The Hawley Arms, Camden Town, NW1

Having never set foot in place before the cleansing power of flame, I can't draw historical comparisons. I dropped in for one last beer before the Manics at the Roundhouse and was quite impressed (though admittedly expectations weren't huge). There were a couple of ales on (a Greene King trio of Abbot, IPA and Olde Trip if I recall accurately). My half of Olde Trip was pretty good, in fairness. The main drinking area appears to be one long narrow strip opposing the bar which makes for uncomfortable jostling during busy times and the bar staff were a bit naff and stupidly overdressed, but I guess old habits die hard round here. Maybe worth a swift one before the Roundhouse – if you can see the bar and there is more than one person working it.

This is a very lively pub, even for early Sunday evening. There was a bouncer on the door that seemed to be letting some people straight in and making others wait outside until someone left, which I thought was a little strange. There were people dancing on tables and everyone seemed to be having a laugh. There were a few wannabes in there that thought that they were the coolest thing since sliced bread and a few plonkers that seemed to take issue with any faces they didn't know, but all in all it was a good time had by all. I don't see this place ever becoming my local, but it is worth going for an odd night out.

When I first started going into the Hawley it was a decent and fairly quiet place where people would go for the pub itself rather than the people who hang around in it. Once it became celebrity obsessed I stopped using the place but decided to pay my first post fire visit yesterday, more out of curiosity than necessity, and to be honest very little seems to have changed as far as the renovation is concerned. Most of the damage appears to have been done to the upper floors and rear of the building whilst the main bar has been hardly affected (I note the old concert ticket stubs are still on display and I would have thought something like that would have the first thing to perish). A slightly different colour scheme to what it was but apart from that, all the old characteristiocs and furnishings are as you were. 3 Ales all from the Green King range (IPA, Abbot, Old Trip) at prices comparable to the area and unusually for a pub that gears itself towards a younger crowd, the Ales are served up in old pint mugs. Service can be slow when busy and fighting your way through the hanger ons at the bar is a bit of a pain. Naturally it is going to be busy on most evenings with Borrell / Winehouse spotters and it can be quite uncomfortable being forever jostled and barged into by people roaming around the narrow bar area but find a quiet spot during the day and the Hawley can still be a fairly pleasant place for a pint. Some sanctuary during busy periods can be found in the small triangular rear courtyard (which I'm sure wasn't there before) if you don't mind sacrificing your lungs for somewhere to sit. I do long for the day when the pub loses popularity and maybe I would use it a bit more but I think it will be a long way off.

Official site of the Hawley Arms, contains menu and wine list - www.thehawleyarms.co.uk

Official site of the Hawley Arms, contains menu and wine list - www.thehawleyarms.co.uk