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Beer of the Week (w/e 17th March 2024) with Mobyduck on the Pub Forum

Picture of The Tamil Crown
Image posted by Rex Rattus
Submitted on Monday, 11th December 2023
With picture contributions to 1103 other pubs
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The Tamil Crown, N1

16 Elia Street
N1
N1 8DE
Phone: 02078375040
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Tamil Crown (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Tris C left this review about The Tamil Crown

On 8th September 2017 – rating: 8

Originally The Prince Albert, this is an early Victorian corner pub (1839) renamed by the new owners in 2005 in honour of Charles Lamb, the 18th/19th century English essayist who lived in nearby Colebrooke Row and who gave his name to this street, 'Elia' being his pen name when contributing to The London Magazine; green banded leaded lights are a clear indication that this was once a Charrington's house.
Off the beaten track, this place is very popular with the more moneyed Islingtonians, rather than the hipsters who infest The Earl of Essex across the way. Well described below, this is really quite cramped and is big on food - the pub is listed in Les Routiers guide. There seems to be a rotating policy with regard to the four ales on offer so naming them wouldn't serve a great purpose, but they are of the better variety (no GK IPA and the like) and are all well kept but are at the pricier end of the scale; this isn't a cheap area.
The added bonus is the new landlord from South Carolina who was an excellent and engaging host; this is a must-visit if in the area.

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This pub closed in 2021 to reopen in November 2023 as the Tamil Crown, sister ‘pub’ to the nearby and former Huntington Arms, now Tamil Prince.
This pub is on CAMRA’s list of pubs with outstanding interiors, this being of Special National Historic Interest, but I doubt that the listing will continue for long given the modifications.
The first thing you notice on entering is the all-pervasive smell of incense and it’s now so dark in here that it’s hard to write an accurate description, but the bar front seems new, the rear and clock original. Gone is the Anaglypta, with a seemingly chocolate brown finish to the dado then white walls and ceiling, with two ugly descending aircon units. The partial partition has been knocked through to reveal an open kitchen/serving hatch. Furniture is traditional with some fluted vinyl upholstered banquettes, but there’s no décor apart a framed picture of a bloke in traditional Indian raiment, then potted palms, tealights to tables with accompanying posies of flowers in jars. Lighting – if you can call it that – amounted to traditional tasselled sconces, then spherical translucent hanging lanterns above the bar, emitting at most a combined 10 lumens. The biggest change comes to the khazi, which now comprises just one unisex cubicle then a swanky urinal; I’m sure the female customers will be overjoyed once a man, for want of the latter uses the former and pees all over the seat; this is the kind of arrangement that might – might – work in a restaurant but not in a pub which ultimately is what this is.
The ale choice is down on the previous incarnation but of improved quality with Purity Longhorn (£3.50 a half and good) then Mad Goose (a painful £3.25 a half) and very good indeed, served by Asian staff.
Being more of a traditionalist, I prefer to go for a curry *after* and not *during* the pub and the smell of incense is a bit off-putting; the poorly conceived lavs will no doubt also prove a stumbling block, but the place makes for somewhere else to drink and I couldn’t fault the Mad Goose, even if it’s by far the most expensive cask in the area, all of which means it’s marked down accordingly.

On 4th December 2023 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1943 recommendations about 1910 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Charles Lamb

Traditional corner pub in very nice residential area just down from the mayhem of angel, towards the Regents Canal.

Central bar, surrounded by high bar stools. Traditional furniture setup discreetly for dining.

Beer was an below average XT 4 from XT brewing.

On 14th November 2018 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1328 recommendations about 1314 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Charles Lamb

Tucked away on a side street the pub has quite a characterful exterior/interior. The L shaped main bar area serves 4 real ales with a room at the side that looks more foodie.

On 20th November 2016 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


View more reviews of The Tamil Crown (18)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
Essex Road, 0.78 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Old Street, 0.85 miles, 16 min walk (show)
Farringdon (London), 0.98 miles, 18 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Tamil Crown, N1
18th Feb 2024, 17:12
Picture submitted by Moby Duck approved
 
18th Feb 2024, 14:17
Picture submitted by Moby Duck

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 10 March 2017 by ROB Camra
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 10 March 2017 by ROB Camra
  • Beer Garden : No - Limited pavement seating. - last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Car Park : No last updated 10 March 2017 by ROB Camra
  • Darts : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Function Room : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Hot Food : Yes - Tamil. - last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Jukebox : No last updated 08 September 2017 by Tris C
  • Karaoke : No last updated 08 September 2017 by Tris C
  • Live Music : No last updated 10 March 2017 by ROB Camra
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 10 March 2017 by ROB Camra
  • Micropub : No last updated 10 March 2017 by ROB Camra
  • Pinball : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Pool Table : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Real Ale : Yes - x2. - last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • Real Cider : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
  • WiFi : No last updated 03 December 2023 by Tris C
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