The Elephants Head, Camden Town, NW1

A very busy pub due to its location, long and narrow inside it had quite a vibrant and quirky feel, for Rex's benifit from the previous review, the Wurlitzer Jukebox is still present. On the beer front it's disapointing, a general theme in Camden Town with only London Pride On, I went keg with Brixton Reliance Pale Ale. Again in this part of town, I quite liked the pub, the beer left more to be desired.

This pub is in the centre of Camden tourist central, and was thus quite busy when we visited on a Monday lunchtime. It's still as described by previous reviewers, and although I didn't spot the Wurlitzer juke box they mention, it doesn't mean that it wasn't still there somewhere. Our attention was drawn immediately to the bar counter front, which was embellished with extravagant wooden Gothic arches(!), and the antique bar back. It looks an impressive pub from the outside with its original brewery brown tiling, and hanging baskets full of colourful petunias. They still do London Pride and Elephant's Head Bitter (£4.60 for two halves). They do a pub grub menu at lunchtime, but I didn't scrutinise the menu. This is a pretty decent pub, although a bit too touristy for my taste, with loud pop music being played. Fair enough for a swift one though, and the Elephant's Head house beer (Caledonian 80/- apparently) was in good condition.

Official site of The Elephants Head - www.elephantsheadcamden.com

Official site of The Elephants Head - www.elephantsheadcamden.com

This is a Georgian pub, dating from 1832 when it was built as the brewery tap for the Elephant's Head brewery across the road, which still displays its old livery. The once illuminated Courage sign to the side of the pub hints at past ownership and although it's around 25 years since I was last in here its a definite improvement on its old self and seems to have been improved relative to some of the earlier reviews, below. There's an attractive tiled floor and Wurlitzer-style jukebox to the rear where once a pool table held court. Furniture is traditional with peripheral wooden settles. Overall it's quite pubby, though the music is a little loud. Clients are mainly locals and tourists - the Camden Weird Brigade are conspicuous by their absence. Ales: Fuller's London Pride and Elephant's Head at £2.20 a half and fine. I'd return if in the area but wouldn't go out of my way to actually be in this area.

This prominent pub on Camden High Street must attract a fair amount of passing tourist trade thanks to its striking tiled exterior, which means that like other pubs in the vicinity, it probably doesn't feel it needs to do much to keep people coming back. The pub has a simple, single room location befitting its street corner location, with a narrow rectangular, tile floored room extending some way to the rear beyond the servery which runs down the right hand wall. There is a slightly raised seating area to the front offering limited tables and low stools, before a more cramped space opposite the bar provides high stools along drinking ledges. The walls are half panelled throughout and the servery has a nice dark wood counter and bar back, which gives the pub a more traditional feel than the likes of the Oxford Arms over the road. Much of the seating is under large windows, providing the opportunity for some top people watching. Further to the rear there are high tables and stools and a couple of pews on the right hand side beyond the end of the bar. Décor includes lots of blackboards listing events and promotions, a few elephant themed pictures, a fair bit of Guinness memorabilia and all sorts of posters for local gigs. A large TV screen to the rear right was turned off and there are some nice mirrors back here including a cut glass mirror with a martini glass motif. A Wurlitzer juke box takes pride of place to the rear under a large clock and a reggae soundtrack played throughout most of my visit. Two ales were available on this visit - Fullers London Pride and Elephant's Head Ale, which is apparently rebadged Caledonian 80/-. I gave the latter a try at £4.00 a pint, and thought it was probably a bit past its best, but still drinkable. The staff seemed friendly enough, which isn't always a given in the touristy pubs of Camden, and despite being only half full, there was a good vibe on my midweek visit. This pub certainly has its limitations and probably suits the needs of a small band of locals and an endless supply of passing tourists much better than it does the discerning drinker in search of a good pint and comfortable surroundings. There are certainly much worse pubs in the neighbourhood and whilst I won't be making regular visits, I wouldn't entirely rule out a return at some point.