please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Dear oh dear. One of my favourite London boozers in what looks like permanent decline. Was an excellent community pub with very well kept beer and home cooked cheap food. Landlord who had been there for over 30 years has gone, been sold by Youngs to Punch. Visited at 6 on a weekday. Only person in there. Loud bland worst type of 80s pop music playing. Ale undrinkable.
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Popped in here St Georges Day as i was out and about.
Very well kept pint(can't remember what i had now).
Decent staff in a very traditional old school cockney boozer.
Great pub to spend a few hours, will be frequenting this place a lot more often.
I don't eat in pubs as a rule, but what i saw of the grub it looked good.
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Still Young’s pub no problem with quality beer there. Visited on a Saturday afternoon when full of welsh rugby shirts meaning had to awkwardly stand at bar assuming we would obscure their view of match just starting. Maybe we did because turned around after receiving beer and they’d gone! On leaving ourselves realised they had ventured across the road to London Welsh Club. Our stop off was for a pint during a pub crawl, would suggest probably more suited to this than a long stay.
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Lovely old school boozer in the heart of Bloomsbury. Young's Special was in good condition.
Outside seating area, where unbelievably for the area, an elderly couple had come for a drive and were having a pint in their classic Citreon DS. I found this quite cute.
Worth hunting out for a classic pub experience.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2vEHXrf
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Excellent old school boozer with carpet and curtains, very reasonable home made food.
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A proper, and very reliable, street corner boozer seeling Youngs beers (and guests). I confess to being a Youngs fan and I haven't had a bad pint in there yet.
Long may it continue without being gentrified
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One of the very few central london (or indeed London) pubs which has not been turned into a gastropub/effectively a restaurant (though the once I ate here the food was fine).
The beer here is always very well kept (Young's range including all the bottles as oldandmild says) and couple of others (usually including Tribute). Old time landlord, he wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but he keeps a good pint and runs a good pub in my view.
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If you are near King's Cross/st.Pancras Station donot miss this one.Friendly locals pub with an old time landlord.Stocks young's bottles including their light ale.How nice in 2015 to be able to go into a London pub order a pint of "light and bitter" and be understood.Long may it survive.
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Went in for a couple last night after watching the rugby at the nearby london welsh centre. Lovely couple of pints of meantime and sat at the bar for a chat with the friendly staff. Can't remember much else about the place though as I'd had several pints of brains' during the game! Would def go back.
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Had pint of Whitstable. Awful. Tasted sour. Mentioned it to both bar maids and got told it was ok without them trying it. Walked out. Went to Tottenham. Much better. Shame
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Pleasantly cosy and although recently refurbished, quite in keeping with a traditional atmosphere. Very reasonable prices for food and snacks. Young's beer isn't my favourite but they seem to keep it well and there's a few guest ales too. Well worth a visit.
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One of the better pubs on or near Grays Inn road. It was our 1st pub to visit after getting from the States. We had looked in on the Water Rats and Lucas Arms but didn't like the ale selection in those. My wife had Tribute and I had Youngs bitter. Both were in fine form and perfect temperature. We had lunch, with my son and I having bacon butties and my wife had the fish sandwich. Very good food and cheap for london. We will be back.
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Part of a tour of pubs which was overall not very satisfactory, comprising the Pakenham, Queen’s Head Acton st (easily the best) Calthorpe Arms (easily the worst) Euston Tap and Doric Arch.
Worst pub for beer this evening by a mile, and I’m surprised this is in the CAMRA guide, I never did like Youngs and now it’s brewed by Wells it’s even worse so I tried the ubiquitous Tribute (so much for CAMRAs “locale” project. The Tribute was over warm and not very pleasant, and my mate said the Special was poor. Last time I came in here was in 2005 and it’ll be more than 8 years before I go back. 4/10
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A friendly and well-run neighbourhood pub. Young trendies looking for a nightclub atmosphere may be disappointed but most mature drinkers will love it. The fact that the Calthorpe now has guest beers such as Purity Gold is all the more reason for going there.
