Traders Inn, NW8

This is a very early Victorian pub, originally the Harp and on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs with historically important interiors, this being of Some Regional Importance. A first in here the other night, into what CAMRA describes as ‘An authentic and welcoming market pub…’. The heritage features can be seen on their website, which include an ornate bar back and stained glass. Otherwise, it’s bare boarded, a shades of blue colour scheme, plum-coloured banquettes to the periphery, an unobtrusive games machine, jukebox, TV news with the sound off and a decent soundtrack. Customers were older – but not old – locals, all in good spirits, contributing to a good atmosphere which makes for a decent quality boozer. There’s one unused pump, thereafter just Eurofizz, a half of Kronenbourg arriving for £2.30, served by a very friendly landlady. This is really a very nice pub, quite why – pool aside – anyone would want to drink at the Lord High Admiral down the road is anyone’s guess. A selection of decent real ales would get the score up by at least one if not two points. And yes, the street is still ‘pungent’.

I was a bit sceptical at the sign on the front of the building that said "traditional ales and stouts", and I was right to be as there was no real ale, just some John Smith's keg stuff. They were, however, selling pizze on my Tuesday lunchtime visit - at £4.35 a pop - and they looked pretty good as well. This is a market pub at one end of the local pungent street market. This pub has more character than the other market pub along this road. It retains some original features as well, such as the bar back with inlaid cut glass, and the exceptional leaded light window at the back. There's also a rather nice Guinness mirror on one of the walls, as well as numerous old black and white photos of course. It's bare-boarded with with what look like the original, now somewhat well worn, floorboards. Furnishings are mainly normal tables and chairs, but I did spot a sofa at one end of the room. This is a pretty basic boozer, and I quite liked it - but I would like it a lot more if it did a decent ale.

Simple old style interior serving a standard draught selection.