please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited here for the first time on Sunday, for Sunday Lunch, after swiftly escaping The Black Lion down the road upon spotting a member of their kitchen staff in dirty dirty chef whites 'aving a faaaag outside the entrance. Nasty! Anyway we retreated to North London Tavern and I will be back. THe pub and staff are lovely and the food was delish. I was served quite the BIGGEST yorkshire pud I have ever seen and had no room for pud. Gorgeous and worth every penny. I'll be back for pudding...
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by far the best pub in kilburn... A decent modern british restaurant nicely seperated from a lovely traditional bar. good selection of real ales and wine.
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I've lived in Kilburn for four years and when I moved significantly closer to the NLT last year I regarded it as a bonus. I'm surprised that, at the time of writing, the pub has such a low score of 5.8. It seems that a lot of the historic complaints below centre around the smokiness, slowness of service and the fact that it has changed from boozer to gastropub, resulting in a clientele of young professionals discussing property purchases. In identifying myself as a relatively recent local resident, it seems I may already have fallen into that final trap... I trust you'll forgive me since I don't wear ironic hats.
Before I moved to Kilburn I only visited the NLT once. Frankly, its "local pub for local people" atmosphere and less than subtle Irish republicanism didn’t make it very welcoming. (If that’s what you want, go to the Kingdom Bar further down Kilburn High Road.) The 2004 change was therefore an improvement in my view. Whilst some of my current co-drinkers may be Guardian-reading wankers, they don't stare menacingly and the more outlandish outfits at least provide good entertainment.
I have never found the service at the bar to be particularly slow. Obviously it takes longer when the bar is busy and the NLT does regularly fill up, but it seems rather churlish to criticise a bar for being popular. There is plenty of seating but (unsurprisingly) it gets taken quickly. If you’re looking for a good but quiet pub in London, you’re likely to be disappointed.
Following the smoking ban, the issue of smokiness has obviously been resolved. It was a fair criticism at the time, however. There were occasions when I would walk in, turn around and walk out because the smoke was so thick.
As for the quality of produce on offer, there are usually two real ales to choose from, which change quite regularly for variety. Harveys Best, Hopback Summer Lightning and Nethergate Old Growler are three which spring to mind. It’s always well kept and can be ordered in jugs rather than straight glasses, which is a bonus. The usual lagers and Guinness are also available. The spirit selection is excellent for a pub. There are several quality vodkas (including Wybarowa and Grey Goose) and bourbons (including Woodford Reserve) which are what I tend to notice. They also stock Koko Kanu rather than Malibu - a sure sign of class! Prices are around £3 a pint. Pretty standard for London these days, I suppose, albeit completely immoral.
The wine list has undergone a bit of a shake-up recently. It has always been pretty good and there is now a much heavier emphasis on grown-up wines rather than cloying Aussie Chardonnay and fruity-but-basic Chilean Merlot. I don’t drink much white in there because I usually go for meat dishes in the restaurant, but as for reds the Corbieres remains a favourite and the new Minervois is also excellent. Prices range from about £15 to about £30.
The NLT’s food is consistently good and occasionally excellent. There isn’t a burger option. There are two vegetarian options on the menu at the moment which are priced at around £8 or £9. The meat dishes tend to range from £12 to £15. This has increased over the last year. Previously, the roast beef was £12.50. I assume that the rise is due to the current state of the economy. The dining room is generally busy and it can be sensible to book, although the fact that the NLT has no beer garden means that it can be adversely affected by good weather.
There is a TV in the bar for sport and the clientele seems to place an emphasis on rugby, which is no bad thing. The room upstairs is often opened for this purpose as well during significant sporting events.
All in all, I find it hard to fault the NLT. It is very consistent and the enthusiastic management is constantly seeking to raise its already its already high standards. I couldn’t ask for a better local.
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I've already posted one review on this but thought it needed an update. Yeah, the food is a bit "gastropubish" and a bit pricey, but you're on this site for drinking not food. It is still a great place to visit. We don't live near here but still go here once a week (usually Thursdays). Nice bar staff, good beer (lagers and ales), good music (most of the time) and generally a good crowd. I'd rather have trustafarians than men in suits and women in high heels any day.
