Double Standard, WC1

Tris C left this review about Double Standard

This bar occupies most of the ground floor of the former Camden Town Hall annex, built in the Brutalist style in 1977 by Camden Architects’ Department and known locally as the Egg Box Building; think about it. Today, the upper floors are hotel space but in addition, there’s the top floor The Standard, bar, restaurant and nightclub, accessed by a scenic red lift, known as the Red Pill on account of its shape and a nod to The Matrix; this review relates to the less exclusive ground floor bar, the Double Standard.
I wouldn’t ordinarily visit a place like this, but as I added it to the site, I felt that if I were to live by the sword, then it was only fair that I should die by it. Visited purely for research purposes, the interior is very modern but in a ‘70s’ retro way (see photos and website). Décor comprises some potted palms and cacti, a working photo booth and some Mexican ‘ethnic’ stuff. Customers were mainly out in the landscaped rear patio, the ones seated near me being loud Americans. The emphasis here is very much on cocktails with some food – ugly sauce and cutlery trays on tables – and a limited keg selection of six taps from a single chrome fount, with a half of Two Tribes Dream Factory at a ball busting £5.75 a half, served by a floaty barmaid.
With a soundtrack which varies from LL Cool J to the Monkees, this place makes for something different, being a little off the football fans’ radar; the minimum midnight extending to 1.00am licence makes for an alternative, but the lack of a quality cask beer is a pity.

On 18^th June 2023 - rating: 4
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