162 Eversholt Street,
Camden,
London,
NW1 1BL
(020) 7383 0925
The ViewLondon Review
Located a stone’s throw from Camden landmark KOKO, this refurbished bar offers a lot in the way of live music and has freshly made food to boot.
The Venue
This bar is easy to spot as it’s in a largely residential area just a few minutes walk from Mornington Crescent tube station, as well as being in walking distance from Camden Town and Euston. There is a large central floor space where candlelit tables,
accompanied by old-school pub chairs, are adorned by fresh flowers. The face-lift is visible from the walls down but the ceiling remains a throwback to its history as an old-man’s pub. There is a large, well-stocked bar along the right-hand side of the room
and, at the opposite end, you’ll observe a modest, raised platform where the bands perform during bustling live music nights. Elixir is a popular local venue, and one that is used a lot for private parties and events.
The Atmosphere
The staff are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and are very enthusiastic about the live music nights. The venue has a distinctly pub-like feel to it whilst the lick of paint and decor re-vamp, bring it successfully into the realm of a
functional dining space as well.
The Music
Music-wise there’s a lot of variety on offer and they host everything from jazz and soul nights to rock and indie. Every Wednesday is Bed Springs, a live music night showcasing what are described as the ‘best unsigned bands in London’. This costs £5 or
£3 with NUS to get in. A recently launched monthly night – last Friday of the month – is Cool Britannia, which celebrates the greatest music from the Britpop era. Influences hail from the likes of Oasis, Blur and even the funkier sounds of the Happy
Mondays. This night has free entry and happy hour prices until 8pm.
The Food
A wide-ranging menu of predominantly home-made goodies is a pleasant surprise at Elixir. With bread baked daily and fresh pasta, there is a feeling that care and attention has been put into the menu.
The starter of chicken bites (£3.45) offers strips of chicken coated with breadcrumbs, served atop a fresh, crunchy salad, drizzled with a zesty Italian dressing. Alternatively a great starter for sharing is the hummus (£2.95) served with fresh ciabatta
slices. It is a great introduction to the wide-ranging inspiration of the menu. Principally it is Mediterranean and British but there’s a touch of the Middle East so expect a variety of dishes.
The goat’s cheese and herb quiche (£6.45) is a lovely light bite, and with the additional option of hand-cut chips, salad or veg, it can be filling too. The quiche has big, chunky dollops of goat’s cheese that will satisfy those who have been disappointed by
the measly portions offered by frugal venues. If you fancy something a bit more traditionally substantial, the fresh tagliatelle pasta (£6.45) may be more your thing. It is served with Portobello mushroom, garlic and white wine sauce, which is not
particularly flavorsome so it perhaps more for those with a delicate palate. A daily special is offered and may include a mushroom risotto, which has a beautifully rich and creamy sauce, balanced by a sprinkling of fresh herbs.
For dessert you could sample a generous portion of fruit crumble (£3.45) which uses blueberry and pear to create a variation of an old favourite. The crumble is a little softer and thicker than a typical crumble topping, but when it is coated in a liberal blob
of custard, you hardly notice. The dark chocolate fudge brownie (£3.45) is a moist square with layers of lovely, chewy, dense fudge, topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
The Drink
Wine goes from £2.60 a glass and £13 a bottle, whilst beer starts from £2.90 a pint for a list that includes Kronenbourg and Guinness. Cocktails are the main selling point for the bar though, and during happy hour they’re just £3.50 (£5.80 at other times).
Happy hour is in actual fact an all-day discount, from 12pm until 9pm (Monday-Thursday). On Fridays and Saturdays it ends at 8pm. Stand-outs include a citrus-infused passion fruit Martini, or for the more traditional, an Old Fashioned, with whisky,
orange bitter, zest and sugar with a sprig of carved lemon zest placed proudly atop. There are also many other inspiring concoctions, including some tantalising Champagne cocktails. In total there are around 25 cocktails and the list gets updated every 6
months or so.
The Last Word
A great music venue, conveniently located for those in the Camden area. If live music is your thing then pop down and catch the unsigned showcase whilst enjoying a pint or one of their trademark cocktails. Alternatively, head down on a quieter night and
tuck into their reasonably priced home-made food.
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