I highly recommend this pub if you're in Kilburn. Does it get crowded? Yes! It's a good pub.
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Beautiful, but miserable barmaid/manager?
Exspensive.
Also a very strange bloke in the bog obsessively drying his hands until it became embarrassing to wait behind him any longer.
Don't make me stand when I'm paying that much for a beer.
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More 'Gastro' than pub very cramped at the front bar, full of annoying trustafarians, very expensive.won't be back
anonymous - 12 Jun 2007 11:36 |
Haha, spot on. "Pre-tipple nibble" indeed! And for FIVE (5!) POUNDS!
Don't know what's wrong with "crisps" or "nuts" in a "bag" for "50 pence".
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Any place that has customers who use phrases like "pre-tipple nibble" is not the kind of place I want to drink in, alas.
One day I'll actually be albe to get a seat in here. Front bar perpetually packed with people wearing ironic hats while the back is frequently very very quiet.
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can't believe the negative comments about my fave london pub! sure, this place can get very crowded on a weekend (and being regulars we mutter 'who are all these people?', and 'this is my pub, get out!', but we never mean it), and once we say hello to our favourite bar tenders, and muscle for a stool at the bar we are very happy indeed. the £5 bar food menu is great for a pre-tipple nibble, the beer/wine/spirit range is fantastic, and yes, sometimes there is a short wait at the bar - cos they're so busy! it's not rocket science people, give the staff a break. i recommend a week night, or weekend afternoon if you want to see it at it's best. the music is always stellar, and there are ususally lots of attractive people (who are not snobby, or showy as suggested below)to keep it interesting. but hey, if you don't agree that's no problem - more seats for me and my friends! ;)
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Has changed, like a lot of Kilburn Pubs from being one frequented by older Irish blokes, to a 'trendy 'bar. It was awful before and its awful now.Bar staff while pleasant enough are the slowest I've ever come across, its very expensive and the punters are too 'cool'to be friendly.
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Good pub. It great Kilburn has a few choices to go out in now! Food was good - service a little slow, but it was Friday night. Would go back.
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I'm not sure what the negative comments below are based upon. I've been to this pub a few times over the past year (I'm not a regular and certainly not the type to guffaw over property deals) and I've had nothing but good service, excellent beer and excellent food.
I also think it still has a lot of character. It has changed from the old-fashioned boozer it once was but I'd say that was for the better and it's not like it has become an All-Bar-One clone. It's a very comfy pub with a nice relaxed atmosphere. You can't ask for more than that.
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What have they done to this pub? Once upon a time it looks like it was a good, honest, large, corner London boozer, and from the outside it could still pass as one.
When you go in though, it's quite a different story. It's all too often full of arty types, sipping Magners, wearing trendy short-scarves-tied-like-girls-tie-them, guffawing over their latest property purchases. It is everthing that is wrong with London pubs all rolled into one.
The Bar area is far too small and so cramped that people standing at the bar are constantly being nudged, elbowed and shoved around as they drink.
The reason the bar area is so cramped? The dining room. Yes that's right, another big, cozy London boozer taken over by a predominantly empty dining room selling over priced burgers and home made chips.
Why oh why they haven't put the dining room upstairs beggars belief, for upstairs they have a room available for private hire which sits empty all week and is hired out for 30th birthday champagne parties at the weekend. So think about that next time someone elbows your white wine all over your gucci loafers. Come on NLT, sort it out.
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This is quite a disappointing pub.
It looks really nice from outside and is always really busy. The bar bit was alright, tho it was quite hard to get a seat & was more smokey than many other places.
If you order food, the dining room has a really nice ceiling but the menu choice is quite limited, especially if you are vegetarian. We had the same girl serving us both times we have been (several months apart), but last time she was too busy talking to her friend to bring any drinks / food or take any orders, tho she was wearing a nice top.
