please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
One of the better pubs in the immediate vicinity of Camden Town tube station. Not somewhere I'd take a traditionalist or a tourist seeking 'pub' surroundings, but with mates during the day or on a weeknight, it's a solid choice. As is usual with Spoons, good real ale options, cheap prices and a cross section of London citizenry.
As a pub enthusiast, it is a pity that one of the more respectable establishments in the area is a modern glass-walled Spoons, but I can think of few other places in Camden Town that are half as decent as this. The tourist trap World's End and softball beer garden rah Edinboro Castle come immediately to mind.
As it's a Lloyd's there's a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
There are a million and one places in London I'd probably rather go, but none in Camden. 7/10
R3NW5 - 26 Jun 2015 14:35 |
My first visit to this rather large canal side ‘Spoons.
Popped in on a Tuesday lunchtime and it was fairly empty, though to be fair it’s so blinking big. I'm sure it gets packed at weekends.
Right on Camden lock with tables and benches outside for the smokers and I guess it’s a great spot in the summer.
10 pumps, 2 of these are were serving ciders. I took an offering from East London Brewery (ELB) which was Pale Ale. There was another ELB ale but the others were all bog standard, however the lager choice is very good.
Lovely curved building as previously mentioned.
Normal cheap ‘Spoons prices, not a bad place and certainly worth a stop.
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A large and modern Weatherspoon’s immediately adjacent to Camden Lock, it offers little in the way of any merit as far as the building goes but nonetheless the outside seating is a pleasant spot on a sunny day to sit and look boats passing by and the hordes of tourists in the market opposite.
The building itself has a curved frontage with large windows and is all one cavernous open space inside. A montage of black and white photos of the local area covers the end wall whilst colour photographs replicate the local streets in the corridor leading to the gent’s loos. Flooring is partly laminate wood and partly a mustard colour carpet. Tables and chairs are packed tightly in to maximise the pub’s food revenue, although there is plenty of vertical drinking space near the long bar counter.
Their International Real Ale Festival was in progress during our visit so the beer range was no doubt somewhat different to usual, but on this occasion consisted of Abbott Ale, Elgood’s Plum Porter, Everards Regimental IPA, Wicked Weed’s Sir Ryan The Pounder, Thwaites Coiled Spring, Wharfe Bank Black Geld, Hildegard’s Solange, London Pride, Mateo & Bernabe Fermín Red Ale and Standeaven African Pale Ale. Ciders were also well represented with Strongbow, Brothers Pear, Stowford Press and Thatcher’s Gold.
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One of the better 'Spoons pubs. Previous reviewer is spot on
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Very good range of drinks even by Wetherspoons standards. Brahma on draft the last time I was in there, amongst other things.
Pleasant atmosphere, nice and spacious, difficult to have many complaints about this pub. Remarkably unpretentious in comparison to other pubs in Camden, and hands-down the only place really to go for pre-gig drinks in the area these days.
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Stopped in here after a good meal in Camden.
Maybe it's just because it was a Friday night, maybe I'm just getting old but the music was ear-acheingly loud and then they turned it up.
Just two ales were on, and the Everards I had was pretty flat.
One for the youngsters or those with their own earplugs.
Dan65 - 23 Jul 2012 21:48 |
It's a glorified Weatherspoons, serving generic fizz by the gallon to tourists and punters who don't know any better. If this is the best place you can find to have a drink in Camden, you need to try harder.
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It's a Wetherspoons by any other name - so you get what you pay for.
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First time visitor yesterday evening (Tuesday), found it a great place. Managed to get a table overlooking the Lock and ordered some food and drinks for our party of five. Food was very quick considering even though the place was quite busy, but fair play it was really nice grub. Ale wasnt too bad either and we found the staff friendly and helpful. No sign of the aggressive bouncers people mention, but it was a Tuesday night.
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Cocky bouncer on the way in. Music too loud. Would have left sooner if my chilled pint of Rooster's Cheers! hadn't taken so long to thaw. No.
