Camden boasts a plethora of drinking establishments, but what few people actually realise is where a good 70 per cent of these places are. Hoards regularly frequent The Lock Tavern, Proud Galleries and the like yet all they find is homogenous North London hyperbole. Just-got-signed sat at your right hand, you sip a beverage staring at the Johnny they all aspire to be, Mr Borrell plastered across every spare inch of wall space. It’s typical, trashy and, to be honest, downright terrible. Next. Step forward, The Monarch.

The Venue
Camden’s Monarch, relaunched in 2007, puts paid to edgy trendsetting, preferring to give its eclectic array of punters precisely what they want instead of attempting to dictate what it is they should be after. The pub, just a few minutes walk from Chalk Farm station and only a little further from Camden Town, is in a prime location to attract passing trade. The kitschly adorned interior is miles from pretension: so-far-beyond-cool-they’re-classic red velvet curtains shield stage goings on and chandeliers hang precariously from the ceiling – you’re not sure if the decor is consciously conceived. It all concludes in a quietly assured ambience that is, quite frankly, rather magnetising.

A range of delightfully comfortable lounge furniture is dotted about, a sprinkling of which is centred round (unsurprisingly popular) tables with built in arcade games – Packman and Tetris both feature in the mouth wateringly tempting vintage catalogue. There’s also a pleasant patio out back catering for smokers, snugly lined with creeping plants tracking their way around the walls.

The Atmosphere
Despite a few stragglers, your average Camden wannabes generally seem to keep strolling past rather than halting to enquire about what might lie beyond the Dickensian public house exterior. And though it’s billed as a pub, it could just as easily pass as a bar, grill or kitchen. It could even be hailed as a club considering a number of well established promoters have hosted nights here in the past. Amy Winehouse also chose this humble space as the place to launch her own club night back in July 2008. A Jack-of-all-trades venue it is, then.

A state of the art PA system was installed after the relaunch and considering The Monarch is run by the same team behind The Enterprise, Barfly and others, the draw of being able to facilitate truly stirring sounding live music plays a massive role in sculpting the venue’s atmosphere. Pete Doherty recently played a solo show to showcase material from his forthcoming album. Expect to see cabaret and burlesque acts on the calendar, too, as well as a range of alternative but definitely not scene-y events. And if all you’re after is a quiet drink, The Monarch also makes the grade.

The Food
The increasingly popular trend for Thai food is present at The Monarch, with a lengthy, appealing choice of Thai dishes designed to tempt. Starters – which could happily double up as bar-side nibbles – cost around £3.50 for such dishes as chicken satay, vegetable spring rolls and sweet corn cakes. Mains are shockingly well priced with a Thai green curry or stir fried prawns costing just £5.95. The desserts are also refreshingly authentic, with choice including kha tom mai, sweet sticky rice with bannana or taro, lychees, or pineapple and rabutan, at an average price of just £2.50.

If, however, you are a die-hard pub grub type of punter then you’re also catered for with token dishes of fish and chips and scampi and chips included on the menu, for the same low prices as the Thai food.

The Drink
The Monarch is really about the atmosphere and the music, but they do offer cold beer and a range of simple spirits at reasonable prices given its locale. Don’t come here expecting fancy cocktail menus and drinks served with a flourish, the bar is simple but keeps the punters happy.

The Last Word
As popular with local dwellers seeking a low key hangout as with educated musos digging emerging talent, The Monarch is a venue espousing the scuzzy alternative vibe Camden demands whilst retaining an air of subdued sophistication. A decent night, any day of the week.

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