North London is home to many pubs and the latest edition of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide shows the best places to have a drink.
The annual publication serves as a compass to find a perfectly stored, perfectly pored pint across the UK.
To mark its 51st edition, the guide features a striking cover and a foreword from none other than Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, adding a touch of rock 'n' roll to the beer world.
Here’s a closer look at pubs around Kilburn, Cricklewood and Colindale that have made the cut.
Black Lion
The Grade II-listed building in Kilburn High Road not only made the guide this year, but it is also celebrating being crowned with ‘Historic England Conservation’ in the annual Pub Design Awards by CAMRA this year.
👏 👏 👏 👏 To @BlackLionLondon. They have won the CAMRA national Conservation Award and are the only NW6 pub in the good beer guide. Wonderful evening. @newjournal @NLondonCAMRA @bktimes pic.twitter.com/Ff1rP6NoKr
— Life In Kilburn (@LifeInKilburn) October 3, 2023
The building, which dates back to 1898, was said to have “fantastic interior décor”.
Carlton Tavern
Found in Carlton Vale, the site made headlines after it was demolished without planning permission in 2015, only for developers CLTX to then apply for permission to build flats on the site.
Westminster Council enforcement action was upheld at a planning inquiry, and it was ordered that the pub was rebuilt in "facsimile".
Punters were then welcomed back to the pub in 2021 after it was rebuilt.
The pub was named ‘Local CAMRA Pub of the Year’ in 2022, and has featured in the guide this year.
Beaten Docket
The Wethersppon pub in Cricklewood Broadway is described to have “intimate” booth to drink as well as a “pleasant atmosphere”.
Moon Under Water
This Wetherspoon pub in Edgware Road, Colindale, is just a short distance from Kingsbury.
It was converted from a Woolworth store in 1990 and was noted as one of the must-visit pubs by CAMRA this year.
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