The Chapel Bar, N1

Known as the Queen's Arms until 1999 then the Chapel Bar which was formerly a private hire venue but has been an open house bar for the last two years, a fact which isn't mentioned on their website which may explain why it has *no customers* on a Monday evening, even when all the other local pubs are doing sterling service. The interior has a flagstone floor, sofas in duck egg blue and tan leather(ette) with low marble topped tables, half-height wood panelling painted duck egg blue with white above and white wooden slatted blinds to the windows so you can't see in, which makes the place look closed. There are hanging copper lamps and the bar front has wooden mouldings which resemble a church's stone window tracery; in all, there are nods to church architecture throughout, ignoring the one TV, off, overhead aircon vents and muted jazz/blues on the stereo. Upstairs there's at least one extra drinking floor, possibly with a bar and rather inviting roof terrace with awnings. The bar top has chrome lager founts and just one craft beer, Yardbird Pale Ale at a wincing £2.80 a half; there's no real ale. The barmaid was incredibly friendly, but then she wasn't exactly rushed off her feet and probably welcomed the company. Oddly, I quite liked this place. As a quiet, slightly more Continental-style bar it's not too bad. With a more traditional interior and good real ale selection, this could surely be a successful venture.

Official site of the Chapel Bar - www.thechapelbar.co.uk