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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Grafton, Kentish Town, NW5
NW5
NW5 3LG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Grafton
This is a single high-ceilinged boarded room with a central horseshoe bar. Although knocked through, the previous multi-roomed layout is still distinguishable and there is still a feel of separate areas. Part of the bar front has green tiling with the pub name in lettering, cast iron columns have gold painted fluted tops, ceiling fans whirr away. Most of the front windows are now clear glass replacements however some attractive leaded versions remain elsewhere and the entrance lobby retains some nice etched glazing. Lighting is low key, candles on the mostly regular height small scrubbed tables, a side area had a piano. It was very busy on Saturday evening with some music competing and losing against the babble of chatter which is magnified by the high ceiling and hard surfaces. I liked the atmosphere though, a mostly mature clientele enjoying a Saturday evening out in this vibrant area.
This is an Enterprise pub, not Antic, and on looking at the pub website has recently picked up an award. The beer range was certainly decent, Hogs Back TEA, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Twickenham Naked Ladies, Vale Brewery VPA, Windsor and Eton Knight of the Garter and a cider, Rosie's Pig. One pump was reversed and one unclipped.
A busy Saturday evening isn't always the best time to appreciate a pub but I liked it anyway and would be interested to visit again during the day to compare.
On 27th September 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
miss india left this review about The Grafton
I love the look and feel of the place since it was renovated so it's my go-to local nowadays. I'm quite happy to go by myself for a drink and to read the paper, which is usually my benchmark for a good pub. Always a good atmosphere, pretty lively at the weekend but more casual during the week. The Merlot is delicious and the new bar upstairs does a great cocktail. I'm not much of a beer drinker but they do have Camden Hells which I love and I've noticed that the ales on the pumps change often.
Couple of inaccuracies in the below review. I've met the owners and it's definitely an independent pub, not a chain. Also it mentions tables formally set for diners but I've never seen this (I go there often). I enquired about booking a table for a friend's birthday dinner recently but apparently they don't allow it, which I suppose is fair enough as it gets very busy in the evening, particularly on weekends. The food is very good though.
On 16th February 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Grafton
Just down the road from Kentish Town West station, this is a compact, single room pub from the reliable Antic chain. It’s a typical corner pub, with a bare boarded interior opened out from a previous multiple room layout, now wrapped around a central servery. You enter through double doors with small, decorative glass panes and a terrazzo floored porch bearing the pub’s name. Most of the room has been filled with standard and low stool seating running around all four sides of the bar. The servery has a glazed brick bar back with a bottled beer display on shelves and a collection of pump clips. The front of the bar counter is tiled and also bears the pub’s name. Large floral displays in the front windows stand out and add a bit of colour to what was a rather dark and gloomy room on my early evening visit, whilst the walls have been decorated with a few old paintings, although the pub has been spared from Antic’s usual quirky excesses. Lots of people were eating on my Thursday evening visit, and most of the slightly raised rear half of the pub had tables formally set for diners. I noticed a sign for ‘Craft Beer and Cocktails’ pointing to an upstairs bar, but I didn’t get around to venturing that far. A few picnic benches are available outside the front of the pub, although dog owners need not worry about being left outside, as there were a couple of well behaved pooches dotted around the pub. The usual decent selection of music accompanied my visit and the barman that served me was very friendly and chatty.
Five hand pumps were in operation, dispensing Taylor Landlord, East London Brewery Pale Ale (£3.95), Hogs Back TEA, By the Horns Mayor of Garrett and London Fields Black Path Porter. I opted for the Pale Ale, which was in pretty good shape, but not really worth the best part of £4.
This is a solid, if slightly unspectacular pub by Antic’s high standards. I thought there was a nice buzz about the place, but came away thinking that it’s probably best visited if you’re after a bit to eat. Still, it does at least provide a good ale option if you’re making your way between Camden and Kentish Town.
On 3rd February 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Grafton
A fairly large pub wrapped around the central bar, it had very lively /trendy vibe that I didn't dislike, a decent range of beers were on offer from several handpumps backed up by some craft keg offerings ,ciders and lagers.Pretty busy on a Saturday lunchtime well attended by the trendy (and heavily bearded in some cases) 20/30 somethings, prices were on the steep side as seems the case in this area in many cases, my half of London Fields Black Path Porter set me back £2.20, but very good all the same, I would call in again if passing.
On 9th December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve Smith left this review about The Grafton Arms
Popped in for a quick lunch with a couple of colleagues. Apparently been refurbed and reopened a few weeks ago. A selection of interesting (not mainstream) looking ales (3 I think) but I wasn't drinking. Very nice little menu of about 10 dishes at £7-£8. Bangers, Garlic Mash and Onion Gravy was very well received by our French friend (!) as was my unusual take on Beans on Toast. Well worth experiencing if round that way. Friendly staff. Wifi.
On 13th December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Grafton Arms
I think that the refit has left it looking a bit bare, but it is still better than what I can remember this place being like. I found the barmaid to be friendly and as only standard draught was available I ended up with a Stella which I thought was just passable.
There is a pool table around the back of the bar and a dartboard to the right of the entrance as you walk in. There are also a few portable TVs up on the walls for the showing of Sky and Setanta.
This is another pub in Kentish Town that seems geared towards the residents, and there is nothing wrong with that except that I am not a resident so will not be returning.
On 27th April 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]