Lord Stanley, Kentish Town  

Coming from the people who made the Lansdowne in Primrose Hill the dreadful place it is, hopes weren't high for the Lord Stanley. As such, perhaps our positive rating reflects a sigh of relief as much as anything else. Sure, its stripped out, but they had sense to keep most of what was left behind by the Victorians and Edwardians, so an impressive ceiling, wood panelling and fireplaces are still here to appreciate. Its a shame however the original bar appears to have been mucked about with, apparently to facilitate an open kitchen. It seems they wanted it so badly, aesthetic shortcomings have been ignored. Still, its the clientele who distinguish the Lord Stanley from its older sister. Perhaps because the area isn't as fashionable as Primrose Hill, there's a distinct lack of wannabe fashionistas wearing oversized sunglasses at night. Instead, there's a good mix of locals simply relaxing, with a few eccentrics and geezers for good measure. Here's hoping that doesn't change.

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