The Pembroke Castle, NW1

This is a street corner pub situated next to the foot bridge that connects Chalk Farm and Primrose Hill. The interior has been opened up to create a large, open plan room with the bar running along the right hand wall. There is a lot of dark wood throughout and the place has rather bland gastro style decor which fails to set it apart from other pubs of its ilk. There is a good supply of seating, including on the cosy looking split level area to the left of the room, with ample space for vertical drinking nearer the bar, should it get very busy. A TV screen was on, showing what appeared to be a DIY programme, but it was muted and no-one appeared to be paying it the slightest bit of attention. A door on the left hand side of the room leads out to a sizable garden area which has been well stocked with seats, including a few sofas which are sheltered by a small awning. There was a choice of three beers when I visited - Adnams Explorer, Wadworth 6X and Butcombe Bitter (£3.60). I gave the Butcombe a try and thought it was in pretty good shape. The barmaid who served me was very prompt, if a little on the brusque side. A good proportion of people here seemed to be eating which suggests that the food might be okay, but I didn't get to see the menu myself. As the previous reviewer says, this pub offers a rather unmemorable drinking experience, but I found that it did a decent enough job as somewhere for a swift pint and it may well be that I would have found it more memorable had I been looking for a place to eat.

I found the crowd in here to be nice enough, although there were a few wannabees that were trying a little too hard to be cool. The staff were nice and polite and the Tribute was on top form. Bombardier was also available from the bar alongside a selection of standard and premium lagers. There is a dining room downstairs and a room that is available for hire upstairs, where the Hampstead Comedy Club now resides. I remember going to a few of their comedy nights some years ago when they used the Flask in Hampstead and I remember them being very good. There is a reasonably sized beer garden at the side of the pub next to a quiet enough road, but the trains that pass on their way to Euston are very loud. I'd drink here if I was a local.