Bars & Pubs

By Ben McFarland

Located just beyond the lock next to Camden market the railway tracks and the canal, the Hawley Arms is a vast Victorian boozer that has risen from the ashes of last year’s 'Great fire of Camden' which destroyed the top two floors. Renowned regulars, such as Noel 'Mighty Boosh' Fielding and Amy Winehouse, helped raise funds for its return. It still scores highly on the ‘slebs scale and there’s plenty of hipster to be had. But the regulars are not all effeminate fellas and self-assured headgear, there’s normal folk too.

'Camden Caners' HQ' (© The Sun) re-opened late last year with a brand new 'old' look; iron taxidermy, music-memorabilia, a jukebox and enormous antique mirrors hang on the walls beneath the high-ceilings of the main downstairs bar while, upstairs, things are a little cosier and quieter and clad in darker wood. Both floors offer al-fresco options with a roof terrace and a modest beer garden.

It’s a Greene King pub so there’s a choice of Suffolk suds (Abbot Ale and IPA) as well as Budweiser Budvar, a guest ale hand-pull, an impressive selection of bourbons and a dozen-strong wine list of which around half-a-dozen are available by the glass.

Top-notch Pieminster pies take pride of place on a good value pub grub menu offering burgers, fish and chips and moules frites – all for under a tenner. Shelves on the back bar are also stacked with sweeties and jelly beans.

As well as live music sessions on the first Monday of every month and the odd secret gig, there’s backgammon and snakes & ladders.

And the best seat? It's gotta be by the fire exit.

Time Out London Issue 2013: March 19-25 2009