please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Seemed to be the only customer on a midweek lunchtime. No visible handpumps so asked for a half of Guinness. But the they wanted £3 for it. I asked if it was really £6 a pint. The reply was "no it's only £5.50 a pint but £3 for a half". At this stage, I walked out.
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We went there on Monday 30th March (as we were coming from the Jazz Café and wanted a drink near the station/bus stop) and arrived around 10.30pm to be told that the pub was closing.
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Huge place, but music too loud to have a proper conversation anywhere. Very limited ale choice. Fake "alternative for tourists" vibe. Staff moody, but I'd be the same if I worked there.
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Absolutely horrible place, violent bouncers pushing and threatening us to get out at ten minutes after last orders. Maybe they should learn the rules of their trade? When we tried to complain and get the ID of the bouncer, some kind of manager (?) came over, pushing us out in the street and threatening us, while we were on the phone to the police. Filed police report, got it on video, and will obviously never go there again.
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Very big pub and if your meeting someone in Camden the place to start off, as it is opposite thet station. Always lively and full of all sorts of characters. Is a bit pricey, but the size and location means this place must have a huge monthly rent to pay. Have been drinking here for over a decade now, although not regular as I do not live in Camden, but when ever I go CT I will go there for sure. Used to be the Mother Red Cap. A nod to this is in the larger bar area where a pub sign with that name is displayed in the mock city, painted around the squared bar in the middle. Does Lowenbrau too, which is a rare bonus.
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Huge soulless pub serving mainly tourists and pre-gig drinkers. No reason to visit otherwise.
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Big ole place this. I go there with all my friends who I follow around in there. As for the toilets, well ... I COULD SMELL IT!!!
Serlo - 20 Sep 2013 09:35 |
Was in here over the weekend, good beer, very busy but got served very quickly, staff very polite
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Interesting cavernous pub, with deep bass rumbling from the adjacent live venue. Lowenbrau on draught, which i havent seen since the coach and horses in soho got rid of it. But my god, the toilets. I felt sorry for th cleaners. One of the traps was overflowing and it looked like someone had exploded, leaving nothing but a huge pile of shit. I could have taken a photo and sold it to the tate modern.
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The size of this place runs in its favour- particularly if there is a big group of you, there is usually somewhere to sit or at least stand and drunkenly swing your arms around or whatever.
It's probably not going to change your life, the selection of beer is average, but fun times can be had here.
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Good pub and very long through to a second bar at the rear which is much better than the one at the front end as you enter the place. No real beer though I dont count Speckeled Hen or GK IPA as they are usually nasty in London, just Caffreys, Carling and other dross. Newcastle Brown was available as was Leffe. Toilets were a bit crap, so as a result of that and no ale to speak of the score isn't going to be great. 5/10
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Ok so I'm a Northern Lad, and am preprogrammed to have a dislike for anything Southern, so me voting this pub a 9/10 is ridiculous but it really is that good.
It of course depends when you go in because the last few times I've been the staff where a little arsey; but on the first visit they were really friendly and fun. Had a top bit of banter once actually.
We first walked in on the corner, so thought ... wow what's all the hype about. My friend went to the toilet and returned saying "oh my god" ... I returned ... "what?" ... turns out, what we thought was a quaint little boozer is actually a colossal behemoth of a pub.
We walked through and went and sat in a raised up seating area above the bar; which if you ask me, is trusting folk a little.
Loads of crappy old furniture, fake shop fronts, beers galore, and shed loads of character - my kinda place. Not enough seating though, and the staff can be a little funny, but this place - building alone - gets a 9/10.
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A sign on the way in says it is probably the largest pub in the world. This may or may not be true. What however is a fact is that the toilets are the worst I have encountered for many years. What a pity that such a large busy pub cannot put in a little investment into its facilities.
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I went into this pub, The worlds end in Camden and asked for a Gin and tonic, the stroppy woman behind the bar decided she was going to give me Gin with a mixer from the tap with no lemon.
I explained to her, that I wanted Gin and tonic (tonic Indian water you get in those small bottles,Which she had right behind her)
She said I should have said so in a rude way....and said I have to pay for the drink even if I don�t want it, since she made the drink.
I explained to her, every pub I been to and asked for a Gin and tonic, I get Gin and tonic, I get Gin with tonic Indian water in a small bottle with lemon.
The cheek of the woman to demand I pay for a drink I did not even ask for.
I just told her, to forget it and walked and went to the nearest pub and was served a real Gin and tonic with lemon.
These people must think I am going to pay over a fiver for a dash of mixer from the tap with no lemon.
They need to get some staff that are experienced and have a better attitude towards customers.
sk900 - 24 Sep 2011 19:25 |
Tel - A good question mate. Camden is an absolute rip off at the moment and I think will continue to be so for a while. When i'm down in waterloo I pay around �3.50 for a Guinness, its near �4 - �4.10 in Camden. Its stupid.
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Quite busy and popular and an OK place to meet and have a couple of beers; very expensive though (why is Camden more expensive than Soho and the West End)? Not much of a choice of ales...
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Was in here last night with a couple of friends. I've been before and not been overly impressed. It's very expensive for what it is - (But saying that isnt most of London now a days?) The atmosphere was quite nice actually, we stayed and had 3 pints. I was on Guinness which I have to say was the BEST pint of the black stuff I have had for a long time in London. It actually took an age to settle and form, was quite thick and tasted like a dream! I give it 6/10. The price structure does let it down though....
