The Elephants Head was a rockabilly pub a few decades ago and you can still feel the spirit of those roots.

The Venue
Less than a five minute walk from Camden Town tube, on a corner of the high street, stands the Elephants Head. The pub has three exits onto the street and plenty of space outside to smoke. Go past this pub most evenings and it is heaving, especially at weekends.

The decor has a ‘50s skew with its dark panelled wood, golden yellow painted walls, glowing American diner style jukebox and Elvis clock behind the bar. Posters for musicals add to this, creating an almost cultured ambience. The bar running the length of the pub displays old pots and various other drink-based paraphernalia.

The Atmosphere
The Elephants Head is popular with a rockabilly crowd but you get a variety of punters here, from tourists to locals. You shouldn’t be afraid to wear whatever you want as anything goes.

The atmosphere here can become noisy and it’s not really the place for quiet evening drinks. During the day, a bunch of relaxed locals visit for pub grub. In the evenings, especially as the weekend nears, it becomes packed full of people dancing, drinking and clamouring to the bar. It is always quite a busy, popular pub, although during the week a lot of people seem to be in their own groups and are not particularly welcoming towards new faces.

During the week, there is a juke box with a variety of music on it, anything from Amy Winehouse and reggae cover versions of Pink Floyd to punk and pop. At the weekends a DJ plays a variety of punk, rockabilly and blues type tunes. The staff are quick and efficient and know their jobs well.

The Food
The Elephants Head offers a range of delicious pub food, starting at £5 for a jacket potato, rising to £10.50 for a steak, the food is surprisingly good value for money. Food reaches you swiftly and the portions are a fair size. Upon ordering a jacket potato with beans and salad, a large rustic looking portion is served. The potato is cooked perfectly – a crispy skin giving way to a soft, fluffy middle. Piping hot beans run over the edges of the potato. The salad isn’t dressed but is crisp and fresh, gently offsetting the meal. Decent value for money.

The Drink
There is a wide selection of lagers on tap and one specialist ale: Fosters, Kronenbourg, Stella Artois, Guinness, John Smiths and Courage Best are all available. For Camden, the Elephants Head hasn’t got the cheapest offers on drinks and you can expect to pay around £3.50 a pint, but they are smooth and clean tasting.

There is also a small selection of wine available, house wine starts at a not unreasonable £3.70 a glass. Some of the bottled drinks on offer include Newcastle Brown Ale, Magners, Budweiser, Becks and Coroner. The pub also offers a range of shots, including absinthe, and a wide variety of hot drinks and spirits.

The Last Word
The Elephants Head definitely has that alternative, tattooed, rockabilly feel with a hint of ‘50s styling thrown in.

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