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Nice Youngs pub like they used to be, with a comfortable relaxed atmosphere.
Not the usual Youngs gastro refurb, thank goodness.
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The recent refurbishment is very tastefully done, so this great pub just got even better!
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Well kept Youngs range of beers at reasonable prices in this corner local.
Very male place if that suits. A harkback perhaps.
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Thankfully I didn't encounter the same barmaid as Stoner! The girl serving on my visit was dark haired and very pleasent. The pub wasn't crowded although a group of budding actors at a couple of tables ensured there was a constant babble. It was a nice change to find a pub in the area with a choice of seats. The place is neatly laid out and with no music and a TV with the sound off it has an old fashioned feel to it. There were 3 beers on, I had the St Austell Tribute which was very good. Not the sort of place I'd want to stay for the evening but a good pub to meet up in for a couple before moving on.
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"Old fashioned, well-worn pub would be the cliched description"
I totally agree. This has been a favourite of mine for some time, purely for the decent beer, great food and friendly bar staff. All are still the same apart from the later. The short, blonde, scouse barmaid is quite possibly one of the RUDEST barmaids I've ever come across. No scrub that, she's one of the rudest human beings I've ever come across. I was in there a few weeks back with about 4 other people and she took all of our drink orders at the same time and wanted to charge us a total rather than us wanting to buy our own drinks. I put this down to the fact that she'd gotten out of the wrong side of the bed, had the decorators in or perhaps hadn't had any in a while. (To be honest I'd be surprised if she'd had any EVER!!!) I went in this pub again today to be greeted once more by her slapped ar5e for a face and poor attitude. Add to that the fact that there was a dead mouse upstairs laying on the carpet and I can see why no one has been in here recently.
R.I.P The Calthorpe Arms. I will miss yor nuclear lasagne so... x
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I used to really like this pub. Decent food and the quality of the beer is fantastic. It's been in the good beer guide forever for good reason.
Everything has changed now though. THe beer is still good though.
Ordered food from quite possibly the most miserable barmaid i've ever met.
Took a table upstairs and was confronted by a dead mouse, in the middle of the room.
I always thought the stairs smelt a little bit like urine, but always laughed that off.
FInding a dead mouse in full view was the last straw though.
I won't be back
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Old fashioned, well-worn pub would be the cliched description.. and add desolate as only myself and an old codger were present this afternoon. Tried the Special which didn't really live up to it's name for such an illustrious GBG entry...drinkable but certainly nothing special - have had far better pints of it in non listed alehouses. Noticed that they had a good selection of the Youngs bottled ales and would probably have the stout if I were to venture in again.
anonymous - 18 Aug 2010 19:02 |
Decent traditional boozer, the Youngs ordinary was as good as i've tasted anywhere in the last few years. Definately worth a visit if in the area.
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Nicely laid out traditional pub. Found staff pretty indifferent, but owners friendly. Seems very much a locals pub, busy at lunchtimes as food is pretty cheap (around �5 per meal). Not Egon Ronay, but doesn't pretend to be. Pretty basic, which I don't mean as an insult, good selection of drinks, similar prices to nearby pubs.
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This is a proper boozer with four hand pumps, three of which were dispensing Youngs beers and the other Tribute during my recent visit. There is also a standard draught selection alongside what looked like the full youngs bottled ale selection.
There is a TV up in the corner that was showing the snooker on BBC which was muted and I do not recall any music being played.
This is a local�s pub without an attitude towards strangers and although I probably wouldn�t stay here all night it is perfect for a couple of quiet pints.
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A proper old traditional street corner boozer, thankfully not messed around. A little strange to find what is clearly a long standing Youngs house this far north of the river but the windows have the Ram lower etched portion.
Now a single room with the bar along the back wall but still visible is the old centre access now covered by an exterior bench and interior radiator in between the upholstered bench seats. This tells the tale of the once multiple room layout.
