The Sir Richard Steele is an excellent boozer in a very nice location, I was conned into going here before a gig at the Roadhouse just down the hill, the hill was the sticking point.

Knowing how pubs and their interior, and their patrons, and theirale, and the garden, and the furniture, and the decor, and the atmosphere can severley affect my mood a friend recommended we meet in the Sir Richard Steele, technically in Belsize park but actually just a short walk from Camden really. Apart from the hill, the hill wasn’t mentioned in dispatches but I successfully negotiated the climb and was richly rewarded on entering the establishment.

There is fabulous nick nacks and bric-a-brac all over, some great paintings and a bit of an old frontier American bar vibe on some of the walls. I understand the Sir Richard Steele (an Irish writer and politician fact fans!) was a real innovator in creating this much-copied pub decor. It’s welcoming and there are plenty of seats, nice ones at that.

The service was fast and friendly, although my friend did have a nightmare, I dont know what he was playing at. The patrons are a mixed bunch; rough and smooth, but a friendly bunch. The ale on tap was a fine mix, I had the Adnams, which had some forof carbon neutral shennanigans going on with it, I did not get the details but it was wonderful. There is a large beer garden out back, which was busy and I imagine worse n the good weather.

A fine pub, one that will be re-visited should I be nearby or when I marry my Belsize Park sugar-mummy.