please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not review since my own one last year, so here goes this year's review......
A Monday night visit after working locally. Good to find out that all of the ales are £2.55 a pint on a Monday ,that’s a saving of over a £1.00 a pint.
6 hand pumps that had 5 ales on, I started on and stayed on Robinson’s Trooper all evening, the more I had the worse it tasted but after 5 pints I’d had enough of it.
It’s a nice enough large open plan sports and music orientated pub, the service is a bit slow and non-existent sometimes and the food I had on this visit (Nacho’s) were pretty damn ordinary, bland and fairly tasteless but full of jalapeno’s to give it a bit of a kick.
The clientele is mixed between locals and tourists of all ages. As I say not a bad pub but it feels just like a chain and can be a bit soulless, though it does serve a purpose..
Convenient for London Zoo, Regents Park and Camden.
|
I made my first ever visit after working locally on a Monday night having spent the last 10 days walking past the pub almost twice a day!
The Earl is a huge place with ample seating and standing area, lots of screens up showing the football game that was live on sky, there on this visit the pub was quite empty, probably because it was a Monday.
4 ales across the 4 hand pumps, with more offerings on keg including Sam Adams Boston Lager & Camden Hells. I opted for several pints of Ringwood Best Bitter on cask with everyone being a decent drop.
The food deals were good but I don’t recall seeing anyone eating.
I stayed for several hours in this pleasant pub, with the music being played at an acceptable level that also allowed chatter. Decent enough pub.
|
I popped in on a Monday night and have to say it was a nice atmosphere as it was open mic night. Some incredibly good acts, however this was all tainted by the most surly bar staff I have ever had the displeasure of meeting.
The pub itself is quite large and spacious and lots of interesting bits and pieces dotted around to catch your eye. Because of the size it was quite cold in there.
The staff only warmed up when introducing the acts to perform, and then switched instantaneously to glare at you with a look of utter disdain when you required service; perhaps they are struggling artisans that think they are too good to serve you a pint and I disturbed them as they were in the middle of writing a sonnet in their head… or something!? How rude of me to go to a pub expecting a drink! - Perhaps they were actually responsible for the cold temperature!
The toilets are outside the interior doors and so any Tom, Dick or Harry could use them, and to be honest by the state of them, they probably did! I always find it quite alarming when not a single doorlock works on any cubicle.
The music was good. The pub is nicely laid out. Drinks are well priced. The service abysmal. I'd probably pay the extra if I wasn't bothered about the music and go to The Spread Eagle across the road.
|
Terrible service this evening. Not enough bar staff on duty and those that were simply served whoever had pushed in at the bar first (generally pretty girls who started a conversation straight away even with the girls). Result - 10 minute wait for a pint. Staff training definitely needed here.
|
Went on a Tuesday on my way to a gig.
The place was very busy & I can see why,the food was good & exceptional value & plenty of beers to choose from.
Quite noisy & a young clientele, good though.
|
Sizeable place so it was easy to get a seat mid-week. Preferred it to the Spread Eagle across the road. Staff on the ball and helpful.
|
I was in here last night after work and found it to have a great atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and the music is good. In terms of the drinks on offer the selection is extensive, there's definitley something for everyone. However if there was a downside to this pub it would have to be the food. The quality is not great but on the other hand I suppose it is value for money. As long as you going knowing what to expect from the food you can't complain. Overall I had a great night here and can definitley say I will be returning.
|
Just had to say i think this is one of the best pubs i have been to in camden. The staff are friendly and very helpful. The choice of beer is great and the food is not amazing but excellent quality for the price you pay. Also excellent choice for sports, so overall i would happily go again and recommend this pub to anyone that wants to have a good time.
|
Not the best. Bar staff here are incredibly slow (dare I say lazy?). The selection of beer is not great and I'm no expert but I'm not sure it tasted like it should.
Very cold as well at this time of year. Did someone forget to pay the gas bill?
|
If you like to wash your microwaved chicken on bread down with a beer this is the pub for you. I won't be eating there again. Wilted salad and tomato ends on 3 different plates of food! Rough as food gets in London.
|
Landlord is good, but not always on. Wedge card makes for amazing value. Good for sport, comfortable, good location
|
I like this place. If you work locally the Camden Wedge Card is accepted and accepted well with some 20% discount on food and drinks! Not bad. Plenty of big screens to watch sport and a decent selection of beers, lagers and friendly bar-staff.
No trouble, even when Arsenal were playing Spurs and the place was mixed with supporters, just a good atmosphere.