The bar is attractive if functional with some carving and a brass footrail. Carpeted, traditional seating with cast iron wooden topped tables and stools/banquettes. A sign directs upstairs to a dining room but I didn't look in and doubt it is used much, very quiet Fri afternoon.
Youngs Bitter, Special, Winter Warmer and nice to see, guest St Austell Tribute. Brim full pint, no request for a top up needed here, great old pub that reminded me of pubs of times now gone. TV in the corner and one fruit machine but not intrusive. Hopefully the brewery will leave this place as it is.
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A handsome, historic pub. The inquest into the death of PC Robert Culley in 1833, the first policeman to be killed in a riot, was held in an upstairs room here.
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This is how London pubs should be - a fine traditional interior that the "modernisers" have not yet touched. The Calthorpe is aYoungs pub (I don't think there are many in this area) and is a single room with tables and benches around the external walls. There was a quirky range of customers (quirky in the manner of entertaining rather than offensive)
It's hard to describe why this place is so good but it is and I'll be returning when next in the area.
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This is the best pub in Bloomsbury. The comment in June by rpadam about the barmaid relates to an Australian kid and her boyfriend who are no longer there. The current staff are friendly, knowledgable about the beer and food and always remember what you like to order, whether that be food or drink. This is impressive anywhere nowadays, but almost unheard of in central London. I visit every Friday lunch and other lunchtimes when necessary. This is how pubs should be, cosy, local and with great staff and the food is very good and great value.
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Only visited this pub once because the atmosphere felt hostile and stale. Very traditional decor, feels like it should be set in the middle of a country village rather than in WC1. Not cheap either - payed over �3.50 for a lager, if memory serves well. Won't be rushing back any time soon I'm afraid.
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Since it's merger with wells , youngs have been adding guest ales to thier pubs and i am pleased to say this pub is serving St Austell Tribute , a fine ale indeed . The food here is also fine . Probaly the best pub in bloomsbury .
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A proper, old-fashioned Youngs house selling a very decent pint of Special. If you being picky you might wish that the barmaid was a bit more cheerful, otherwise nearly perfect if you like this sort of place (which I do). Let's hope that the corporate makeover team lose their A-Z before they get round to giving this place a makeover.
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Remains excellent - attention to detail without having suffered the makeovers elsewhere in the estate. Decent beer.
Beware the microwaved mulled wine in the winter though.
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Nice to sit outside on a sunny day - felt at home immediately.
I will be back!
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Previous reviews have said it all really. When you�ve almost given up on finding a traditional pub with good service and good beer just head for the Calthorpe Arms and spend an hour or so pretending that the last 25 years hasn�t yet happened. The beer range is of course restricted to Youngs but they do have a lot of the bottled range as well for a bit of variety.
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Can only agree with mtaylor40. Good old unpretentious youngs pub.
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This is a nice-looking, unpretensious, pub with well-kept real ale. I haven't eaten here myself, but the food on other people's plates looks really appealing. I would really like to be writing a positive review, but ...
they have a TV screen showing sports, and a few nights ago I had the worst bar-service that I have experienced in many years:
1. I had to wait 10 minutes to be served -- the clueless barmaid did not see me standing there (she didn't look at other customers while she poured a Guinness slowly), and repeatedly served other people first, who had not been waiting as long as me.
2. Eventually a spotty Australian/Kiwi chap appeared to take my order: one pint, one wine spritzer, and one mulled wine. He managed the first two without too much trouble, then said I'd have to wait for the mulled wine (which he pronounced "muled"). I offered to pay, so he asked me to remind him what I had ordered. Having reminded him, and paid �9.50, I waited while he served someone else. Then I asked him if my mulled wine was read yet, and he said "not yet". I waited some more. I asked again. Eventually he said he would bring the mulled wine over to my table when it was ready. Five minutes later the mulled wine had still not appeared, so I went back to the bar. He had forgotten about it, and it was sitting in the microwave. He gave it to me, and the glass was so hot it nearly burnt my hand. I tried to say that this could not be right, but he assured me (even though he did not even know how to pronounce the drink) that this is how it is supposed to be.
