The Victoria

AlexWoods

The Goose has lost it's Crown... Camden's best pub 9th June 2009

1 found this helpful

I don’t want to alarm any one, but this could well be the best pub in Camden. I know that’s controversial, and I think I may have to write a letter of apology to the Crown, but this place is just utterly fantastic. I think I’m in love.

For a start, it closes in the afternoon. Now, that may not seem like a merit in most people’s book but there is something so quintessentially “pubby” about it – open for lunch, close during the “graveyard hours”, which any barman/maid is familiar with (in fact, I wrote most of my undergraduate dissertation while at work during this down time) then open up for knocking off time.

(Also, if you think about it, it’s completely logical – A: the kind of people who are drinking at 3.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon are the kind of people you probably don’t want in your pub. People like me. B: just a quick cost/benefit analysis must highlight the fact that the amount of money you take over the bar on your average weekday afternoon is usually significantly less than the cost of powering and manning the place.)

So. It’s closed. Great. Inside it is beautiful! Very comfortable and welcoming, a little dark but that gave it a more cosy touch. There’s a decent sized L-shaped bar, with some excellent bar stools. Around one side are some very interesting copper-topped tables, which must be a bugger to keep clean but they look great! Around the other side there are some more comfy looking tables, chairs and sofas.

Now then. The garden is a delight! It’s enclosed, it’s paved and overhung with some kind of vegetation. There is also a long trestle table roofed with trellising which I can imagine in the evening looks very romantic indeed.

They only have one beer, but it’s London Pride and it was delicious so who gives a crap. Further to that they have a pretty standard collection of lagers etc.

By far and away the highlight of this pub is the juke box. I had a wonderful time (and spent a lot of money!) trawling through the extensive collection which can cater to pretty much any taste.

As if all that wasn’t enough, the staff when we went in were some of the most charming and sociable I’ve had the pleasure to have met and they do great pizza.

This all makes for a fantastic, friendly atmosphere and I can see this gaff becoming a regular.

Kaliova

10th July 2007

3 found this helpful

Second best pub in Camden but still gets a '5' - so many good memories and there's no better place to be on a summer's weekday evening.

shelo9

5th May 2007

2 found this helpful

Not the best looking pub in the area but has an area outside to drink and also a garden which is great in the summer. Prices are not too steep either. Kind of like a village pub.