The Rose & Crown, Kentish Town, NW5

A scruffy but characterful local. A blackboard lists a number of not unreasonably priced wines, there is a collection of obscure spirit and liqueur bottles and, as previously noted, there is a hot plate for cooking meals at the bar. Only two hand pumps, and though both pump clips were facing out, only one was on - of course, I asked for the one that was off. The "on" beer was Marstons Pedigree, of which I am not a big fan, so I only had a half. At £1.80 for a half, I'm glad I didn't ask for a pint! Most people seemed to be drinking lager or Guinness, but my beer was in good nick, despite the doubts of the previous reviewer. There are a couple of leather (or leatherette) chairs and sofas that have seen better days, some tubular steel stools at the bar. Smokers occasionally pop out to sit at the tables in front. The customers seemed to be enjoying themselves, and they were a mixed bunch. There was a friendly atmosphere and I got the impression that a few visits would establish a new customer as a regular. There were "Save the Torriano" t-shirts on display, but on later checking up on the internet I couldn't find a recent threat to the pub - about 18 months ago there was an application to convert the building into flats, but I couldn't find any reporting of the appeal that the pub owners were intending to make. It seems to be a going concern at this time.

After leaving a very busy pub up the road I was surprised at how quiet this place was for early on a Saturday evening. There was a family sitting behind the island bar tucking into some crepes and a lone gentleman was sitting at the bar staring into space. There was also a couple sitting in the small courtyard down the stairs at the rear of the building. The hot plate that the crepes are cooked on is located on the bar and the barman was doubling up as the chef. They looked and smelt nice, but I didn't like drinking in what in effect had become a kitchen and I thought that the condiments and sauces lined along the bar made an already unkempt looking pub look more untidy. Pedigree was the ale option, but the surroundings gave me the impression that it wouldn't be very good so I decided to give it a miss, although my judgement may have been totally misplaced as my pint of Guinness was very nice. Standard lagers and Hoegarden were also available and the barman was a pleasant enough chap who seemed very happy in his work which, along with the chill-out music, gave a relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately I had to use the toilet and have to report that there is no lock on the gent's door and there hasn't been for some time as the old lock holes are painted over. They could also do with a clean as there are so many spiders I thought that I was having a dump in the woods. I spotted some paraphernalia laying around the pub mentioning the proposed flat development on the site and although this place isn't my cup of tea and I can't see myself returning I would like to wish them all the best against the money grabbing developers.

When I first came here, it was a rather gloomy and tatty place full of mothers, dogs and unsupervised kids chasing ballons. The beers were all off and I left after 1 expensive pint. Before I had a chance to place a comment someone had mentioned that it had been done up so I held back to give it a second chance. Whilst the interior is now a bit brighter with the black walls now painted in paler colours, it still looks shabby and little has changed from my initial impressions. Situated well off the beaten track the Torriano (or just the T according to the designer pub sign) comes over as an old local's boozer that tried to jump on the good ship Trendy but forgot to put some sails on the mast. It all looks a bit of a mess and a clash of styles and eras with furnishings that look like they have come from second hand shops and car boot sales. A selection of worn sofas and battered tables is complemented by lights and vases that your granny used to take down the charity shop. The fireplace looks rather forlorn and the bar seems to be a DIY half-a-job. To some it may have a certain charm but to me it all looks as uncomfortable and univiting as the bare concrete floor. Both Ales (Pride and Marstens Pedigree) were off (again) and which really sealed its fate in my “Don't Bother Again” book.