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One of my fave pubs. Huge with good atmosphere (especially on gig night) and packed with some good characters to chat music with. Toilets often get tagged as being worst in London but ive never seen any poo on the floor so there alright in my book lol
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Avoid if you can ! Went for a drink in here before going to a gig at the electric ballroom. Big mistake ! No real ale on hand pump at all! The only ale was in bottles .Two pints of Newcastle brown and a packet of crisps was �10 !!This was on top of the fact we had to ask for a glasses to drink from ! Also only one person in the front bar serving ,so took a long time to be served .On the up side the pub has plenty of space and the Toilets were fairly decent . But apart from that not much cop !
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This is my favourite pub IN THE WORLD. Ok, it's a bit overpriced, but it has lots of space, lots of atmosphere and a good range of music (most of which is alternative). I really enjoy coming here with my boyfriend before heading to the Electric Ballroom for a night out. You just can't beat it, in my opinion!
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Utterly hideous place. Overpriced drinks. Weary looking staff. Food that looks like it is Christmas dinner leftovers reheated since December and relentless loud heavy metal music. Funnily enough, it reminded me of a 'rock' version of a the Australian backpacker's pubs of my youth. Not a good thing!
Only stopped off here for a drink after work with some colleagues once and will never set foot in again if I can help it.
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Annoting to find this place still packed the majority of time when they seem to do things so wrong and yet others do things so right and are struggling to survive.
All reviews below accurately portray this place, the only saving grace is its position near the tube station
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stopped off in here for a quick pint while i was waiting for my wife to knock off work.. pint of calsberg export �3 bloody 80p!!!!!!!!.. more expensive than the west end....avoid (unless you win the lottery)
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The only good thing about this place is that you can use it as a short cut to walk directly from the Black Heart through to the Camden Eye. A dreadful, depressing dump and hugely overpriced. Badly due a makeover and a takeover.
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Extremely busy, service was efficent BUT a major downside is the price of the drinks, around �3.98 for a pint of Lowenbrau is simply RIDICULOUS!!!! Alternative/Rock music plays. Not the best atmosphere.
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I've never liked this pub, but it's handy as a meeting point at Camden Tube Station.
�4 for a pint of Dry Blackthorn Cider????????
Next time I'll just wait outside the tube station.
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Not bad - used to go here before shows at the Underworld, nice open daylight lit main section bar - not bad. Rock music on - but not too loud.
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Pub for tourists who know no better-Avoid.
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They charge way too much for their drinks, then again they probably feel they can get away with it because so many people (myself included) use it as a place for a quick one before heading down inton the Underworld for a gig. Music is fine. The place is so vast and the ceiling so high though, it always feels really cold. Useful if you're heading to the Underworld, apart from that it's nothing to write home about.
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This place is alright, worth a stop if you're out in Camden. Staff have always been polite when i've been in!
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Extremely rude staff, I asked for a couple of drinks, to which she replied "I aint serving you" despite being being friendly and courteous. Just to add, I was in there a year ago, a brunette if I recall.
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I loved this pub! I had no problems getting served, the bar staff were quick and frendly enough and it's certainly different from the vast majority of faceless London pubs. Everywhere you look there's something of interest and the music was different class. And I'm no Goth, rocker or any other sort of "character" but a middle-aged professional who happens to appreciate something different once in a while!
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A , to be honest, pretty dull pub with overexpensive beer. Maybe worth it for a quick pint before a band underneath at the Underworld when its livened up a bit.
Then again the Dev down the road is a lot better than it used to be..
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Absolutely dreadful. I've not been in the World's End for many years, but thought we'd pop in for a pint on the way back from meeting friends in Camden. I was charged �4.20 for a pint or Staropramen! When I asked why it was so expensive I was told 'it's a nice beer!' Sorry, but that doesn't stop every other pub I've had Star in charging around �3.50...
The metal music was so loud at one point I had to lean across the table to talk to mt partner, and that was a Wednesday night.
There are much better pubs in Camden, avoid the World's End like the plague.
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Hell on earth. The worst pub in the country, never mind Camden. Nasty toilets, way too big, utterly impersonal, indifferent staff, rip off prices and full of chinless lairy poshos just crying out to be slapped.
All of this might be allowable if they weren't so utterly convinced that they were so absolutely wonderful. Seriously don't. Not under any circumstances, there are literally hundreds of alternatives. Same goes for that disgrace they call a venue underneath it too. An ugly boil on the face of our beautiful city. One that urgently needs lancing.
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Stuck my head round the door for a quick look - didn�t hang around as there was no ale as far as I could see.
A sign outside attempts to lay claim to some sort of pub size record in the UK (though there are a number of places that also say that). It certainly is quite large, spread over at least two decent-sized rooms. Client�le were of the extreme Camden variety � soiled tradesmen, chavs, weirdoes and duped tourists. Prices looked expensive from where I stood.
Not my bag and to be honest, I doubt it�ll attract many visitors who do their research as this is obviously a bit of a tourist trap for the dollar/yen.
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The entire staff was wearing Tshirts and they had them on sale. I wanted to buy 2 shirts which would have been 26 pounds and we couldnt get anyone to sell them to us. I understand it was busy, but why advertise something really cool and then you wont sell it. It wasnt that they didnt have any- they just said they only SELL them on weekdays- OK well im not going back when I already was there in the first place, just for a tshirt- SO.... I wont be going back. The music was TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO loud too. It had good music and it was the hugest pub i have seen while being in england.
