The Cock Tavern, Somers Town, NW1

The Cock Tavern is a large back street boozer that serves the local residents of Somers Town. When I visited on Wednesday afternoon last week there was an electric pensioner buggy parked up outside and inside there was a wheelchair with a bag of shopping in it. The handful of regulars were all of retirement age and there was a deathly silence. I paid the barman for half a generic lager from the uninspiring draught selection and shuffled over to a table next to the stage area at the back of the pub. I imagine that this stage area is used when the advertised live music is held. The landlady was stoking the coal fire and thankfully the barman decided to open up the jukebox and put some old disco hits on. I only sat in the right hand side of the pub as that was where everyone else was, but I did look into the left hand side and spotted lots of Celtic memorabilia and a pool table. There are some plasma screens and a projector screen that are used for showing Sky Sports. I found this pub to be a bit grim and I do not plan to return, but maybe it does liven up when some entertainment is on or the football is aired.

There was no real ale on, with (in my opinion) the best bet being the Grolsch lager on tap. I didn’t see any sign of food during my Tuesday afternoon visit. This is a surprisingly large two-room pub, but only one of the rooms was in use during my early afternoon visit. Both rooms are carpeted and with furnishings that look a throwback to the 70s (nothing wrong with that I hasten to add). I popped my head in the room not in use, and noticed a mass of Celtic Football Club themed stuff on the walls, plus a Sligo scarf behind the bar. The “open” room had a log fire on the go, and a stage down at one end bearing a Christmas tree, although I didn’t spot any adverts for live music. There was more Irish themed stuff in here – a Munster team photo; more Sligo stuff; and a Republic of Ireland car license plate. Everyone in there except me spoke with an Irish accent. I’m guessing that this is a genuine Irish pub. There were a couple of cats making themselves at home – I’m sure they were at home – occupying prime positions in front of the fire. The music being played was some late 50s or very early 60s pop, which is something you don’t hear very often. This is another backstreet locals’ pub, a stone’s throw from Euston Station. This is probably a decent enough place in which to escape the Euston throngs, as long as you’re content to drink Guinness or keg fizz. But I doubt whether I’ll be paying a return visit.