The Lion and Unicorn, Kentish Town - pub details

Lion and Unicorn
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Address: 42-44 Gaisford Street, Kentish Town, London, NW5 2ED [map] [gmap]

Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 15031) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras

Nearest tube stations Kentish Town (0.2 miles), Kentish Town West (0.3 miles), Tuffnell Park (0.6 miles)

Nearest train stations Kentish Town (0.1 miles), Kentish Town West (0.3 miles), Camden Road (0.5 miles)

Pub facilities/features:

  • TV, Jukebox
  • Pool table, Dartboard
  • Outside seating, Dogs allowed, Children allowed, Credit cards accepted

Pub suggested by dan on 1 Oct 2004

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> Current user rating: 4.6/10 (rated by 13 users)
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other pubs nearby:

Annies Bar, Kentish Town (0.1 miles), O'Reilly's, Kentish Town (0.1 miles), Oxford, Kentish Town (0.1 miles), Abbey, Kentish Town (0.1 miles), Bull and Gate, Kentish Town (0.2 miles) - see more nearby pubs

 

user reviews of the Lion and Unicorn, Kentish Town

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

5 most recent reviews of 15 shown - see all reviews

Been in here twice now, once for ale the second for a bite to eat. Enjoyed the place, thought it was bright and welcoming. Large outside areas, which are a rariety around these parts, no doubt will be a major draw in the Summer months. Overall a welcome addition to the area.
BlueMoon - 13 Jan 2012 15:59
Refurbishment completed so popped in for a quick pint so these are just first impressions.

The pub has gone from one extreme to the other - from a dark cavern for regulars necking lager to a food-led gastropub crammed with colourful soft furnishings - if the editor of Ideal Homes had to decorate a pub this is probably what you'd end up with. It's a more successful refurb than the leopard-print and chandelier acid trip round the corner at Annie's Bar but may not be to everyone's taste. There's plenty of seating inside and out (perhaps a few too many tables in truth) and the banquette seating towards the back would suit larger groups, as would the sofa in the middle. Front and back gardens had both been refurnished and look quite smart if a little too neat and maybe lacking in character. The kitchen is towards the back and is close to the punters without actually being open as at the nearby Oxford Arms or Junction Tavern.

Usual mix of brand-name lagers (Staropramen, Stella and so on) and ciders on the bar. There were five handpumps on the go though not all were available yet (eg Adnams). We both had Sharp's Cornish Coaster (pulled by a barmaid who thought violently yanking the handpump was the optimum technique) which was tolerable if perhaps a little too cold.

Wine list and food looked to be as you'd expect from a gastropub (pig's cheeks, fish & chips, duck breast - at least no sausage and mash!) and the prices were probably fair enough if not bargains, but as we didn't eat I can't comment on value for money.

The staff are clearly fairly new and are still coming together as a team. It looked as though bar staff were dressed in pink polo shirts whilst waiting staff had purple shirts which is a rather unwelcome echo of Wetherspoons or similar. Hopefully over time they'll relax into their roles and this rather ridiculous distinction can be dropped.

The great draw for this place will be the theatre upstairs with resident theatre company Giant Olive consistently drawing plaudits. The offering downstairs is just right for pre or post theatre drinking and eating so hopefully both Geronimo Inns & Giant Olive will recognise their mutual interest in bringing in the punters.

I liked it more than I thought I would and I will go back to but you can't throw a brick in the air in NW5 these days without hitting a gastropub so competition is fairly fierce. A provisional 6.5/10.
Zonergem - 1 May 2011 13:48
Refurb nearing completion, scaffolding down, but bar area still being fitted out.
Looks like the pool table has gone & that area has become the kitchen & dining area.
Hal90.00 - 16 Apr 2011 18:24
Been bought by Geronimo Inns and undergoing the gastro makeover. Will be interesting to see if they can draw some of the punters away from The Oxford but this pub is in a relatively quiet location so if you don't know it's there you're not going to stumble across it.

Will be competing with a ton of other local gastropubs including the same owner's Lord Palmerston up in Tufnell Park.
Zonergem - 4 Mar 2011 06:14

They won't serve tap water. No matter how many drinks you buy. It "costs money" apparently. I mean, what would they do "if everyone starting asking for tap water?

Because clearly the moment they drop this shamelessly cynical, small-minded, morally repugnant, money-grabbing policy, their miserable stool-swaying regulars will immediately mob the bar, thankful for any excuse not to drink that pissweak Carling anymore.

Makes sense. After all, if you attempt to keep your customers happy, there's a risk they might come back. Luckily for the Lion and Unicorn, there's no danger of that.

Vile – and a blight on the feisty little theatre company that's set up shop upstairs.

By all means visit, but feel free to miss the urinals.


theunready - 3 Dec 2009 23:37

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