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Went there last night - nice layout, loads of room to move but not too much room to actually sit down and that was at 6:30pm on a Saturday ... but saddest of all was the very high prices - �3.20p for a 1 Pint glass of Lemonade - I was expecting to pay about �2 so �3.20p was a bit of a shocking price which literally encourages people to buy alcohol because at those kinds of prices you might as well do.
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Anyone who has anything bad to say about this place is a Yankee tourist. This was the best place I found in my two weeks in London. Here's a tip: If it's not your cup of tea (which you should be able to tell the minute you get off the Camden line), don't go there. You would be better off in Piccadilly Circus.
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This place is madness!
There are more tattoos and piercings than you can shake a stick at, and that�s just the women!
It takes an age to be served and when you are the pint is thrust in your general direction and slopped on the bar. No airs and graces needed in here. The tourists look on in amazement supping on there � pint of warm beer whilst there passport is stolen by some thieving scumbag.
You would think that this is a scathing review, but this is how the pub is purposely run and the owners seem proud of this fact. I think that it is meant to be a cool pub by not being cool � The Titty Twister of the lower leagues.
Not one for me I�m afraid, even back in the 90s when I was a little more adventurous.
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Rude staff, overpriced beer, dirty glasses, freaky people. Bets pub in the world! Love it!
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Staropramen served here on draught. The upstairs conservatory at the back is a great place to unwind during the day but watch the steep spiral staircase when you've had a few!
anonymous - 18 Jun 2008 20:15 |
OK, so the toilets stink and it takes about 45 minutes to get a drink, but this place has a certian naive charm. You're probably better off going into the smaller half just past the kitchen, it's actually like a pub rather than a barn!
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Great for a quick drink before a gig downstairs at the Underworld and perfect if you prefer grime, metal and long-haired rockers to slick wine bars and clean-cut city types. The toilets are nearly always under water but no one in there really cares. You probably wouldn't spend a whole night here but it's one of the few alternative-friendly pubs left in Camden these days!
anonymous - 6 Jun 2008 02:59 |
What a barn, Barely OK ale and below average bar staff. Place could do with a polish now and then and yes please put some air freshner in the loo.
Only going here now as the Hawley Arms is closed and its next door to the station.
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Average. Crappy toilets and beer, but at least its neer the tube station. Friendly bar staff. A bit touristy but there are worse pubs in London. 4/10
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An English theme pub for children and tourists only. You have been warned.
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Nice big place, let down by the lack of staff and morbid downtrodder faces of the people serving.
Legendary for having to wait forever to get served.
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It was about 5 years ago last time I was in the Worlds End, and I thought it was about to. It�s really one for the younger crowd and admittedly not my sort of place so perhaps I am a little biased. Popped in again recently for research purposes and was delighted to see six real ales advertised on a painted board on the wall. Strange given that there were only two pumps and one of those was turned around. Decided not to risk either the Directors or a trip to the gents toilets which I recall was always underwater. I hate to think of overseas tourists flocking to the famous Worlds End in Camden and coming away thinking this is typical of our pubs. It�s one for the younger backpacker crowd, and those strange followers of obscure rock bands who always seem to be in black t-shirts. I�m sure there�s some excellent nights to be had in here but suspect the moneyed, more subdued locals are more likely to be in the Camden Tup nearby.
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the barmaid with athe tattoo's is rather nice, she always eyes me up although i have no idea what she's saying.. i think she is foreign and we havent got past "hello" yet...
ok beer, expensive for shorts
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The best thing about this place is The Underworld for gigs underneath..I actually think the beers cheaper downstairs....normally just pop in before a gig there for a pint but its expensive and frankly not all that.
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One of the few pubs in Camden that has not become a wine bar or trendi fizzy beer pub.
Yes its rough and it does get busy being right next to the market but it is a good pub that serves ale.
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this is a great place... what more do you want in a pub?
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pretty rough and ready. a mate was propositioned here by a bloke looking for 'trade'. maybe he was getting confused with the black cap over the road. maybe it was the black cap over the road? anyway, it is what it is, a big pub full of lowlifes, but then isn't that just a description of camden in general?
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Visited for the first time in a couple of years on Friday, and was pretty much as I remembered. The front part of pub is the more 'normal' bit, and the bigger area at the back is where you're more likely to find the 'alternative' types (where you may feel out of place if not dressed in black and covered in tatoos). Having said that, everyone seems pretty tolerant and able to get along with each other.
The draught selection is pretty standard apart from the Lowenbrau which you don't see too often, and I have to agree with other comments regarding the toilets - they are pretty shabby and ridiculously small for the size of the place. The raised area at the back is probably the best place to sit if you can get a table, although watch out for the narrow spiral staircase once you've had a few.
Overall, the location opposite Camden Town tube means that this is always going to be a good place to meet, and it's not a bad place to stay for longer either.
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I sometimes stop in at the world's end for a quiet drink after work with a couple of friends. I won't be doing it any more though. After giving this place several chances, it just seems to be getting worse.
I ordered a pint at the main bar which cost me �3.70. (WTF!) When I went to get the next pint at the smaller bar, I was charged �3.30. What the heck is that about?