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Went to this pub in the New Year and was very impressed with the food - something for everyone, the service was quite slow but on a Saturday evening when you are with friends drinking it didn't matter, but if you were in a rush I wouldn't really recommend it. The bar looked very cosy. You can't smoke in the restaurant until after 10.30pm and I wouldn't recommend it for big groups of people - 6 max. However, it did have a nice atmosphere, I did rate the food very highly and would definitely go back again.
laurs - 20 Mar 2006 16:06 |
use to be a brilliant old fashioned pub that had hardly changed since the 50's,then the gastro pub wankers moved in,cleared out the old irish/english crowd destroy the character, pouncy it up and turn it over to the wannabe yuppie crowd who will be gone in a couple of years,it only took them a couple of weeks to do it up so hopefully it could be turned back to the way it was just as quick. what the luffwaffe failed the current owners were successful , shame !
anonymous - 22 Dec 2005 14:31 |
yeah, interesting point, seems to be a common area of neglect that, when these gaffs get gastroed-up, they always stop short with the old IKEA kit when they hit the mens bogs,....
Once your Fillet Mignons have worked their way through the system, you've cover to covered the Sunday times,.and chewed the fact with Piers and Rocket...you have to adjourn to Loch Urine...and you may as well be in any old shithole,...bet its not the same in the birds
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Used to drink here in the old days. Elderly Irish couples dancing to dodgey riddly diddly do duos - but it was nice. It's been gastrofied now and its full of braying young professionals lounging about on leather sofas. Doubtless on Sundays they have broadsheets too. Food looks expensive. I read an article the other week saying that most food in Gastros comes pre prepared.
Anyway I hate pubs like this but my girlfriend loves them. It's loud and smokey.
Despite comments about service, it was very quick. In fact never before have I stood at a bar with a drink in my hand and been asked about 5 times whether I wanted a drink. Impressive.
PS: Lots of urine on the floor in the mens bogs which as far as I could tell haven't been touched since the North London Tavern of old.
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Ok pub but agree with previous comments smokey and slow service.
anonymous - 4 Sep 2005 23:25 |
Visited for lunch the other day and was quite impressed. Lovely inside and the food was pretty good. Some others have commented on poor service and whilst it was very quiet when I was in there I have to say even then the service did seem lackadaisical. I imagine it would be poor when busy.
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Quite like this pub although it can get quite smoky inside. Takes a while to get served. Good selection of drinks.
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Great food in the restuarant although it can be smokey (in the pub also). Can get crowded and can take a while to get served. Last place to loose the sun in Kilburn when you sit outside (if you can get a seat).
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Love this pub. Staff are great but I wish they didn't spend so much time arsing around! Very difficult to get drunk here - you'll spend most of your time waiting to get served!
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I go there quite a bit and it's a nice mellow place that's not too trendy (yet). Nicer than the Black Lion, and less middle-aged.
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I really like this pub and living round the corner I drink there regularly. I like the pub itself, the atmosphere of the place, cool music, good beer, great food (although slightly pricey). However, of late, the service, especially in the bar, has gone downhill. I'm all for the bar staff enjoying their jobs but they seem to be more interested in having a laugh with each other behind the bar than serving the customers. I was there last night, the place was fairly busy for a Wednesday, and there was a distinct feel that there was no one in charge. The result being that at one point, I waited five minutes to be served during which time there was literally no one behind the bar (around 9.45) and at 10.50, one of the girls called last orders but of the four staff, one was collecting glasses, one was doing a stock take or something like that, the dude in the hat was chatting to his mates (I presume) and only one was serving drinks. Not good enough at last orders in a busy pub. This sort of thing seems to be becoming a pattern in the North London Tavern. It would be a shame if poor service at the bar ruined such a great pub!
anonymous - 10 Mar 2005 13:18 |
good sized pub (another one of those gastro pubs). nice bar staff. Some hipsters but not too many as you still get some of the original locals. Wish they'd mix the music up a bit - it always seems to be french house jazz playing. Prices are decent on lagers.
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I have moved from Kilburn recently, but when I was living there this was my favourite pub. Good music, lovely staff and the food was amazing - although I do admit it is a little pricey!!
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As a pub, it's agreeably welcoming and the best place on the Kilburn High Road for a pint. Unlike the previous reviewer, I found the food pretty good, but the bill can really run away if you're not careful. Who ever would have thought we'd see the £100 night out for two in Kilburn?
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My first visit here last night.
Unfortunately the service was very very slow and the food very disappointing.
