The Holly Bush, Hampstead

Three of use ate upstairs on a Sunday evening. It was recommended to us; and it wasn't bad, it just wasn't that good.

The service was slow, the wooden room was very noisy, two of the roasts were finished already so we couldn't order them, the sausages were dry, the lamb was mutton, the portions were of decidedly average size, the apple and pear crumble was served at tongue-blistering temperature, the chocolate tart was actually a rather dry cake, the and the bill for three people (three mains, three deserts, seven drinks) came to �78, making it one of the most expensive meals that we've had in London, but certainly not one of the best. The service charge was not presented as optional in any way by the waiting staff afterwards either.

4 Sep 2007 21:43

The Three Horseshoes, Thursley

We went here on a Friday night after work, since the food had been recommended. It was a quiet little pub in a lovely ancient building, with a friendly barmaid minding the shop. They had a couple of obscure ales.

Unfortunately food was only served from 7:30pm, which I thought was rather daft, so we left.

1 Sep 2007 17:14

The Devonshire Arms, Camden

The Devonshire Arms is less than five minutes walk from Camden Town underground station, in the general direction of Kentish Town. It is not particularly large. The selection of drinks is not particularly wide, and the prices are fairly average for London. The bar staff are variable - they can be attentive, or can often be not so good. The floors are not very clean, and the whole place looks a bit dingy and worn. The toilets are very grotty indeed. The pub does not sell hot food. The volume levels can be high in the evenings. The ambience is enhanced by low light levels that disguise the state of the d�cor.

There is a lot of decoration in the style of modern Gothic memorabilia/bricolage. Band posters cover the ceiling. There is a broomstick, a plastic skeleton, a skull, a spider web, etc. forming a busy pile of random dark stuff. A sign behind the bar reads "No football colours".

The Dev is an Goth/alternative bar, probably more so than any other bar in London. The Dev is not just frequented by Goths , the pub has a dress code to that effect: strictly no football kit, alternative dress preferred. They always have people at the door to guard entry. Indeed, this door policy is the pub's unique selling point. However it's not that hard to get in if you are that way inclined - jeans and a t-shirt will do so long as they are in basic black. Some people inside will be very dressed up, but not everyone. The dress code is more likely to be relaxed during the day when the pub is relatively empty. Resident DJs play some evenings, live bands some Thursdays.

The Dev's patrons do not in general go to the Dev because it sells beer. Beer can be had at a multitude of pubs and off-licences in London, many nearby. They go to The Dev because that scene is what they want. They know for certain they won't be hassled about their look there, though the odds of that happening elsewhere in a Camden pub must be quite low anyway. If you don't like it, then there are many other pubs in Camden that you might like more. If you are into wearing too much black, it's a very well-known place, and it's worth going to see it at least once.

When you want some interesting beers, exit the Dev, walk five minutes Northish (away from Camden tube) on Kentish Town road, over the canal and under the railway, until you come to a blue-painted bar called Quinn's. Ignore the sports on TV and the dodgy people in the front, try the guest ale, a bottled beer or a fruit beer; and sit at the back. There's lots of room, it's cleaner and they also have basic bar food.

27 Aug 2007 12:57