The Hawley Arms has always been an iconic venue attracting celebrities like Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse; that is, until a fire in February 2008 gutted the pub and much of the surrounding area. After a refurbishment, it reopened all shiny and new in early November 2008: the bar staff are still hot, the pub is still cutting edge, and there’s still a good chance of spotting a familiar face.

The Venue
The Hawley Arms was the first of the fire-destroyed row situated under the railway bridge in Camden to be back up and running. A friendly board outside exclaims ‘Welcome Back, we’ve missed you!’ and the old fire-ravaged sign proudly hangs on the stairs, reminding punters of its battle scars.

Entering the pub on the ground floor, the bar sprawls out in front of you with a gorgeous grey Victoriana mirrored dresser behind with bottles of liquor and 1950s sweet jars filled with pub snacks. The army of good looking bar staff await to take your order beneath ornate vintage chandeliers. The furniture has stayed true to its past image, being sourced from the same sources as the original, destroyed pieces, and you’ll find a hotch potch of rustic tables and chairs are arranged throughout the ground floor.

The walls are adorned with blown up photos of gods of music and huge guild mirrors on vibrant red wallpaper dotted with gold flowers. There’s a leather clad snug towards the back and then doors out to one of the heated smoking areas. Up the staircase past walls covered in record sleeves and a signed picture of Hawley Arms regulars Razorlight is the first floor, which is much more intimate, almost like stepping into a homely country lodge. The walls are wood panelled with thick floral drapes hanging around the huge windows. There’s a new and improved first floor smoking area with seating and heaters overlooking the street and market. Another set of stairs leads past old Polaroids of bar staff and fans to the cleanest bathroom in Camden, with its very own hi tech Dyson hand dryer.

The Atmosphere
The clientele notoriously reflects eclectic Camden, with media types making merriment with budding fashionistas, aspiring musicians and, of course, the odd celebrity. Just don’t stare as you’ll ruin your kudos. You don’t have to wear a skanky pair of skin tight jeans or adorn yourself with anchor and swallow tattoos to get in, but it would help you to blend in. However, even without the celebrity endorsement, the pub’s charm as a London establishment still sparkles through its makeover, and is warm and homely proving the fire hasn’t destroyed its spirit. You can’t help but feel the sense of excitement in the pub, and the bar staff look like they walked out from the pages of ID magazine – luckily without the pretentiousness.

The Music
Unless there’s live music lined up or Pete Doherty and friends pop in for an impromptu warbling session, the music is a background combination of soul, rock, funk and any band that begins with ‘The’. It’s guaranteed the music selection will be great though, and if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, they still have the jukebox packed to the brim with tunes to choose from.

The Food
Not particularly famed for its food offering, The Hawley does offer traditionalpub grub, including fish and chips, burgers and a great selection of endearingly named pies, alongside big sandwiches. There's also the obligatory Sunday Roast for £10, offering a choice of whatever quality meat has been delivered on the day.

The Drink
Being a Greene King pub means the liquor selection is vast and pretty good value. Displayed lovingly across the bar shelf is a mixture of gin, whisky and vodka, including premium bottles and a moderate wine list. There’s also an excellent beer selection including IPA, Old Speckled Hen and lagers such as Budvar, Heineken, Kronenbourg, Becks Vier, Hoegaarden, Guinness and Bulmers cider, at an average £3.25 a pint. The sale of beer and lager probably make up the majority of the Hawley’s profits each week as most punters walk around wielding a pint.

The Last Word
The distribution of the ‘I Heart Hawley’ postcards will no doubt begin once more with the pub’s reopening. It’s guaranteed to be a popular haunt with new fans and die hard regulars alike, even if it’s just for a pint of IPA and a giggle at the number of daft Winehouse beehives there are inside. The Hawley Arms embodies everything that makes the London boozer great: charm, good beer and a jam-packed jukebox. If nothing else, you never know who you might bump into.

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