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The Colonel Fawcett, NW1

1 Randolph Street
NW1
NW1 0SS
Phone: 02072679829

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Colonel Fawcett

Tucked away in the backstreets near Camden Road station with some rather unsightly roadworks at the front, this place felt more like a restaurant than a pub.

On walking through the door, a podium has a sign asking you to wait to be seated. It was one of those places where reservations are recommended and seeing that most tables were occupied, I requested to take a seat at the bar once approached. Luckily this offer was accepted, given this was the penultimate place left for me to visit in the Greater London section of the Good Beer Guide!

There are 3 handpulls at the bar. But only 1 is in use these days. It was clipped with Hammerton N7, which I duly ordered. It was very much on the cloudy/hazy side, but was still drinkable. No CAMRA discount was offered. Although I note below that it should have been.

Craft beers were Beavetown Neck Oil & Gamma Ray, Hammerton Panama Creature & Tuned, Tiny Rebel Easy Livin', Deya Steady Rolling Man & The Kernel Pale Ale. There was also Gravity Theory Cider.

Another pub that is aimed more to diners than casual drinkers. A little disappointing.

On 1st March 2022 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Colonel Fawcett

This is a pleasant backstreet pub close to Camden Road station and a good ten minute or so walk from Camden Town. The pub has what would once have been at least a two-room layout, now mostly opened out, with only a limited degree of partitioning between the two sides, aided by a curtain which can be drawn across to fully separate the two halves. Both rooms have smart floorboards and low wood panelled walls with plain painted or wallpapered upper sections. The right side of the pub houses the servery, which is tucked away in the rear right corner and has an attractive curved dark wood counter fronting a much less memorable modern bar back. Pew seating runs along the front wall, tables and chairs fill a lot of the open space through the centre and there are a few long, high tables with bar stools to the side of the servery. There’s a nice fireplace to one side, next to an elaborate spiral staircase that leads up to who-knows-where - it’s unclear if the public are welcome to climb up and find out. Several TV screens are dotted around the room but aside from this, visual distraction is at a minimum, with a mirror above the fireplace, some paintings here and there, a set of antlers and a wooden tennis racket comprising the attempt at adding some character to the place. The left side looked a bit more like it was set up for dining (menus were available on all tables throughout the pub though), as it offered standard tables and chairs plus some leather banquettes, in what felt like a more formal space. There’s another fireplace with a plain mirror above on the end wall and various pictures and antlers fill much of the wall space. There’s also some good quality hard bench seating in a well-made pavement-side seating area to the front of the pub.
As I suspect was the case with the last couple of reviewers, I was drawn here by the pub’s inclusion in the last couple of editions of the Good Beer Guide. There are three handpulls on the bar, but as with so many London pubs in the post-pandemic world, only one of these was clipped, offering Redemption Hopspur alongside a much wider selection of craft keg products across two banks of eight taps. A cheery barmaid served me a pint of the Hopspur, which was admittedly in very good condition - probably as good as anything you’re likely to find in Camden these days.
This place was a little simpler and more food-led than I’d expected, but neither of those things detracted from what was ultimately a pretty enjoyable visit. I thought the pub balanced the food and drink sides of the business nicely and I most definitely enjoyed a very good pint of cask ale, which might well tempt me back out this way the next time I’m in and around Camden.

On 15th February 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Colonel Fawcett

Victorian building with wooden fitted bench seating in the patio infront of the side entrance.There is also a rear beer garden.The interior is L shaped,open plan with two narrow high tables opposite the bar,while the rest of the furniture was trad ,mainly large dining type tables with either bench seating or chairs.The decoration was also traditional With the flatscreen off and gentle muzak it felt friendly and welcoming,and the barman was clearly a good chap,topping up my lively pint without being asked.
Food is offered here but doesn't dominate,and with a weekly quiz there is a community feel.Three handpumps with two working on my trip offering Dartmoor Jail Ale and Oakham Citra (a little tired,NBSS 2,£5).There are a lot more craft keg options with Kernel and Pressure Drop besides the more ubiquitous Beavertown and european lagers.
Didn't quite match up to the GBG 2022 entry,but a decent enough pub.