Don't expect to much from the food as pointed out by other reviewers, but it is cheap, convenient and I've had a lot lot worse.
|
Ok, food not great - but at least its cheap - where else can you get 2 meals for 5.95 total?
Pub is great - very friendly staff and beer kept well with good choices - and probably the only pub i've been to where the staff wander around when they are not busy asking if you would like a drink brought to you ! - how about that !!
I like this place, no hassle,no agression and you can watch the tasty bits walking past the goldfish window.
Oh , and also , very accommodating when it comes to putting sports on big screen - Sky,ESPN,Eurosport - if you ask them nicely, they will put it on for you.
|
OK if you like a round of a pint of Fosters and Stella at �6.65 and crap, refried food - they make Wetherspoon's food look good (and that's saying something) - substandard and not good given previous experience - nip up the road on the same side instead for better prices and better food!
|
Far too modern and bland. No character and staff about the same. Khazi in my view. I'll mark it one out of ten just for being open at 11 am.
|
Wow. I never like to go in chain pubs, but you'd never know this is one! The price of the drinks is competitive, and the d�cor and friendliness of the staff is great. A surprising treat.
|
I like this pub. I've been here often over the last couple of years and I've always found the barstaff really pleasant and attentive, which even now still surprises me considering that they look like a bunch of slacker students who shouldn't really care! It has massive windows and the corner location makes it great for people-watching down Parkway. They usually have Sky Sports News on and they show football matches, but it's not a sports pub really (which is good). I don't know or care if it has a good beer selection but they do sell Staropramen which is what I like - but unfortunately this is probably the most expensive pub around the area. Can't comment on the food as I've never eaten here - and judging by the reviews below, that seems wise!
|
Warm friendly pub with terrible food. I guess they are trying to compete with places like Weatherspoons by offering two meals for �7.95. But the chilli con carne came swimming in oil. So much so that I could fill half a pint glass directly from my plate! And my boyfriends hambuger was a hard lump of meat more reminiscent of modelling clay than food.
|
A veritable banquet of 'meh'. Not very good, though not really, really bad either.
|
Handy for Camden, has Deuchers IPA, ok to watch football in, that's about it.
|
Watched the Arsenal game in here last night. Supposedly had Deuchars, Bombardier and Pride but only the latter was on. Unforgivably they didn't turn the pump clips around all night. Bar staff left something to be desired too, had no clue what I was on about when I was asking for Deuchars or Erdinger (which again they didn't have despite it being on the menu).
On the whole not the worst place to watch football and maybe it was an off night but can only rate on how it was.
|
This spacious, modern pub was formerly a Hogshead and is placed handily for all the usual Camden attractions. The open plan interior is a mix of stone and wooden flooring, bare brick walls, large picture windows and a mass of exposed air conditioning pipes. It sounds horrific to someone who prefers pubs that are bit more traditional but I found it all quite aesthetic and harmonious. The open plan is interrupted only by a brace of brick pillars bridged by some shelves containing various jugs urns etc. The 3 Real ales (Deuchars, Pride and Bombardier) are complemented by Westons cider on hand pump although at �3.40 this seems a bit pricey, especially given that the Deuchers was only �2.70. There is also a selection of bottled beers from around the globe. The 3 plasma screens show a variety of sports but there are signs up saying that if there is something you want to watch, just let tell the staff and they will try and accommodate you. Nice to find a place with such a flexible attitude and it is simple things like this that sort out the good from the bad. At the rear is a pool table (weekly competitions held) and there are the usual run of quiz / fruit machines as well as board games and a weekly quiz night. There is seating outside under canopies for those that wish to watch the traffic pass by. For a pub that could easily be taken as a rather soulless cavern, I found the place to be a pleasant surprise with a fresh and vibrant approach. I would certainly pay a return visit.
|
very friendly staff. they warn you about dodgey people and keep an eye for all the customers. quick service. the food menu is much better now, it is all fresh. the music on a saturday night is really good and gets everyone in the mood to go out after. the manager is really nice, she is very sweet and helpful. all in all a very good night out, i would recommend it to everyone.
anonymous - 14 Jul 2007 14:13 |
Good place, friendly staff - but as tony says, you have to watch out for pickpockets. My wallet was swiped from a closed bag hanging from my chair..
|
This is not the greatest of pubs, but it was nice not having to queue at the bar for ages like I had to in the bars by the lock.
