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Submitted on Monday, 16^th August 2021
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Big Red, Chalk Farm, NW1

40-42 Chalk Farm Road
NW1
NW1 8BG

Phone: 02074822054

Correct details

Served areas

Chalk Farm

Reviews of Big Red (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

David Walton left this review about Big Red

Visited 24/03/25 when it was still called Imperial Palace of the Big Red and visited previously as the Monarchy on 03/11/22.

No cask. Keg offering of Lervig House Party, Jubel Peach, the Hazy IPA from the 3 Locks Brewing Company, Verdant Light Bulb, their own house lager called Bad Girls Hotel, the Kona Big Wave golden ale, a rarely seen Benediktiner Weissbier, Bitburger, Rothaus Pils, Whiplash SlowLife Irish Stout, a cider called Pulpt from Level and a peanut butter flavoured stout called Crunch from Hammerton.

The bar counter is in the corner opposite the entrance in the front part of the venue and has a patterned tiled skirt in an otherwise bare boarded venue. Seating in this front bar area is via stools at the bar, some tall tables with similar stools in the central floor space and then some booths around the periphery. Beyond the front bar there are some further regular seating options before you go back up a couple of steps to an area with some pool tables and some pinball machines. The lighting in here is great, the music fantastic and the walls adorned with a lot of cool music paraphernalia. The toilets are up the flight of stairs just inside the entrance, not noting for that rather there is some fabric banquette seating on that level with some table footy games. This venue won't appeal to all on here, but it is a really cracking venue of its type with decent (keg) beer options. I really like it.

On 21^st May 2026 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1770 recommendations about 1743 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Komakino . left this review about The Monarch

Low-ceilinged and three-levelled - you can go up to a mezzanine area as you walk in from the entrance, and there's a larger sunken area beyond the bar, the latter of which is located against the right-hand wall. No real ale, despite four unclipped handpumps: a can of Beavertown's Gamma Ray was £5. A loud, but good, live band (Flatlands) were playing during my visit - the stage jutting out from the front window, so an evening visit means you might not escape the music.

On 6^th April 2018 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1100 recommendations about 1100 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Monarch

Odd-looking pub, mostly housed in the single-storey front section, but with a higher part of the building beyond. Mainly a live music venue, with a compact stage by the front windows. Also has a rear seating area down a couple of steps and a small mezzanine above. Retains indications of its former life as the Misty Moon, one of the early Wetherspoons. Limited patio area out front. Two of four handpumps in operation during this visit, offering Doom Bar and Late Red (£3.90). Overall, one of the better Chalk Farm Road bars.

On 22^nd October 2014 - rating: 6
[User has posted 9165 recommendations about 9165 pubs]

View more reviews of Big Red (5)

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