On 8th January 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Colonel Fawcett

Good Beer Guide 2021 entry but amongst double digit keg, they had just one cask on. One for others to debate.

Named after one of the last englishment to die in a duel. Person in front of me was ordering a virgin mary. Not sure that was what the colonel would have wanted.

On the subject of Kernel - they had Pale Ale. I know this is revered and having had it previously only in bottles, I couldn't understand why. Made sense on draught - a gorgeous - if not expensive (£6.10) pint.

A bit gastro'y but I will forgive it as they played excellent music and the staff were all lovely.

Small beer garden at front and rear.

On 29th July 2021 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Colonel Fawcett

Still painted a dull battleship grey outside, inside is openplan with a gastro almost shabby chic feel with a mix of seating ,high and low.
Just two hand pumps on the bar and I counted about thirteen keg taps with a mix of Lager,Craft and Cider on offer, I stayed with the handles which offered a decent choice between Five Points Pale and Redemption Rock The Kazbek, which was fine. This wouldn't be a first choice pub for me but it was Ok.

On 18th November 2017 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


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Tris C left this review about Colonel Fawcett

Until 2011, this pub was trading under its original name of the Camden Arms. Built in 1843, it was the place where the last person in Britain to fight a duel died (the eponymous Fawcett), in an upstairs room. Still remaindered from its former incarnation are the Taylor Walker lanterns (original glass removed) and trademark arched sign frame, minus cannon.
A first in here, this pub is nestled off the beaten track in a rather unprepossessing part of Camden, just by the canal on the way to St. Pancras. This really isn't a nice area at all, so unless you're looking for the pub you're unlikely ever to find it. It's also suitably far from central Camden Town to not attract the attention of the Camden Weird Brigade. As mentioned below, the purple and black hair and The Cure of old now belong to yesteryear, primarily because despite the location, this place now attracts an older, more professional and hipster clientele. Indeed this pub would look more at home in a side street in Islington's upmarket Canonbury or Barnsbury.
The interior is a bit pale gastro blue/grey with a bare boarded floor, some wood panelling and conventional slightly rustic furniture. Music is muted and the menu is clearly more gastro than just about any pub I can recall in all of NW1. That said, you aren't confronted by table cloths and cutlery on entering so eating is quite casual.
Ales: Hop Stuff American Pale Ale and Session IPA at £4.40 a pint though very good indeed.
My only complaint is that the bar staff are a bit clueless and a barmaid gave me a Northern Irish green drinking voucher; perhaps she mistook it for one of the new ones?
I'd definitely come here again if in the area, but a greater choice of ales would be a bonus as would an increase in the wattage as it's a bit gloomy in here.

On 14th October 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about Colonel Fawcett

Dull looking from outside and very gloomy inside.Two customers were using their phone light to read the menu.Probably nicer in daylight.Very nice rear flower covered garden.No island bar now just a corner bar.Two handpump with only New River -lost river on which was decent.Busy.

On 17th September 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Colonel Fawcett

Apparently built on the site of the last fatal duel fought in England (and the eponymous participant lost...). Refurbished, but no particularly distinguishing features apart from having patio seating areas to both front and rear. Spiral staircase in one corner to an upstairs room (not visited). Although close to the mayhem that is Camden Town at the weekend, it is just far away to remain a civilised spot even on a sunny summer Saturday evening. Bombardier and Purity Pure Gold (£4.30) available from the brace of handpumps. Gin also a speciality.

On 23rd August 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about Camden Arms

This place has a big island bar with a very open layout and plenty of seats and standing room. It was quiet on the Friday evening that I visited, but it sounded like there was a party going on upstairs.

I spotted six lagers, Guinness, Addlestones and Hobgoblin all available from the bar.

This is not really my sort of place, but if you're into The Cure and dyeing your hair black and purple you should give it a go.

On 22nd December 2008 - rating: 5
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]