent amount of banquette seating in the space opposite – all occupied on my weekday evening visit, although it was very dark inside, so I may have missed a vacant spot. The floor is bare boarded and in the dark it was difficult to pick out much of interest, although the bar back had some attractive etched glass mirrors which also appear at the rear of the room. A corridor at the back leads to an outdoor seating area whilst a staircase takes you up to a small second bar (no hand pumps). This room also has bare floorboards and exposed brick walls, with a mix of sofa and standard seating plus a small stage which suggests that live music may take place up there. Doors lead out to a roof terrace, but I didn’t venture out for a look. A modern indie soundtrack was playing, which was not so loud as to intrude on conversation.
There were three hand pumps in operation on the main bar when I visited, offering Adnams Southwold Bitter, Dark Star Festival and Redemption Hop Spur (£4.00). My pint of the Redemption was in decent shape, if a bit pricey, and I was served by one of the attentive team of bar staff. The keg range included a few left-field choices such as Sagres, Bitburger, Samuel Adams and offerings from the local Camden Brewery.
I didn’t really warm to this place, but that is not to say it isn’t without its merits. Although there are other better pubs nearby, this place does benefit from a more convenient location and would be worth a quick look to see what’s on the bar.
On 11th April 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Lock Tavern
Plain (and frankly uninviting) facade. Inside, usually busy but not packed at pre-gig time. Typical Camden furniture, decor and clientele; but, on the plus side, the staffing and beer choice seem to have improved over the last few years. Now has four handpumps, offering a reasonable choice of Southwold, Dark Star Festival, Redemption Urban Dusk and Sambrooks Powerhouse Porter (£3.90, and in good condition) on my last visit. If you head upstairs, you will find another bar behind the rooftop terrace which has a more comfortable atmosphere but a restricted drinks range (so I suggest you buy your pint at ground-floor level).
On 9th December 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]