In all it took me about 20 minutes to get one round of drinks, including a ridiculously hot glass of mulled wine. The pub could be great, but I can't recommend it until they get some new bar staff.
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A proper unpretentious local with the excellent Youngs beers that keep it in the Beer Guide year after year. Still very good indeed.
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Popped in here almost by accident a few weeks back when looking for somwhere to watch a rugby game. Turned out to be a stroke of luck - it's a wonderful old fashioned boozer with a laid back atmosphere and well served Young's beer. I can't imagine there'll be too many places like this around soon, so make the most of it while it's still there.
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If I were you I'd get here fast before Youngs estates department muck around with it. A very pleasant pub, with attentive bar staff, a mixed clientele, no piped music and plenty of atmosphere.I was here for the first time last week with some drinking cronies and we all agreed that we should return before too long. The ales were all good and there was a guest from a Cornish brewery whose name escapes me.
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Surprised to find I hadn't previously reviewed this superior pub. Since the gastro-isation / tarting up of much of Young's portfolio over the past year, it's become increasingly difficult to find old school Young's pubs but the Calthorpe fulfils that role splendidly. It manages to tread the line between being a genuine local's pub but remaining welcome to visitors and does so very well. The beer is nearly always in very good order and this is well worth a visit - although beware, it's a surprising distance from a tube station.
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My favorite pub in London.
Great pub, committed to real ales, run with pride by a nice Landlord Adrian, who has a real culinary flair. Speaking of which, the food is excellent and really good value with everything < �5. The Sunday Dinners are superb, with proper meat and yorkshire puds!
The staff are always well mannered and polite.
The locals are lovely and you are never stuck for someone to chat to if you want. A rarity in this city.
The fact that the pub does not have sky sports is a real plus as it keeps the idiots at bay who tend to frequent the inferior pubs in the area.
Fine choice of ales.
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This is a great pub serving four real ales , proper english food at reasonable prices, fish and chips , sausages, pies and sandwiches. Friendly staff and well manered clientele. Equal distance from Kings Cross and Holborn , buses 17, 45 and 46 stop right outside .
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This looks like a traditional Young�s pub � or perhaps more accurately how a traditional Young�s pub should look. Certainly the windows had rams etched in them, and the glass from which I drank my pint of Special was branded �Ram Brewery � Wandsworth�. What a bit of nostalgia. The walls, ceiling, bar and old-fashioned radiator were all still reassuringly brown. The corner doors were somewhat battered, as if they had seen some serious action over the last 50+ years, and had clearly been overpainted on numerous occasions. The bristles on the welcome mat were only visible at the edges as the centre was caked solidly with dirt brought in by thousands of feet over the years. Oh � and the food that some punters were eating looked pretty good as well. What an excellent pub � I love it, and will definitely be returning.
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Traditional unspoilt Youngs pub within walking distance of The Lamb in Lambs Conduit Street.
Mainly a locals pub - it's always nice to be reminded that you're not the only English person still in London - well worth calling in if passing by.
Run by a long standing tenant, the pub is unspoilt as yet by the Youngs refurbishment hit squad
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Spent a pleasant couple of hours here this evening enjoying the atmosphere of a proper London pub which has avoided the passing fads of fashion, and which has remained a traditional local boozer.
The beer is superbly kept - and may be "only Youngs" to quote an earlier reviewer, but you won't find a finer pint of it for miles.
I'd go back.
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Great Local. Youngs always in tip-top shape. Very friendly, excellent service and good food. What more could you want. I know several buses stop just outside.
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The ultimate local. Good pint of ordinary served with a smile. Average age about 60. Sky Sports discreetly available on a small TV if you want it.
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Pleasant and friendly no-frills pub serving the full range of Youngs. Worth a visit but as it's only Youngs which isn't my beer of choice would only do a couple in here.