The bar staff at W.E.C are rude and really can't be bothered. I had to walk around the bar TWICE to catch the attention of the barman who saw me standing there but chose to ignore me. When I went to walk to his side of the bar, he moved and quickly went to the other side. He did this twice! The people sitting down having their drinks saw what he did and by the looks on their faces, they were not impressed with him either.
BAR STAFF, I didn't leave you a tip last time I was there, but now I'm going to leave you two:
1: If you don't like people and you don't like giving good customer service, DON'T WORK IN A PUB! You give the place a bad name.
Get a cleaning job. Maybe you can start with the pub toilets, they are absolutely filthy.
2: Please get into the habit of bathing DAILY and putting on CLEAN clothes. The junkies and bogus Big Issue sellers that frequently harass your customers smell better than you do.
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Definitely a place to meet interesting people. Guinness is fine, and barmaid was really nice. Sat at the bar and chatted with a fellow patron for a while. Came back a few hours later and sat in the upstairs area under a sunny windowed sky. Great rest after walking in Camden all day. Again, the Guinness makes it worth the trip. Great atmosphere, good music, great people.
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Directors good? Not usually! I normally wait 15 mins to be served and then the beer is far too cold and overpriced.
It's still a wicked pub though! Great people, handly place to meet, great music and excellently chilled vibe. I've been here before and after football matches, and before nights out, and never had anything other than a warm welcome. The only place trendies and goths can mix.
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Well, previous reviews have been pretty accurate, but here's my 2 cents' worth:
In terms of Camden pubs in general, this is both typical and slightly above average. The typical aspects are that as well as the 'rockers' you might expect, it also attracts plenty of tourists and just about anyone really, leaving it lacking in identity somewhat. It also has bouncers, who are absolute ar*eholes, throwing you out the second they close, and the toilets are predictably terrible. Oh, and the staff are too cool for you, just like everywhere in Camden.
Untypically, it's pretty expensive but, shock horror, the ales are actually decent! They also serve a reasonable range of draught, the best value being Lowenbrau. A bonus is that they have free live bands sometimes, and it's massive, so there's usually somewhere to stand, if not to sit. It's in a very convenient location too, but that means a) high prices and b) it's always busy.
The food looks horrendous, but I've never actually tried it, and later on during weekend evenings it's full of rich, clueless young 'alternative' kids who are too scared to venture further into Camden itself, and chavs having one for the road on the last stop of pub crawls, so probably best avoided.
Meet people here for a quick one before the tube or before a gig at The Underworld, then move on.
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Wow! Excellent pub, got to be experienced to be believed.
Not you're local type pub, but a bustling Rock Joint
with some good beers. Directors particularly good.
Take your wellies for the toilets though!
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If you're after a quiet pint in a cute olde worlde pub, look elsewhere. If you go here, know what you're getting yourself into first - busy, noisy but on occasion pretty good fun too.
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Huge, rambling place with loud rock music filling the spaces, and a very upbeat, lively and positive atmosphere on a busy Saturday afternoon. The pub is Victorian - built around the time of Camden's general development in the early 1800s - but is built on the site of the famous Mother Redcap coaching inn which existed on the crossroad from at least the early 1600s. Remnants of the Victorian pub at the front (complete with open fire) lead into a large atrium decked out with false shop fronts, and an upper level bar - rather like wandering around a theme park. The general feel and atmosphere is like being in the back bar of some large rock venue. Two casks offered - Bombardier and Directors. The beer was served in excellent condition and just the right temperature. Prices average �3.00 a pint - with halves costing proportionally more.
The place is an experience and a must visit if in Camden.
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Home of the most shocking pub loos in London? Early on on a Friday night and three of the ladies loos were out of order, the floor was covered in a layer of rancid water and it stank to high heaven. Aside from that, the place is a fairly decent place to meet people off the tube, although the bouncers always seem to be hustling out this or that druggie/alcoholic homeless person who is totally off their box.
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You wouldn't want there not to be one of these in your area, just you don't quite get comfortable anywhere, but free bands and a chance at least of reasonable ale, thanks, mines a plnt
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Enormous. Expensive. Nowhere to sit. Poor selection of ales (Courage Directors; Charlie Wells Bombadier). Architecturally interesting, but few other redeeming features.
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I don't know what pub the other users are commenting on but everytime I go here, it seems to be full of druggie, toothless people who are clearly on some other planet. Oh, and the glasses are dirty as well.
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Fantastic Building,Cant believe i never been b4 now. 8/10
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I like this place, great for a pint or 2 before a gig in one of the areas many venues. of course this place has the great Underworld Venue below.. upstairs area is great though the skylights were open whilst it was raining, bad move haha.
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I love this pub, you get so many different characters. Great for people spotting and big and airy enough not to get too cramped or smokey.
Jo984 - 28 Sep 2006 10:34 |
Don't want to be a statto but I think the biggest boozer in Britain is a Wetherspoons in Manchester, a mate took me there years ago. Well, I say "a mate", he's not really my mate anymore, he's cut all ties and gone off to Japan in search of a wife.
anonymous - 6 Sep 2006 09:37 |
A bit on the pricey side but the bar staff work damned hard, both bars are good, the balcony is heaven, idiosyncratic d�cor (good though) and the Guinness is top knotch. Oh, and it's the biggest pub in the world. Maybe. Awful gents loos though, sort them out and this'd be a 9.
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Can only really comment on the UNDERWORLD nightclub downstairs...
