Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Dublin Castle, Camden Town, NW1
NW1
NW1 7AN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Dublin Castle
Another music pub of repute but not famous for its beer, with only Doom Bar on cask I had a Camden Helles, a couple of Beavertown beers were also available, apart from the pubs musical history theres not much more remarkable about it.
On 20th December 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Dublin Castle
A must visit music venue, where the beer quality has improved significantly. London Pride in fine nick. Well described below, and I can confirm that the jukebox does work. A fella was feeding it and putting on wholly inappropriate ac/dc.
On 29th July 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Dublin Castle
One of Camden's most famous live music venues, generally catering for people attending a gig; the main music room and a second bar are through doors to the rear.
Lighting is rather red inside with bare boards and lots of music memorabilia, naturally with a focus on local boys Madness. There's a brewers' Tudor interior with curved leatherette booths; the interior seems a bit dated, a bit 1970s'. There's also something of an Irish flavour, probably due to the name and fact that it is (or was) run by the Conlons. There's a jukebox, though I'm not sure if it's for decoration as is now so often the case. At least one TV was on showing sport with the sound down; the gramophone was playing The Stranglers, AC/DC and The Who at an agreeable level.
Ales: a friendly American barmaid was serving Hobgoblin, St. Austell's Tribute and Robinson's Trooper which was a bit lifeless though was dirt cheap at just £2.00 a half.
I can't really see myself coming here again as this isn't my type of pub and I'm not a fan of live music venues either, but it's an iconic venue and Camden would be all the worse if it were to join the ranks of other live music venues that have closed around here of late.
On 11th October 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Dublin Castle
Basic music pub, with the main bar at the front and the venue (and another bar) to the rear. Plenty of posters and memorabilia on the walls, of course, and a sports TV screen losing the battle against the music system. Also has a few seats outside on the pavement. Youngs Ordinary and Portobello Carnival Pale (£3.70) available from the three handpumps.
On 23rd August 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Dublin Castle
One of Camden's 'Castle' pubs, this was the designated pub for Irish railway workers who were constructing the nearby lines back in the late 19th century (with other 'Castle' pubs assigned for Scottish, Welsh and English workers - see Edinboro Castle, Pembroke Castle and the defunct Windsor Castle). More recently, the pub has gained a degree of fame for its live music policy, putting on early gigs from Madness in the 80's, Blur in the 90's and The Killers and Arctic Monkey's in the 00's. The pub maintains something of a traditional feel to it, resisting the Camden-wide urge to strip everything of interest out, thereby giving it a bit of character that makes it worth a look for a drink as well as the music. You enter through a nice little front porch into a long, fairly narrow main bar with the servery along the front half of the left hand wall. The room has bare floorboards, lots of dark wood beams and a red and black colour scheme that works quite nicely. Some lovely U shaped banquettes form booths of sorts along the right hand wall, each serving a small, narrow table with low stools opposite. Behind these booths, large mirrors line the wall, papered with various flyers, stickers and bunting and there are some lovely decorative lamps on the ledges between each booth. Moving further into the room, a single button backed banquette stands to the left with another along the rear wall. A juke box and two large screens, seemingly used for sports coverage, vie for attention and access to the live music venue (not explored on this visit) can be found to the rear. The most interesting items can be viewed on the bar canopy, where a selection of music memorabilia, unique to the pub, can be found. This includes signed posters from the likes of Travis and Amy Winehouse, plus a collection of signed Madness items, many dedicated to the pub. An old article outlining the pub's appeal to the 'trendy crowd' appears here as well, alongside a photo of a gentleman stood outside the pub, presumably former landlord Alo Conlon who founded the pub's live music reputation and sadly passed away in 2009.
A couple of real ales were available - Youngs Special and St Austell Tribute - with the latter clocking in at £3.60 for an acceptable pint. One real cider was also on, with a final pump unused. Keg options were fairly standard and included Symonds Cider. The barman was friendly enough and despite there being no music on that evening, a few regulars propped up the bar whilst some of the booths were full with casual drinkers.
This is an interesting pub which has played an important role in both the development of Camden as a region and as the heart of British live music. Fans of the UK indie scene will enjoy a pilgrimage here more than the soulless Good Mixer or over-hyped Hawley Arms and I hope to return in the future with the hope of catching the 'next big thing'.
On 2nd November 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Dublin Castle
Pub & live music venue. Beers from fullers,smiths,st austell & young's.
On 28th July 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Dublin Castle
This is one of the best known music pubs in London and has been a launch pad for many a band (Madness played here regularly in their early days). Even if you are not planning to attend a gig here, it is worth a visit as a pub in its own right even if its just to get a sense of its musical heritage and it’s not actually a bad little boozer.
The single room main bar has bare floors and mirrors down one side, glittery table tops but not actually much in the way of seating; 3 semi-circular seats on one side and one long built in bench on the other with a vast amount of open floorspace in between. A couple of skylights make it quite airy and there is a decent jukebox as well as 2 flat screen TVs. The red mock-Tudor walls house various old music posters, reviews, newspaper articles, flyers and a totally unreadable noticeboard plastered with ephemera.
The big surprise is the beers, or to be precise, the ales. One would not expect much from a pub so music orientated but the regular London Pride is supplemented by 2 guests (currently Summer Lightning and Tribute) with quality surprisingly good and prices a more than reasonable (for this area) £3 a pint.
The 150 capacity music venue is at the rear of the pub and they usually put on up to 4 indie / rock bands most nights of the week. I have only been a couple of times for gigs but the stage, sound and lighting is of a decent enough standard. There is a separate bar in the venue (no ales) but it is generally only used when a good crowd is expected.
Overall, an excellent boozer and major player on the London toilet gig circuit and if you are into such places, this is well worth a night out.
On 5th May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Dublin Castle
This is very much a live band venue and I'm not sure that it is really worth bothering any other time. There are a couple of plasma screens, but it is difficult to get comfortable as you feel that you've arrived too early or late.
The barmaid is very friendly and I'm sure that it is a great night when the bands kick off, but my sweat box dancing days are over.
On 30th September 2008
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about Dublin Castle
Very open looking pub, catering for live music. Not many tables. Had Courage Best on tap. Doesn't seem to do food. Lots of posters for live bands coming up. Has a back bar that opens after the last band has finished. The view inside.
On 9th February 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]