Reale - 29 Sep 2011 04:18 |
The ale quality seems to have improved in recent months. Previously, getting a bland (if not quite off) pint was too common.
Beer is still very cheap for London. Food arrives very quickly. I only go at off peak times, however, so haven't experienced the overcrowding and slow service that others report.
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Poshest 'Spoons ever! Admittedly we went midweek BUT...No scrotey sicknotes coughing up Old Holborn at the door. Soft lighting and discreet music. Loads of pretty metrosexual couples chatting over their microwaved synthi-burgers. AND (rubs hands over face in disbelief) served me a good pint of ale at the right temperature in a clean glass! I can appreciate the previous reviews, but every 'Spoons has slow service because of staff being distracted by making tea and coffee. And doesn't every bar in Camden Lock hire bouncers from A-hole recruitment? Try the hovel Whetherspoons in Paignton to experience true awfulness.
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From my personal experience I would not recommend this to anyone over 25+ I am 23 at the time of writing this review and personally find the crowd of individuals socially suitable to my age group.
Buying a drink is can be very difficult and there does not appear to be enough staff to handle the drink serving flow. This can become frustrating, also once drinks have been purchased it can be hard to move away fro the bar.
The door staff come across very rude and obnoxious from the start. As one reviewer has already claimed they need the smallest excuse to get nasty and abusive. I personally had them threatening me after some girl was smashing glasses and throwing them around I was guilty from moving at the way of a glass. I cannot understand how or why at this point that the very tall black bouncer pushed me straight to the ground. Maybe the door security staff are intoxicated and cannot see what is actually happening or are just plain idiots.
The drinks are not that much cheeper then any other Bars around Camden If you want a better service a couple of pennys more for a clearly better service and better provided security is worth its weight in gold.
Either way my experience of this place is very low and I would mark it 3/10
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This place is horrendous. On my visit, the service was terrible (i.e. very slow), there was loud music blaring out and the whole soulless place smelt of vomit. The only plus point was that the beer was cheap and quite reasonable but I'd rather pay more and get better service and surroundings. Such a prime location deserves a far beer pub than this. I will never return!
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don't mess with the bouncers. They only need the smallest excuse to get nasty.
If you prefer to enjoy your drink without the threat of violence come during the week....or don't come at all.
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A souless drinking barn next to the canal and close to Camden market, the main reason for going here is that it's your best bet to find a seat in this part of town. Three guest ales on - I tried the Hook Norton Christmas ale, which was okay. Staff seemed a little scatty and unsure of who to serve next, and those dishing out the food were racing around bumping into everyone.
Full of kids and tourists on a Sunday afternoon - this is not the place for a quiet pint, but like most Wetherspoons outlets, it serves its purpose.
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The bouncers are very OTT with their searches - don't appreciate having to empty my pockets into a bucket. Not worth the effort - once you get in it takes ages to get served and it's full of kids. Avoid if you are 25+.
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Well, I can't really comment in thge food as I never got served, and I never got served because despite waiting for 15 minutes behind the bar nobody bother taking my order. THe waitress was more interesting in chatting with the other waiters and answering text messages. Then she disapeared allegedly for 1 minute, but 5 later and she wasn't back... Some people even waited for longer.
Was busy? Not really, there was just one row of punter behind the bar. So I really wonder how they can deal with it when it's full if it ever is. Other than that, the interior designer could not decide if he designing a railway station of a toddler's kidergarten.
For me that one more reason never to go again to a Wetherspoon joint. After I stormed out (and even that was ignored) I decided this only added to my previous bad experience of such place. Tehy won't ever see me in one of their places.
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Went here sat evening great place by the canal plenty of ale and largers so one dissapointed only for the doorman to go around the bar asking everyone to take off their hats/caps after been let in like that in the first place power hungry or what other than that not a bad place.
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very good value, good range of real ales, good meeting point. Get there by 12.59am and buy two pints, or get their and wait for 15 minutes while the lunchbreakers order meals and pay individually on their cards!
