Great metal like pub, love it. Came all the way from Austin Texas to visit the Hobgoblin-Dev once again. ( and a few others). The Dev is comparable to the best in Austin, and Austin has has more than a few. The bathrooms a bit dodgy, but hey goes with the territory.
Hopefully I'll be back in 2012.

It's a shame the Friday & Saturday Nazi bouncers have to ruin a great time, in a great pub.

You can't do anything at all without being 1. Kicked out. 2. Physically abused 3. Made feel like intimidated.

I have witnessed such abuse on several occasion, if the 'security' was sorted out, the pub would be fantastic, all the time.

Randomly popped in there last week - felt well happy n comfy! well relieved to find a truly cool pub!

Very nice Metal Pub in Camden Town .
Great music (strictly metal), beer and spirits.
Searches by the security at the entrance.

Do not miss it! \m/

Was there yesterday in non goth non metal gear -
I agree the toilets stink and the floor is sticky as heck BUT the place was great - friendly staff very friendly clientèle IF you aren't a twat . I saw a couple of people who were obviously there to take the piss out of metalers and guess what they were were ostracised by staff and punters alike. So previous reviewers take note - Fun friendly and really enjoyable.

It's probably my fav pub to go to in Camden town, seriously. There is this free atmosphere with friendly and chatty staff. When going to Hobgoblin, you should never worry about going alone. As for me, there has always been some friendly faces to talk with. If you love to rock and roll, that's the place to go!

I don't understand quite why everyone complains and moans about a place! I'm new to London and have been to some of the rock bars listed on here and in most cases found what everyone says to be wrong! Ive been here twice in the past week, and both times its been good! I don't look like i should be in this pub at all but both times we went we were welcomed and chatted to the regulars who were fairly friendly, not like being in crobar when the only people to acknowledge we were there were 2 foreigners ! it was half 1 in the morning when we turned up on sat and they were quite happy to let us in!


People who complain about being ignored by the locals, have you actually tried to have a conversation with the locals?

Yes the toilets are awful and the floors are sticky, but at the end of the day I don't go to a rock bar for the nice clean toilets and the nice clean floor or to fit in with everyone else... I go for the music, and this place was very good for that, every song i requested the DJ played!

my only real complaint about this place is that it should be open till 3am!

Good times!

This place is RANK. Staff and clientele alike are the biggest bunch of up themselves posers and plastics I've ever had the misfortune to see accumulated in one place. Cliquey, loud showoffs who think they're *it* and *so london scene* but are just provincial, conformist, formulaic and fake. The place is a 'kin tourist trap and the whole bar reeks of piss. Knock it down.

Was really disappointed by this bar. I came simply looking to have a fun night out with people with similar tastes. But if you are not either a regular or completely decked out in a chosen style, you will get ignored by bartenders and patrons alike. Pretentious and very unfriendly place.

Use to be like a paradise for London's alternative types back when it was the Dev. Now it is a dive (and NOT in a good way). One is overwhelmed by the stink of urine when walking through the door. Make sure that you don't need the toilet while you're there, the smell is unbearable. Bar staff are rude. A pity, I really hope they sort this place out!

I used to love this place when it was the Devonshire Arms. People were friendly and anyone was welcome.

I hadn't been in for around 5 years due to being overseas doing my 'goth star' thing, and decided to pop in the moment I was next in London.

I was absolutely amazed to be turned away because I didn't "look goth enough".

Sadly, this is no longer a goth pub, despite its claims. It's a neo/cyberpunk venue now, and anyone that still lives in the days when the 'sad old goth' t shirts first appeared in Whitby, doesn't appear to be welcome.

This place is not for 'alternative' people, but for the new-age alternative conformists, and I hope they enjoy their emo cuts :)

Horrible, p**s-stinking, pretentious and full of crusty *oi* punks who are well past their sell-by date and aggressively hassle you to buy them beer.

Slow, snotty service. Rancid toilets. There is nothing to commend in this dire establishment. Under new management *yet again* but worse than ever. AVOID.

Alternative pub my arse, i have never been to such a pretentious so called alternative pub in my life.

Having traveled extensively and drank in many awesome alternative bars i have never come across the fashion police that staff this pub, if your apperance isn't that of a full blown goth or punk you're not welcome.

The whole point of an alternative bar is the music and socialising with like minded people, not a fashion parade, you don't have to conform to an image to show that you like decent music.

The Intrepid Fox is much better.

there are'nt alot of positive points i can bring about when i talk about the devs, mainly because i have been mistreated by that pub.

it used to be good, that's true. but it has changed.for example, i got kicked out of there before, but not for causing any trouble.

once for changing a track on the system(wheres the lightness these days?), and once they didn't even let me inside because i was drunk.

and let me just ask, isn't it abit hypocritical considering the fact most poeple who go there come out hammered anyways?

it is hardly a quiet pint sort of place. no, you can't hear what the person closest to you is saying.

really not recomanded. go to the crobar or the fox instead for good choice of alternative pubs.

a bit of a dirty pub, had sticky tables, the toilets stink and are the worst i've ever seen, the music was good the staff/doormen friendly.would be a really good pub if they just gave it a bit of a clean

I love this place!
We're a young, glam-goth crowed and we have the best timt here-Wednesday is a great day, the music is fantastic (goth-rocl mainly), the people are sexy and not rude at all like some places (The fox for ex').
I wish it opened until 2 on a week day, we all moan when it closes!
A great night out for goths or metalers!

The Devonshire Arms is a bit too hard core for me. The music is pretty hard and loud. The people are generally good although there are often very drunk men staggering around. The Devonshire is not recommended for a quiet night out.