Its the sort of place that seems great on the 1st few visits but degrades gradually over time. Its worth a visit here and there, but its better in a large group, when you have some energy, and in the mood for a general boogie!
Waiting time at the bar is attroutious though
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If you are a Camden tourist you will probably flock to this pub.
The main bar area is badly designed but i have seen worst. Quite a caverous pub and lacks a certain atmosphere. It's ok if you are in a big group though.
5/10
wocca - 24 Aug 2006 15:57 |
A colossal barn with twee spray-on 18th century atmosphere (Tally ho sir ! You could allegedly buy whelks for 1/6d a pint, no less!), and - bizarrely - no barstools ANYWHERE ! Well, there were 3 or 4 scattered about, but there only would have been 1 per table at best.
Once we finally got his attention after about 3 minutes of aimless patrolling up and back like a shark whho can't work out if it's hungry or not, the barman when asked for 3 Glenfiddichs and a half pint of water with no ice returned with 3 shotglasses levelled up with single malt whisky, and a pint of water with ice.
Bloody pointless, I reckon.
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pints arent the best, and after chatting to a mate who used to work there I now understand why!!! all I will say is stick to the bottles!!!!!
great crowd in there though with some cool tunes, and is allways a good meeting point
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This place is great if you enjoy alternative music (punk, ska, rock) great selection of ales and lagers. Underworld (the nightclub downstairs) is also by Thw Worlds End and was really enjoyable. Really easy to find (2 mins from Camden tube station) Would definately drink here again.
Service - 9/10
Prices - 6/10
Atmosphere - 9/10
Bar - 8/10
Nightclub - 8/10
Overall - 8/10
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yeah its alright here. i'm straight, but didn't feel at all intimidated by the gay scene here. good selection of well kept ales.
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Always usually drinking in here before a gig downstairs @ the underworld. Its good pub, friendly bar staff. Good meet up place before going on da lash sumwhere else. I agree with others tho, the toilets are terrible.
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Horrible and grotty but sells great booze, if not slightly overpriced. I like sitting up the top and not eating the food they sell there.
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I really like this pub. Situated just round the corner from Camden Town tube station, this watering hole is split into two sections. One is extremely ramshackle and just seems like any other smoky little pub; where as the other part is a big wooden open area with a large bar in the middle. There isn�t much going on during the day, but it does get packed on Friday nights and the music is wonderful. If rock 'n' roll is your thing and you�re ever in the area on Friday or Saturday night, check this place out.
HTM69 - 31 May 2006 19:58 |
Lots of my thoughts have already been said. This is an alright pub if you want loud music, less than average beer and the worst (does anyone else agree?) toilets of any pub in London.
I guess it fits in to Camden fairly well and as a result will never be quiet.
I have been several times and am sure I will go again. Never going to be a favourite though
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The sort of pub I would have liked if I were younger .A huge place with no good beer and overpriced. Having my ears being assaulted by thrash metal is no longer my bag.Strange to see the various Rock fraternity along side a bar that resembled the Victorian street in York Museum.Still its different.
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I have to be honest - I really hated this place. I can see I would have loved it when I was a teenager though. Strangely reminded me of a club in Prague called Lucerna I once went to with a student girl I was trying to get into.
anonymous - 20 Apr 2006 11:04 |
Most points to be made are in previous comments,I think the barnside only comes into its own when theres a band playing-it makes for a sound music venue.
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Nice for when you want to hide away in a dark cave and drink in relative peace. I often nip in here for a quick pint before heading to Primrose Hill. The Sweet and Tender Hooligans played here a couple years back. That was a killer show.
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One of the best known pubs in the area and due to its size and location near the tube station, it makes an ideal meeting place for the many and varied attractions in Camden. The main flag-stoned bar is not part of the original pub but is situated in what appears to have been an old courtyard that has since been glazed over. Along the sides are fake Victorian shop fronts that give the bar an outdoor Dickensian feel. A narrow spiral staircase leads to a balcony above the bar with a few tables and offering a birds eye view of the hordes below. There is quite a selection of lagers of varying strengths, keg bitters, Blackthorn cider and 2 Real Ales (Bombardier - a bit off - and Directors - tasted fine) - prices are average for the area. Branching off the main bar are dining rooms and other bars that were part of the original pub. This being Camden, expect a good proportion of Goths, Punks, Metalheads and general weirdos but in all my visits I have never seen any trouble or had any hassle. I have also yet to spend any time in here without hearing a Doors track being belted out of the speakers. Down in the basement is the excellent Underworld live music venue hosting mainly punk, metal and indie bands. The Worlds End may have its faults and detractors but for me it is an integral part of the Camden scene and the area would be a lot worse off without it.
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As other's have said this is reallymore like 2 pubs grafted together the first is a like a cosy local boozer, the second a vast carnivorous student bar (plus it has some further little cubby holes that I've ended up in at one time or another. Me and my mates tend to sit in the old boozer part, supping our lagers (this is not a pub for the bitter drinker unfortunately) and chatting to the occasional camden character. good atmos, good music and good crowd. I've had the food here once and it was alright, cheap stodge. As other's have said (but it needs saying again) the toilets are truly foul, but that's probably the biggest downside. A visit to Camden is not complete without stopping here for a couple!
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i really like this pub..has a good atsmophere and good beer
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Relaxed, beer-hall type of vybe. Nice place - beer is average
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Was in here about a month ago. It was a Friday night and full of people trying too hard to be trendy while dancing to some fairly dodgy music. Decided to leave after half a pint as my girlfriend was fed up with being leered at from every direction.
