A cosy, decent pub in Camden that isn’t full of posers? It can’t be! Thank goodness the Goths haven’t found it as this pub is beautifully quaint and best left untouched.

The Venue
Just off the main stretch of Camden High Street is this charming old-world pub, which only seems to have locals or people in the know in it. From the outside it just looks like any other building on the street, but once you push open the large wooden door it feels like you’ve entered another world. Although it’s a very small pub it has plenty of character. The dark lighting and flickering of the candles gently illuminate the venue, adding to its delicate and friendly ambience. Above the bar there is a dinky gnome on a swing suspended from the ceiling, which indicates the laid-back attitude of the Crown and Goose.

In all corners of the venue are tacky Seventies lampshades next to the wooden, glossy furnishings. The bar takes up most of the space but that just makes it all the more homely. Customers sit happily on stools at the bar whilst the staff attend to you. Also, there is interesting art placed carefully around the venue for the customers to appreciate and enjoy. Beyond the bar, there is a dining area that feels like you are eating at a friend’s house. The waitresses make you feel at home and accommodate all your requests. Perfect surroundings for a warm, chatty dinner.

The Atmosphere
A friendly warm atmosphere is emitted throughout the Crown and Goose, which makes it a welcome change from the hectic and lager-loutish Camden High Street. Expect people who all know each other, chugging their beers merrily, whilst nibbling on some good quality food without any hassle.

Sixties soft rock tunes are played in the background, which suits the attitude of the pub. The noise is kept to a manageable level and you can comfortably talk without shouting, which is unusual for a pub in Camden. This is probably why an older crowd tends to come here to escape the insanity of the high street.

The Food
The food at the Crown and Goose is upmarket pub grub and you wouldn’t expect anything less. For starters you can have deep fried shrimp tails (£5) or nachos topped with cheese, sour cream, salsa and guacamole (£5.50). For mains, expect the typical beer battered cod with chips (£10.50) or Quesadilla with smoked chicken, vegetables, cheese and chilli sauce, (£8.50), to tickle your tastebuds. The desserts are also tasty and naughty. The choices are chocolate cake or the lemon tart (£4.50), although the chocolate cake is especially recommended as it slips seductively down your throat and you know you’ve done something bad but ever so good.

The Drink
Expect standard pub drinks with a good selection of draught beers: Aspall Suffolk Cyder, San Miguel, Kronenberg, Amstell, London Pride, Grolsch, Guinness, Heineken, Bass and Pilsner Urquell, all around the £3 mark. Also bottled beers are bog standard: Peroni, Budvar, Magners, Asahi and Corona. Wines start at £12 a bottle and you can choose from a Cabernet Merlot or Chambard Chardonnay.

The Last Word
If you want a different experience of Camden then head on down to the Crown and Goose as the drinks are good and the company is even better.

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