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This pub deserves all of the many accolades it has earned over the years. Friendly staff, great beer well kept and lovingly served, free tasty fishy themed bar snacks (on the Sunday I was there anyway) and a lunch menu packed with well priced and unbelievably large portions of good solid grub, the kind guaranteed to soak up all of the previously mentioned great beer. Handy for Kings Cross and Euston and the west end, yet far enough off the beaten track in central London to ensure that the pub still fills like a cosy local transported brick by brick from a remote mountainside by an enterprising landlord. The pub can also boast a large comfortable and highly reasonable function room, as well as changing cast of inebriated dental students from over the road, should you ever lose a tooth or need some root canal work whilst you imbibe yourself insensible.
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This has been voted pub of the year by the north london branch of CAMRA, it is a very good youngs pub serving good food in a pleasant atmosphere.
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Friendly pub, good well priced food, and the Youngs Ordinary as ever was in fine fettle. For Sports lovers there is a non intrusive Sky screen.
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Superb pub with mainly local trade but a warm welcome for all. Guvnor Adrian is a top bloke who keeps his beers in fine condition. Youngs may not be what is was but on this form it's as good as many.
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Great little pub. Good staff.
Great mix of folks tonigh: a friendly local at the end of the bar helping the staff out collecting the glasses (and also winning a shed load on the gambler), scary local at the other end making grunting noises. A crowd of students round one table, a lairy Sikh holding court with his fellow grafters at another. People flitting to and from a function upstairs. Real community feel. Just how a real pub should be.
Only sad thing was seeing Well Bombardier on the third hand pump as opposed to a Young's seasonal, but that's life.
anonymous - 27 Oct 2006 23:57 |
Poor old Stus.search.4.mild. What a long and largely fruitless task you have in London. But surely you must have realised that Youngs haven't brewed a mild for almost 30 years, so why expect any, unless you enjoy wasting your time. I enjoy a pint of mild and will drink it when I can - but the Calthorpe is a pleasant and friendly pub serving Youngs bitters in good condition and that'll do me.
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I went to this pub on Sunday 8 October and found the pub served very good real ale beer. They also showed the Rugby League NL1 final on the TV. This Saturday, 14 October, the pub will show the Super League Grand Final, kick-off at 6pm.
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Very average looking pub, could do with a major face-lift, grumpy bar-staff, a shame because its got a great location. much prefer the pakenham arms around the corner
anonymous - 2 Aug 2006 22:25 |
Looks like a real pub, straight up to the bar and given immediate attention, only to be dissapointed, yet another pub that does not cater for the MILD drinker. A point for the bar staff but thats your lot. No MILD so we don't drink here. Nevermind it's not much further to the Wenlock.
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Good little Young's pub that may not be incredibly exciting but is homely and as people have said a friendly local, which is very often what you want in a pub.
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A new favorite for us visiting London once or twice a year. Cosy, classic pub with local feeling. Very friendly and helpful staff. And of course, lots of real ales from Youngs. Bottle ales to take home after closing time. Look forward to the next visit in September. Cheers.
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I have noticed this pub seems to be a real CAMRA favourite and has won North London branch pub of the year at least once - surprises me. Its a fairly decent boozer but can't see what is so special about it
anonymous - 7 Feb 2006 15:32 |
Average interior but WELL above average Youngs, had a couple of Special's which were very tasy and not at all winey. Then went onto the normal 'best' or whatever it is which was also good. No hangover the next day what soever. Very good beer here. Plus, yes they do that mad chocolate beer in the bottles...
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Good range of Young's beers in bottles. Seems to be a friendly chilled local, worth a squirt if you are in the area.
anonymous - 14 Dec 2005 14:44 |
This is the pub where my quiz team plays its home fixtures. It's a great little pub with Young's always in great condition. A very friendly place
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Splendidly traditional Youngs pub - very busy and popular evidently even at 1 o'clock on Sunday lunchtime yesterday. Good food trade - Sunday roast at � 4.50 was proving popular, but there was a shortage of seats it was so busy.
