The Good Mixer, Camden

As you will hear all the time, the Good Mixer was the official public house of Britpop with luminaries such as Blur, Suede, Menswear and practically every band on the scene going in and supping their pints. The pub still has a lot of Food Records memorabilia on the walls, but the number of famous bands that drink in there now are practically zero, though current flavour of the month The Darkness pop in from time to time. If you see someone famous, please don't gush at the them.

However, if you are less shallow than to go there just to try and ogle once-famous floppy-fringers, then it actually ain't bad. The jukebox contains a good mix of classix (oh yes, with an x) and more up-to-date stuff for the indie kids. If you're expecting pop pap, don't bother. There are two pool tables, and a TV which will probably be showing any football from anywhere in the world, unless the Aussie and Kiwi bar staff (and that's all of 'em) have a big rugby game coming up, in which case you can whistle for the footie. They have a late licence so from Monday to Saturday last orders is at midnight, with Sundays having the chucking-out time at 11.00pm.

It's a fairly relaxed environment, with a good mix of passers-by and regulars. There is no predominant football team supported there, so you'll have just as much of a chance to watch your own team as anyone else. Lots of the stallholders from the markets drink there, but it's a weird and wonderful mix of people so if you're friendly, you can fit right in. The bar prices are very reasonable for Camden (�2.60 for a pint of Guinness), so don't be afraid to get a round in.

Beers include Guinness, Guinness Extra Cold, Stella Artois, Kronenbourg, Fosters, Abbot Ale, Staropramen, Grolsch, and there are two ciders available (Strongbow and Olde English, I think). The Mixer has a particularly strong cocktail menu also, including particular shooters known as a 'brain' or a 'rocket fuel'. Lethal � I kid you not. The food is pretty good, with an excellent line in chicken dishes and a late menu for hungry night owls. Overall, it's a friendly, reasonably-priced pub that's helps you to achieve exactly what it says on the pub sign: good mixing.

5 Dec 2003 11:36