Bit scary once the bouncers arrive for the evening
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This Lloyds Bar version of Wetherspoons is situated in a prime location next to the lock on the Regents Canal. The slightly curved interior is large and spacious but the rather gloomy d�cor and colour scheme make it feel a bit depressing. The high fake ceiling offers glimpses of the air conditioning pipes and despite the large glass frontage, the canal itself is largely out of view to all but a selection of window seats but, when the weather allows, a small terrace outside next to the pack bridge under the willow tree can be an ideal spot to while away the hours. The beer selection is average, usually 2 guest beers and a coupleof standard ales but more often than not, a number of empty pumps alongside the usual selection of �Spoons offerings. The barn like interior creates a hollow atmosphere and the furnishings can appear to be a bit canteenish. I generally use the place simply because it is one of the few places in Camden that you can usually find a seat and service is generally efficient. Whilst not to all tastes, the place seems to fit in with the surroundings and I would rather it was what it is than another block of upmarket housing.
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I thought it'd be crap in here but I gave it a go with some mates before a gig and it was actually alright. Nice enough bar staff and a great view of the canal - it's no Hawley Arms/Lock Tavern/Monarch though. Worth a quick visit.
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Decent bar but the staff are extremely unfriendly. Especially to people who do not have London accents !
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I found this place to be a typical cavernous Wetherspoons that is great for meeting up with friends before going onto somewhere else. I wouldn�t bother staying longer than a couple of beers unless it was a nice day and I could get a table overlooking the lock.
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As with most Wetherspoons, it serves good drinks at good prices. The food isn't too bad either, certainly no worse than equivalent pubs in the area, including some of the more "gastro" ones on Parkway. Their curry club is quite good, and I say this coming from Bradford.
It's full of all sorts, old men, groups of lads, couples, so it's unsurprising that some people find it a little intimidating ("townies" ffs! Where do you live, rural Berkshire?). The place doesn't have the "atmosphere" that an established pub has, but as with most places it's the people that you're personally with that make or break it. Its a perfectly pleasant enough place for a few drinks on a night after work, or for a dessert to the excellent cocktails served at Bar 55's happy hour around the corner!
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Probably the worst Wetherspoons mixed grill i have ever had in my life(and that is saying something)why dont i learn.
That said, for a couple of drinks early evening,you could do worse than going in here.It certainly keeps the price of a night out in Camden Town down a bit(why is a north London manor priced like the west end?!)
Not a night out, but a good starting point, and i would imagine quite pleasant sitting by the Canal in the Summer.
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Why would anybody wish to go in here? Really, why?
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Popped into this place on New Year's Day and again a few days later. Reasonable ambience, at least during the afternoon during this holiday period when even Camden is almost deserted.
Basically a JDW with music. I was just about able to handle the Scissor Sisters at this time of day, but Joss Stone prompted me to explore further afield.
Disabled access and toilet.
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Weekend evenings they will frisk you so hard you feel you're an Arab trying to get on an El-Al. You are manifestly over 40 but ID will be required. Minimum twenty minute wait at the bar.
However in the week it can be a nice place for a cheap unfussed pint in Camden; always a selection of guest beers and not too badly served. Hardly ever even approaches capacity. Really nice outside bit by the canal.
Previous reviewer: "Jekyll and Hyde" - haha. Exactly.
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not a bad place to start the night...
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a jekyll and hyde of a pub. best time to go for a pint is before 1pm - good service, good selection of real ales for �1.99 (recommend Spitfire) , quite relaxed. At 1 weekdays you can't get near the bar once the office hordes descend for the (good value it must be said) food. At weekends the tourists arrive and they all want COFFEE (it's a pub for god's sake) which takes for ever to make. Expect a good ten minutes wait. Should have separate service for drinks only. Tim Martin take note!
anonymous - 30 Oct 2007 10:25 |
The guy's on the door ask you're age even though to a blind man he can tell how old you look. Not a great place to go, but is cheap.