The staff seemed OK and the pub had a lot of Aussies in it as the cricket final was on. The pub shut at 23:00 and there was no bell or any signal that the bar was shutting. Thankfully the management had the sense to let everyone watch the end of the cricket which didn�t finish until 23:35ish
Beer was OK and didn�t find fault with the toilets, but there are plenty of pubs in Camden, so I probably will never go in here again.
|
What an amazing pub. Best one in the world. Definetly worth going. The staff are really friendly and funny. Plus students set 25% off everything mon-fri. WKD!!! Definetly go.
anonymous - 18 Apr 2007 13:22 |
Went in here last weekend for the first time since its refit and renaming. Nothing much has changed except the chairs seem slightly more comfortable and the paint job is a shade or two darker. Prices and range of beer(big brand name lagers, bugger all ales) seem identical. Still a decent enough pub if you just want somewhere to have a drink that isn't too quiet but where it is still possible to hold a conversation with your drinking buddies. Not overly pricey and can end up being a good place to settle into for the evening if you can grab a table.
|
Watch your bags and possesions in this place... Seriously.
tonys - 19 Sep 2006 15:43 |
still the same problems the old hogshead had: distant staff, funny sometimes odd atmosphere (keep hold of yr bags, ladies!) and the position of the toilets means that homeless people and druggies don't have to eneter the pub to use them, so thats the toilets sloshed away into hell then.
anonymous - 8 Aug 2006 14:51 |
on a pub crawl through camden one night, we came across this pub and it is definitely the best looking pub around, BUT thats as far as it goes. The bar staff were cold, not unfriendly but didn't give a damn about customer service. Very pricey like most pubs in camden, but at least in other pubs you get service and friendly smiles. Here, you pay for the honour of drinking in this pub..
|
This place changed it's name to The Earl of Camden a few months ago. Not much has changed though. I've sworn never to go here again. The staff are a bit on the cold side and were very unhelpful when their cigarette machine ate all my money, despite repeated calls it looks like I won't see that back. Had my wallet nicked in there last week and my friend had her mobile nicked the same night. All in all, not many redeeming features other than benches outside and ok (but expensive) beer. I won't be going back, ever.
|
Prob the worst hogshead i'd been to, but the staff were lovely used to come say hi to me at work and i had a platinum card and got discounts on Mondays- wikked
|
Didn't Hogsheads used to be micro breweries as well? Oh well, whatever, never mind. Smart, modern boozer on Parkway with a good range of lagers (although not much out of the ordinary). Atmosphere always pleasant from my experience. Prices slightly below the typical rate for the area. Music isn't bad and doesn't deafen you. No complaints at all really. Worth getting a table though as standing area can get packed.
One question though-Why is there one of those blacklight lamps in the cubicle in the gents toilets? It ruins your concentration somewhat!
|
got better since christmas...music's better than before and it now shows cartoons rather than those annoying offer screens that u see in every hogshead the world over!!
nice n bright, its still a chain but its spacious and has out door seating.
anonymous - 24 May 2005 13:31 |
I'm not a great fan of this pub, but I went in the other day at lunchtime - the barman asked us what we wanted whilst on the phone, all the ales were off, the barman then forgot to charge me for my drink, the food is distinctly average and is often hilariously slow, there is no atmosphere in this cavernous onsense. The one rating is for the quality of its new pool table (at �1.20). The table footy has gone. Guess I still don't like the place!!
Owen - 26 May 2004 13:57 |
Is'nt this pub Damon Albarn's favourite pub???
anonymous - 6 Apr 2004 00:20 |
why oh why have the hogshead chain got rid of their belgian beer range. it was the only reason to go in there!
Chris - 24 Oct 2003 12:58 |
not a bad boozer if u fancy a quick pint before you head out.the women barstaff are nice and so danny the manager is cool.
|
This has recently been refurbished to look even more like an All Bar One albeit it's poorer brother. The toilets are a nice size and they were in the process of being checked for cleanliness on one of my visits. Although the Hogs Head is part of the Whitbread chain used to be different as it would sell a nice collection of Belgium Beers and usually a decent real ale but their bar selection seemed to have become just another ordinary Whitbread pub but with the addition of San Miguel on draft of which was a good pint. Wednesday night is host to a Table Football competition of which we didn't enter. I am not massive on this pub, although it did get pretty busy but it is just a normal wooden floored, high ceilinged pub which hosts the same character and charm as you would expect from a house decked out purely with IKEA furniture
Doofer - 6 Aug 2003 12:55 |
it's a friendly, spaceous place, with nice food, and a nice range of drinks. I prefer it, as it's not quite as scuzzy as some of the camden places, yet it doesn't venture into the relms of trendy wine bar
novadandypowder - 14 Jan 2003 11:31 |