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Yuk....i thought it was the end of the world. There should be a public health inspection of the toilets.Imagine what ther food is like!eek!
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Quality!
Very deceptive. A bit like a tardis...
Very relaxed atmosphere, good staff....
Top marks!
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The one and only redeeming feature of this place is that it's easy to find - arrange to meet your friends, drink up quick then get the hell out of there as there are PLENTY of much worthier establishments in the area. Don't even THINK about approaching the toilets without wellies and a gas mask. You have been warned.
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A large, impersonal & unfriendly pub. It also has some of the most disgusting pub toilets in Camden
gjs34 - 31 Oct 2005 10:21 |
A huge pub thats for sure, It is too big and people too varied to sum it up on the whole. It is a great meeting point and if your a face on the rock scene will more than likely bump into some one from it. I like going on a sunday the most in the afternoon and it serves Lowenbrau too not bad.
LOL81 - 21 Oct 2005 22:04 |
This pub can be best described as..........odd. It feels more like two pubs in one. Actually, it is two pubs in one. The smaller section of the pub is typical of a traditional North London boozer. Here you can sit comfortabley and chat with your pals whilst watching the sport on the big screen. Bar is stuck in the middle of the pub which looks a tad strange but works as there's always plenty of room to get to and from the bar without having to force you way through. Walk through into the 'other' pub, passing the food serving area on your way (where do you sit and eat?!), and it changes completely. Opens out into a huge open area with a complete change of character to the smaller section of the pub. Here it is busier, lots of people standing because there are very few chairs. Go downstairs and you can find a small seating area, aahhh I think this is where people tend to eat! There's also an upstairs gallery which I can imagine is quite good if you like to look down on people. Trouble is I've never found out how to get up there and it's always rammed! Obviously this is the place to be because there's.........wait for it................seats! I don't understand the fake shop fronts though. It is however a nice touch and something you don't see every day.............shop fronts in a pub that is! Ooooo there are some tall chairs for you to sit at outside the shop fronts but get there early if you want to sit down!
Personally I really like this pub, I could be biased as I'm into alternative/rock music etc so tend to blend in quite well. Not spent all night in here yet, usually it's just to pop in for a quick couple of jars before going to the Underworld. Good for a meeting place before a night out and good for a late night drink. The bar staff aren't thick! They just change more times than the cast of Eastenders. If you like loud music and alternative lifestyles and fancy the chances of meeting members of the band who are playing in the Underworld then this pub is for you! Yeah, toilets are extremely bad and why have they got sinks from McDonalds which never work?!
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More like two very different establishments welded together in a Frankenstein-esque experiment than one large pub. One entrance leads into a down-to-earth little boozer with a nice cosy feel and a real pub atmosphere, the other into a huge gaping chasm of a more modern pub design with louder music, fewer chairs and a fake set of shop fronts for reasons I can't quite fathom. Toilets are grim. Service at the bar is , shall we say relaxed (like Rip Van Winkle) but some of the rarely seen beers are on draft(Lowenbrau anyone? Don't mind if I do) and the barstaff are normally pleasant enough. Price is a little hefty but you can easily be ripped off for larger sums in this locale. Good meeting place, best avoided for long sessions.
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Went into this pub whilst they were showing the cricket on a Saturday afternoon. 2 or 3 people in including a couple of young lads asleep at one of the tables. Was served two horrible pints but we managed to get the foreign barmaid to understand we didn't like them and that she should change them. Absolutely dreary, no atmosphere and locals from what I could see.
Hucks - 15 Sep 2005 13:08 |
It's big and you can have a laugh but I have never been served a Jack Daniels that tastes like a Jack Daniels in 5 years, the glasses are dirty and have seen better days. In it's defence I havent been in the place in at least 8 months. Maybe it's changed... but I doubt it.
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World's End is fine as long as this is a general meeting point before going on to better pubs really (The Devonshire Arms for example?) Apart from that, can you honestly say that this is a local's pub?!
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I have to say this is a GREAT pub. Its like taking a walk through Beamish!! Only had one prob with it though a young lad had put line cleaner in a glass which my mate had the unfortunate of being served his drink in. However they were very appologetic and we got free grub. But seriously this is a fab place to go. Spent many a hard earned weeks wages getting wasted in here.
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Not a nice pub. Horrible beer. The only reason to go intp the World's End is to buy tickets for the Underworld (they have some decent bands on downstairs sometimes). If you're going in the Underworld and intend to drink, get a mortgage. Better still have a few in the Spreadeagle before the gig and a couple in there afterwards (gigs finish quite early to let them clear up ready for the nightclub). Last time I bought a bottle of Newcastle Brown in the Underworld was a couple of years ago and it was over �3 then plus I'd had to pay to get in.
anonymous - 16 May 2005 21:41 |
Eminently avoidable on ALL occasions unless you are one of the following:
student
tourist
grungey kid with rich parents who live on Parkway
a drunk
feckless media whore
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i can imagine mad max and his cronies boozing here in a post apocalyptic hell,......kfc would still be going strong too i reckon
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It's alright to pop in here once in a blue moon. But it doesn't take long to remember why you don't go in there very often. The toilets (Gents, at least) are absolutely and utterly appaling, disgusting and smelly beyond words. A word of advice - use the underground Victorian toilets on the crossroads outside.