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Met a friend here for a meal and drink one lunchtime. I really like this pub and it's in a great location by the canal. We sat outside by I did get pestered by a wino who wanted to borrow 38p to buy another can of Stella. The food was nice and I had a pint of the guest ale BOB (Gloucestershire Brewery) which at �1.99 was good value. The interior is funky and the toilets were clean as you'd expect from a Spoons pub.
Reading through some of the previous comments it doesn't look particularly nice but as I went during the daytime I did very much enjoy the visit and recommend stopping off there if you've just tramped round Camden Market...
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Visited the Ice Wharf today with friends & had no problem at all - even sitting outside.
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went in after eating in camden and was shocked at how bad the guys on the door were the pub was fairly empty and I think they must have been bored cos they were extremely abusive to two women who hadn't done anything except buy a drink and sit outside and be loud I will never go there again should have known better sfter all it is a weatherspoons oh by the way are your 'Door Supervisors' licensed
anonymous - 20 May 2007 12:19 |
Rubbish - having dodged the drug dealers on the walk to the pub you then face having to empty your pockets on the way in and getting frisked airport style.
Full of Camdens undesirables and a poor pint of lager meant we only stayed for one. On a plus point, toilets are very good. Wetherspoons do deserve recognition for the consistently high standard of facilities across the chain - have been my salvation on a number of occassions!
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The staff were great! I love this pub
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Where to start.
Getting searched and having to empty your pockets to even get into the place was not that reassuring. Beer is ok and pretty cheap, I will give them that. For risk of sounding like an old man, music was too loud, the staff were as un-helpful as could be possible. There are so many better pubs in the area, I would rather rip out my own toe nails, cover them in arsenic and eat them than go back.
anonymous - 5 Apr 2007 11:00 |
Big modern curved building alongside Camden Lock. A little dark - though the candles help create a relaxed atmosphere. Indeed, apart from a Buddhist monk begging for money, there was a genuinely calm, family friendly atmosphere among the very mixed client�le. The place is just a little tatty - some holes in the seating, and a general feeling of being tired and in need of spruce up, but is really not bad. It has a feel of a seedy run down cinema foyer. The staff were all very friendly and polite. The service was very quick. Food, good value, and the beer was in good condition. A decent enough place, if lacking in charm and atmosphere.
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Rather a bad experience on my last visit - the Abbot (the only non-guest beer on then) had run out, and no cask beer was offered with a meal deal. There were guests, but I had to pay the full price (although only 10p more than Abbot)as it's not JDW policy to include these in the deal.
I'm finding it almost impossible to use JDW pubs now.
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Have to agree with some of the previous posts- staff we're awful. Boy running the show didn't seem interested, no queue management and the barmaid didn't even know the beer I was trying to order (which was off anyway!).
Food was alright though and fairly cheap.
Middle of the road but that's what you expect with a chain pub.
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Staff and rude and uninterested, they act like they've just had a rough night out and aren't in the mood for dealing with people. Place is big, bland and totally characterless and it's full of chavs drinking Magners. Awful pub.
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great in the summer, can drink outside by the lock and its a good atmosphere..
staff are shite though...slow service and they dont even smile....
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This is a great place to spend a few hours. The music is varied, the drinks are reasonably priced, with a great range, and the clientele are interesting, pleasant and cosmopolitan. The service is always excellent - it definitely makes a difference to be met by staff who smile and don't mind a bit of banter while the drinks are being poured. Slight turn for the worse recently, staff-wise, as a new under-manager seems to create a strong mal heaume with the other staff and the pub regulars too, i've noticed. Hopefully he'll be gone soon however.
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Superb location, reasonably tasteful and comfortable decor, great range of drinks but not as much cheaper than the competition than they once were. Barstaff are slooooooooow and then some. Nice for a quick drink on a hot day but strangely devoid of any atmosphere so not a place you'd chose to stay in for very long. All in all, one of those places that has the potential to go either way (beer selection, location and decor suggest it could become a great pub, service and atmosphere lead you to believe it could be a terrible pub) but ultimately it's just mediocre.