Well worth the short walk from The Lamb in Lambs Conduit Street
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Head and Sholders above the othe pubs in the area
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Usually head in here post 5 a side down the road with a couple of lads...
Pleasing beers and lagers abound....usually not too packed and seats outside for when the sun is shining.
Top locals boozer...an unpretentious joy...
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You can't really go wrong with a Young's pub and this one has the full range of bottled beers. The food here is generally very good and served promptly. Downstairs is one fairly big room but the upstairs seems to be reserved for private functions. Varied customers with plenty of younger (no pun intended) faces. Another plus is that it shows American football on Sunday nights.
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Nice looking pub and friendly staff. Had a lovely pint of special, but was a bit concerned about the temperature of my Youngs Ordinary - it was very cold. My advice stick to the Special - and if in April/May get some chocolate stout down your neck :)
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Since posting my previous comment i have been to this pub on a number of other occasions and always been delighted both with the quality of the beer and the service received. The Youngs cask ales are top notch and they have *almost* the full range of bottled beers. The food is good and very reasonably priced. Definitely reccomended.
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Cool pub, full range of youngs bottled beers, 3 or 4 on tap. Very nice place indeed.
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Beer's very good, food's passable - a fine old boozer, with fine old regular clientele to match!
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I used to go in the Calthorpe Arms regularly after work, and consider it one of the best pubs in the area, as well as the best pub owned by Youngs Brewery.
The beer is good, and has a lot better selection than any other of the young’s pubs I know. This is mainly because they have the full range available.
Food is good value, and I have regularly eaten in here prior to going home.
The locals are polite, and will talk to anyone who is willing to drum up a conversation.
Regulars include a number of famous newsreaders from ITN, as well as a few other famous faces.
The pub is located near to the Eastmans Dental Hospital and the UCL student accommodation blocks, so on nights there is a very lively student feel.You can also get chatting to many people in the summer siiting out side, and have met a few dates this way
The only down side is the pub lifeless at the times of Christmas,and weekends due to the offices in the area are shut down,the pub relies heavily on its regulars who live near by during these times.
The pub could also do with decorating, so if any one from the brewery is reading this TAKE NOTE : PUB NEEDS DECORATING
I must say that I really miss the Pub, and now I haven’t worked in the City for 4 months. I will look forward to the next time I am up that way, so I can drop in for a beer.
Strongly Recommended for Nice Cheap Good Quality Ale.
Congratulations to Adrian the Manager
David (part of building team who built New UCL Accomidation Block) - 16 Feb 2004 16:52 |
Chocolate stout ???
WHAT !!!!????
Thats tragic ! Almost like adding lemonade or lime to beer ! its a disgrace i tell you !
Rivers - 8 Jul 2003 16:51 |
This was my local when I was at Uni. Didn't go in there much, but it was extremely handy for a quick pint on the way home from a lecture..
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Well they definately serve beer. I know because I have been in there and consumed a fair few of them. Not a lot else to say really except watch out for the guy with the patch on his left eye. I don't think he's really a pirate.
Drunken Monkey - 16 May 2003 16:57 |
Drinks
Lots of lovely, lovely beer. The seasonal ale (eg Waggledance or Winter Warmer) at around �2.30/pint, also bottles of other Youngs beers, including Chocolate Stout, Winter Warmer, Special London Ale.
The Calthorpe Arms was [CAMRA North London pub of the year in 2001].
Food
Served all day until 9pm. And cheap! Menu examples include sausage, beans and chips (�3.75), tuna melt with chips and salad (�3.00), sausage in French bread (�2.50); there are also specials at �4.50, such as roast stuffed marrow, Thai chicken noodle stew, cottage pie, or blackened chicken salad. [Prices as of April 2003]
Foods not too bad
Steve - 17 Apr 2003 15:59 |