Bouncers are a bunch of surly arseholes - especially the one who struts around like he's got an invisible roll of carpet under each arm and looks like he genuinely does want to kill everyone he looks at.
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not a bad place, go there each time i go camden, because after the hassle of traveling from romford and the endless packed out trains i need a pint before getting dragged round the markets.
bit pricey, but place looks good.
it is the only place of any kind that i have sat inside and still got rained on.
next time it starts to rain dont have the flipping skylights open.
still aint a bad place
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toilets were awful when i was in there
anonymous - 21 Apr 2005 17:33 |
Stinks, beer's awful and overpriced, staff surly in fact I've always known that about the place, can't figure out why I've been.
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What a disaster it was when they enlarged the Worlds End at the end of the 80s. I remember when it had only one bar and it was the nuts. You could crash on the floor, talk to a host of real Camden characters, paid next to nothing for your drinks, and then they bought the property next door and enlarged the pub. Put in another bar, hired a DJ and just about managed to ruin what was once a great pub. They must have spent a fortune on it, cos the prices shot up as soon as it opened. Maybee they should keep back some of their enormous profit and invest in some toilet cleaners.
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This pub is unique and was the only watering hole I ever used when working in nearby Inverness St back in '98. The staff are incredibly friendly, the beer nice and cold and the other patrons an extremely interesting bunch. A real cross section of human beings ranging from tourist to Goth. A remarkable and wonderful pub!
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Really like it in here. The place just looks cool. Drinks are, sadly, too expensive and doesn't have the best range.
But still worth a look-in. Are superior pubs close by, but more out of the way. If you don't know what you're looking for in Camden, The World's End is a fair enough shout.
Watched the 2003 World Cup England v France semifinal match in here; weren't many other people there, so it was pretty cool. Also came for the Final itself, which was far busier. Unfortunately the pub wasn't designed to house a big screen, so unless you get in early & get a good seat, the view is pretty pants.
A rugby-watching alternative is the Liberties Bar halfway up the high street.
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Good pub!
Bad things are they shitty toilet state and the overpricing of the drinks and the lack of space for it!
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Easy and great drinking place. Can never get a seat. Does get very busy at weekends especially. The obvious bad point is the still lovely state of the toilets. Is it the worse the toilets - the better the pub? This is great only for falling out of the tube station nowadays.
Service is usually slow even when not that busy.
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A lively atmosphere and loud music greets you at the entrance and then you get a sense of the huge space that is The World's End. It is usually frequented by a young/student/'20/30 something' crowd which seems to be a "meet n' drink" pub at the start of an evening (because of it�s close proximity to Camden Town tube) as opposed to somewhere where you would want to go and drink. I'm sorry to say that The World's End has unfortunately let itself down. The gent�s toilets present you with the overbearing smell of urine and dirty waterlogged floors. When inside the gents, it gives the impression whether they have ever been cleaned at all. The carpets are dirty and seem to stick to your shoes as you walk around and the bar staff (on occasion) don�t seem to have the sense of urgency to serve it�s customer�s, which in fairness, is probably due to it�s high turnover of part-time staff.
This pub has so much potential, and if it were to refurb it�s toilets, clean it�s carpets regularly and have more �professional� bar staff, then this pub could be one of the best pubs in London.
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Not a bad place at all for a quick drink if your in Camden for whatever reason. Not something to go out of your way for though, and I agree with the comment that the bar staff are not the brightest individuals. It took me and my mate ages to get served. Also the music was far too loud for my liking.
anonymous - 22 Nov 2004 19:14 |
OK if you like that sort of thing but unlike anywhere else in Camden Town. Go anywhere else in Camden (Dublin Castle being a case in point) and you'll never go back
Tomcat - 21 Oct 2004 16:33 |
Good gay crowd so the atmosphere is always good..
anonymous - 12 Oct 2004 12:18 |
A real tourist's gaff, and is full of people who don't know any better. It's like a Walkabout for Europeans. That's not a criticism of them (or the pub either I guess) as I end up at some pretty useless places when overseas as well, but just be warned.
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Dance away on Friday nights to 80s Cheese.. Pump Up The Volume is the place to be on a Friday night. No cool people whatsoever! I love that noone gives a crap about how they look and everyone is just there to have fun. Great Bouncers too!
Anonymous - 13 Jul 2004 12:57 |
Doesn't do too badly for such a big pub. Great meeting place in Camden, and for those who like a pint of Lowenbrau excellent. I've seen the Carlsberg being delivered from the side stree, siphened straight out of a lorry, which puts you off a bit. We also encountered a bloke drilling at lunchtime so loses a few marks for that aswell. The music is usually preety good and don't forget the marvellous Underworld downstairs!! The ale, if its on, tends to range from below average to average, Courage Best usually.
Owen - 2 Jun 2004 11:25 |
WENT INTO PUB LAST SUNDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HAD A GREAT TIME CHILLING IN THE UPSTAIRS AREA,MUSIC WAS GOOD AS WELL, QUITE A BIG PUB SO NOT VERY COSY AND THE TOILETS ARE NOT AS BAD AS MADE OUT TO BE
anonymous - 5 May 2004 16:06 |
this place is huge and good for a meeting point before going elsewhere.
JP - 11 Mar 2004 12:27 |
Yup, pretty overrated. Last time I was here, got horrifically drunk on tequila. However, the one thing I remember is that they played Love's 'Alone Again Or' so they get extra brownie points for that. Toilets are a shambles!