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horrible pikey pub that isn't even cheap. what's the point???
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No, it really isn't good. It is actually dreadful. And certainly not "posh" - in fact quite the reverse though I'd prefer not to say what that is.
anonymous - 27 Jun 2006 14:10 |
Agreed that this is a better llyods bar. Does greatly help with the scenic location. Staff are friendly and bouncers do a good job. Saw them chuck out a dvd flogger!
Was a bit rough after a few ales. Maybe the way they were kept or just one too many! Worth a few visits
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i think its extremely good for a posh wetherspoon. best one i've ever been to. people are always nice, and its lovely in the summer. clean, nice food, beer is well kept. and its right on the social bit of the canal so there's loads going on. its pretty good really.
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For those who are unaware, Lloyds bars are Wetherspoons, though slightly trendier and with music. I've only been in this one a few times, but aside from the overcrowding, it isn�t too bad and seems fairly clean in comparison to others.
HTM69 - 31 May 2006 20:07 |
Pretty uninspiring Wetherspoons fare.
Nice selection of beers, but don't be foolish enough to try any of the cask ales - it will be off or very poorly looked after.
Food is cheap, but terrible.
Nice enough surroundings and atmoshphere though. It could be worse.
anonymous - 27 May 2006 10:51 |
A bit bland full of pretentious models with no personality.... now im a model but i like a good conversation with someone
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I actually really like this Wetherspoons/Lloyds bar. It is more of a bar than a pub but as long as they continue to sell nice Hogaarden and Fruli at such low prices I'll keep coming back. Also one of the few pubs in Camden (Apart from the dev) where the person sitting next to you hasn't used their own trousers as a toilet!
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Ok to come for a couple of pints before a gig in Camden but it's one of the more soulless of Wetherspoon's pubs and that is saying something!
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This is one of the nicer bars in Camden - despite having a pretty awful reputation some years ago the new Management have been working hard to get rid of the rubbish and replace them with decent people.
Nothing like a normal Wetherspoon pub, this has a different menu, LIVE Jazz on Wednesday and DJ's playing Soul, Funk and House music and not a cheesy tune in site. My friends and I have started using this bar on a Saturday night before we go clubbling in Central London and the atmosphere is usually excellent. A chain bar with personality :0)
anonymous - 18 Sep 2005 00:44 |
For a weatherspoons, it's not too bad. Celerbrated my last two birthdays there. I can't remember much else about it............
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Aside from having all the personality and ambience of an airport departure lounge, this pub isn't too bad. A few real ales and lagers on tap, plenty of room, food's usually not awful and comes out fairly promptly, and there's usually enough staff on that you can get served fairly quickly.
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This pub is really nice to go to, it has got the 'townies' that peole call them but i dont see a reason why that should put people off. The food is excellent, it hasnt nothing to do with the fact my boyfriend is the kitchen manager there : ) I have been there with my family to have meals and they were all to specification and at a perfect temperature and the prices are very reasonable. I would recommend this pub to anyone who wants a decent drink or a tasty meal and a decent price!!
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Yet an other version of weatherspoons but called lloyds No1, cheap beer is all one can say about it.
gerry - 26 Oct 2004 16:03 |
if you like a good pint, quality food, a good atmosphere and any sort of sport on in a pub then this is most definatly NOT the place for you, but if you like an atmosphere you could cut with a knife and big groups of young ( and i mean YOUNG) towneys this is ythe place for ypou
Billy - 20 Sep 2004 18:23 |
A weatherspoons, so very cheap, but full of very young townies - maybe it's pretty lax about checking for ID, although the bouncers are pretty vigilent about everything else.
Not very nice basically. Go there if you like ales and/or laughing at lads with gelled fringes.
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its a reasonably priced bar. thats it.
why do they have a guy in the loos to put soap on your hands and give you a towel??? yuk!
also its so dark in the bar, even on a nice day outside.
danny - 25 Aug 2004 12:14 |
