Hicce Hart, N1

A spacious contemporary pub,although quiet early on a Saturday afternoon there was a decent feel about the pub,four cask beers were available, I settled for a very good pint of Kings Northern Lights.Nice place.

Standard-issue gastro-pub, with wood-effect canteen furniture and mixed decor including a giant clock-face. Four real ales available on handpump: Laines Best Bitter (£4.00), something from Hackney with a generic clip, Truman's Swift and Kings Evolution Black Symphony.

This attractive glazed tiled street-corner pub has gone through a number of incarnations in recent years, but has now been taken over by the people behind Brighton's Laine Brewery, creating a modest environment in which to showcase their beers to the capital. The exterior is certainly striking with the tiles complimented by a large Courage Ales sign on the front wall. Once inside, a simple, rectangular single room layout becomes apparent, with the servery running along most of the back wall. The room is painted in dark red, with a dark wood servery, bare floorboards and an exposed brick bar back all lit by muted lights in huge bell-shaped lightshades and exposed naked bulbs caged in quirky whisk shaped fittings. There are some button backed sofas and a solitary pew running along the front wall in arguably the comfiest section of the pub. Elsewhere, reclaimed tables and chairs fill the open space, each table set out with a lit candle and a clipboard detailing the simple burger menu. There are some large paintings of jesters on the walls plus lots of smaller photos of more contemporary comedians. A huge, almost floor to ceiling, clock stands on the back wall with its hands racing around in an anti-clockwise motion. The servery is in two parts, with the bar occupying the right hand half and an open kitchen sited in the left hand section with a couple of huge theatre masks above. A sign pointed out additional seating available upstairs, but the place was pretty quiet on my Tuesday evening visit, so I didn't explore. Music played quietly in the background throughout my stay and I thought the general ambiance was quite nice and that it was a shame there wasn't a livelier crowd in to generate more atmosphere. Two ales were available at the bar - Laines Angel RPA and Angel Porter - with a third handpull displaying a turned clip. The final pump had a handwritten clip for something called Heart Breaker Welsh Cider. I gave the porter a try and was pleased to find it in great shape. The barmaid who served me was very prompt and friendly and I felt a bit sorry that she didn't have more customers to keep her busy. I quite enjoyed this place without being able to put my finger on exactly why that was. Whilst not really being a pub for the traditionalist, it still felt warm and welcoming, perhaps because it doesn't seem to have the pretensions of some other N1 bars. This, coupled with the excellent pint I enjoyed, would be enough for me to consider another visit, perhaps as a double header with the nearby Craft Beer Co.

Despite the previous reviewer's reservations about the beer quality, my chum and I decided to risk a half in here as I really like Old Dairy ales. They had on what must be their house ale – Murder a Crow – and Red Top. I have to say that the Red Top was in fine shape, at £2 for a half. Maybe we were in on a good day. The pub is as described previously, with crow-themed decor all over the place. I reckon this is more a cafe/restaurant that does beer rather than a pub that does food. The daily special was advertised on a paper roller device near the door – you tear off yesterday’s special, roll the paper down and write on today’s. Saves the effort of rubbing off a chalkboard I suppose, although the economy doesn’t stretch to food prices, with Friday’s special being fish & chips plus peas and tartare sauce at £14. It’s worth dropping in here in the hope rather than expectation of getting a decent drop of Old Dairy ale I guess, but I can’t imagine wanting to stay here any length of time if you just want a drink or two.