Melrond - 20 Feb 2004 13:43 |
wot a rubbish pub,smelly,pricy,and flat beer
Barry - 3 Feb 2004 12:39 |
this pub has quite possibly the worst toilets on the planet and the warm beer just sums up this soulless empty space frequented by tourists and people who should try walking a bit further from the station, like round the corner into the tup or up parkway or anywhere but this excuse for a pub. the worst by far in camden
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Good place to meet purely becuase of it's size ( In that it's big and you can find a place to sit if you show up early?!?). I like it but can see why some people might not, if that makes any sense.
Good for: Goth spotting
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i love this pub, the whole grimy look just goes down well, the atmosphere is wicked and i would love to make this as my local but i live too damn far away.
lil dark angel - 25 Nov 2003 16:57 |
this pubs great esp upstairs but why waste your money there when you can get more for your money in wetherspoons next to camden lock hehe
dani - 11 Nov 2003 20:49 |
The only thing good about this pub is the Thai and English quizeen served at lunchtimes. I would not pass through the doors of this pub at any other time of the day - Jim Reilly pretty well sums up the place
anonymous - 6 Nov 2003 10:25 |
11pm, "excuse me can you make your way into that bar as this bar now needs cleaning. And we have stopped serving..."
Big pub, bad toilets, better off buggering off.
Jim Reilly - 6 Nov 2003 09:37 |
Nice upstairs seating, if you just need to sit and have a pint or bite to eat while waiting for people to fall out of the nearby tube.
Tom - 24 Oct 2003 16:27 |
I used to meet up with some friends at least once a week in this pub and though it might be a bit filthy and neither beer nor wine were above the usual pub standard, we usually had a good time in there.
anonymous - 3 Oct 2003 13:54 |
got to have the worst toilets in the whole pub industry,the food aint to bad as its my little chinese mate from school who runs it.its a big old pub,with many different types of people in there.
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Big touristy toilet, the only thing going for it is that it's a handy place to meet people who are coming in from out of town, it's so big it's hard to miss.
Pauly - 21 Sep 2003 12:34 |
I had to meet some mates in here tonight, and a pint of Hoegaarden now costs �4.10 in here. We left shortly afterwards.
And the place still has that vague smell of vomit.
Can you put minuus ratings up on here?
Darryl - 12 Aug 2003 23:47 |
You can always ensure an eclectic mix of goths, rockers and characters and music to suit. This pub is absolutely huge and can feel quite empty at times. Obviously a pub of this size has many different area's and is great to stroll around. Unfortunately there are more men than girls, fortunately the men are either old, ugly or cranky and the girls, well.....they may be a little smelly but at least they're young. The beer is nothing to write home about. There is a small area which sells a mixture of Thai and English food but I have never been inclined to eat there. Their range of drinks are pretty standard but they do offer a Lowenbrau, Kronenburg and Caffreys.
Doofer - 6 Aug 2003 12:29 |
Strange place, Camden. Full of poncey overly-trendies, and the great unwashed. The World's End is no exception.
One of the larger, more famous, tourist-ridden pubs in the area.
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I agree with the toilet thing,its absolutly minging. Scuba gear is essential i'm afraid!
Good atmosphere though,lotsa people puking into pint glasses and the such.......nice.
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This pub is ok, but no better than ok. Less scary than it's Finsbury Park counterpart though. MUCH less scary. Perhaps the psychos are watered down by tourists...?
(Toilets were ok the day I was there. Maybe they'd just cleaned them.)
G - 16 Jun 2003 16:25 |
Really the most unpleasnat toilets in the Western hemisphere. Wear waterproof shoes or boots. The beer is fine but made less appetising by the thought of going back to the toilets. I'm shuddering now with the memory.
anonymous - 5 Jun 2003 13:28 |
All these comments make the World's End sound like a hellhole. It's not. If you can, get a seat in the upstairs area or in the little downstairs room. Has Stella, Lowenbrau, Guinness etc on tap and has friendly bar staff (not thick as suggested below!). It's a good place to meet friends in Camden as it's right opposite the tube station. The one gripe I would have is the toilets - these are absolutely disgusting and need to be ripped out and built again!
Chris - 5 May 2003 14:41 |
This pub has some of the worst toilets I have ever been to.
Miranda Oakley - 2 May 2003 16:20 |
Just horrible - Camden tourist boozer. Avoid like the plague - the Halfway House opposite is a better bet.
Darryl - 27 Apr 2003 23:32 |
Been going there every few weeks for about 3 years, and generally have a pretty good time. A good place to relax with mates for a night or pre-clubs ... bar staff are usually fairly sullen (but is'nt that the trend for alternative pubs?) and the place could do with a decent premium larger or two ... but I still like it. Off there tonight in fact.
DaveK - 25 Apr 2003 15:30 |
Goth pub? Although I admit the toilets can be quite grim every so often :)
anonymous - 28 Feb 2003 16:45 |
It's full of goths because it's right next to the underworld and is not far from the Devonshire arms which is London's premier Goth pub. I'm not a goth but I knew what to expect. Good beer range. Staff not as "thick" as has been suggested.
Alistair - 29 Nov 2002 13:59 |
The food costs to much. and the bar staff are thick.
bob - 15 Nov 2002 16:03 |
it gets totally up. the pub on the planet, janet (woodpecker) Ciders is yo...
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