The polite staff did not make up for the poor service.
anonymous - 25 Nov 2004 09:32 |
Sorry - I hate pubs like this. Full of people wearing designer spectacles. Feel like you're in Primrose Hill.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2004 07:59 |
Exactly what Dan said below. Poncy without the ponces
WHD - 18 Oct 2004 16:01 |
Easily the best pub in Kilburn...
Hang on, let me start again...
Easily the least worst pub in Kilburn.
I generally wax lyrical about the "old days" in this pub - before it shut down in Jan 2004 and reopened as the current gastro version. Not sure why, I only used to go here a few times a year and that was only to do things like watch the Snooker final with mates.
Now, it's been given a good polish and has kept the original layout - a tremendous shape for the pub - and the London Pride is first class. But that's about it. A nice enough pub, but a crime that it's the best in the area.
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Nipped in recently on a Saturday night, found it heaving and non-threatening. A good place to gyrate on the spot and watch cute girls in tiny tops not notice you exist.
Hooegarden on tap too. Nice.
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A good sized pub with a lively atmosphere which reaches it’s peak on Saturday night when a DJ spins some Irish tunes for some melancholy moments.
BBC London - 4 Sep 2004 17:32 |
ugly and pretentious
Simone - 4 Sep 2004 17:23 |
a poncy pub which people who deteste poncy pubs could happily spend time in .
dan - 11 Aug 2004 12:32 |
Pretty nice renovation of a local boozer with welcoming atmosphere, & in my experience the beer's never flat or warm. It is, however, damned expensive!
Dan - 15 Jul 2004 16:39 |
Great pub run by great guys. I've lived in Kilburn for ten years waiting for someone to open a pub that I actually wanted to be in - and now I'm moving o Cricklewood. Food is above average, Beer is well kept and usually excellent (problem with the Black Lion being that they don't sell any real beer - therefore it is not a pub!). Decor is nice in that generic urban faux rustic (if that makes sense) gastro pub way. Home made crisps - fantastic.
Ian - 25 Jun 2004 15:32 |
Typical modern day refit and 5.40 for two pints of gnatts piss. If you like this sort of place you'll love it if you don't you'll hate it. I liked the old dears who used to come in here and dance to Irish music.
anonymous - 22 Jun 2004 12:36 |
Wonderful pub with great character. I think the external apperance would be tremendously approved with the addition of a canopy at ground floor level (only) that spans no more than one structural bay. Awesome.
George - 28 May 2004 12:09 |
One of the best pubs in North London, it's just a pity you have to go through Kilburn to get there. The pub has a wonderful clientele, witty staff and the best bit.. Lucky Strike cigarettes behind the counter. Oh, and they sell pints in jugs if you're a traditional drinker like myself. :)
Guy - 25 May 2004 13:12 |
Relaxed and pleasant for a Sunday lunch - read the paper on a leather sofa style. Bright young clientele mixes with the odd old codger. Good, if somewhat unimaginative food is rather overpriced.
Jonathan - 28 Mar 2004 21:36 |
A brillant pub, appeals to all ages. You could take your mum, go with the hoxton massive or read the papers on your own. Bar staff are lovely, yes the bar could be cheaper. But a fiver for lunch during the week! Now how can you complain at that. love it
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extremely good food at good value, great makeover which updates but does not overdo the traditional decor...
anonymous - 23 Feb 2004 20:08 |
Never used to be empty when I had a drink in there on Sat nights. Full of older locals dancing and enjoying admittedly dodgy music. Now yuppyfied with prices to match. If this is your type of place fine but I'm fed up with them.
anonymous - 23 Feb 2004 10:56 |
This used to be referred to locally as 'the empty pub', but now it's looking fantastic and populated after the refurb. It's about time there was another place apart from the lecherous 'Powers Bar' to deal with the overspill from Brondes age! Nice chandeliers too.
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Another pub that's recently been refurbished on the High Rd. Fantastic looking pub, but I was made to pay £2.90 for a pint of Strongbow! My friend then told me he'd paid £2.75 for the same. Regardless, too expensive for a zone 2 pub.
anonymous - 4 Feb 2004 13:09 |
