The Lock Tavern is a very cool place. On the west side of Camden towards Chalk Farm, it has several zones that let you choose the type of cool you need on any given occasion.

The front room is large, with several tables. It’s almost always busy here, because being down in the front mean you’re assured to see and be seen. Go to the back and up some stairs, though, and you can choose a couple of options. Continue on and out the back, and there’s a large partly-covered garden with bench tables. Continue upstairs, and there’s a smaller lounge with its own small bar - you’ll often find a DJ up here spinning tunes in the evening. Continue through that bar, and you’ll emerge into a roof terrace, for those who like to drink outside and hear the Camden traffic roll by.

Having all these areas to choose from, the too-hip-for-you crowd, and some genuinely delicious food make this a super place for meetups. My circle of friends has often used the Lock as a birthday celebration point.

The interior spaces are all painted quite darkly, so it’s more on the dim chill-out side than bright and lively.

Pretty good pub all in - does some decent food, fair range of drinks and a garden out the back and is a pretty friendly place. I am slightly surprised about the amount of rave reviews its got though? To me it’s always seems good, but nothing amazing - there are numerous better pubs within a mile of here, probably less.

It is open very late though which is always a bonus.

not a bad pub great selection of drinks freindly staff (a huge bouncer!) and overall a great place for a quiet relaxing drink!

Really decent pub with a great range of drinks. Several Eurolagers including Baltika and two real ales, including broadside! There are really nice leather sofas downstairs and the dance floor upstairs is pretty decent too.

Time Out rates this as ‘a London institution’ and like with most of their definitions, they’re pretty much spot-on. The Lock Tavern is one of those places that should be swanky, and even is a little classy, while managing to hang on to a clientele that can throw up some great characters. Like last time I was there I ended up chatting to these two girls from Camden called Ruby and Gwen who were about to go on a blind date with two guys (one named Loyce?) and were getting drunk on champagne they had stolen from Sainsbury’s. See what I mean? Brilliant. Combine this with really good bands that you get to see for free, and you’ll understand why this pub is gonna be around forever. If I have one minor beef, it’s that their cheapest beer is £3.20 per pint (The Amstel).

Pleasant decor and good food. As has already been said though, it can get really rather crowded and I’ve been kept waiting for over 10 minutes to get served far too often.

OK, it gets kind of hectic, but there are pubs and bars which I think are just as good in Camden and Primrose Hill where I can breathe and get a seat. Yes, this means I’m a grumpy old man but this place is overhyped in my opinion.

Have been here a few times, and my view on the place changes each time.
Fell in love with it on a Friday night, but couldn’t wait to leave on a Sunday afternoon.
The interior of the pub on the first floor, is classic pub-rock-casual, with plenty of skinny indie boys in stovepipe jeans and girls with blunt fringes and red lippie draped over sofas and leaning on the bar.
Upstairs it becomes more like a bar and is often so packed you head straight outside. The outside deck is good for groups of people if you can find a seat, however I especially love the ground floor courtyard, feels just like you are having a drink at a friend’s house party!
What I love about this bar: The GORGEOUS boys who work there; the reasonably priced drinks; the beautiful arty crowd; Friday nights at the bar
What I don’t love about this bar: the embarrassing behaviour of ‘laddish’ boys on Sundays; crowds on Sunday afternoon!

This place has a great atmosphere and even more so on nights when they have live entertainment. I have been here two or three times and i always leave happy.
The people who frequent here have money - but it is not a pompous or stuffy place. It is actually very friendly and relaxed.
They have a nice outdoors area and an upstairs terrace.

It can get quite busy here especially on saturday evenings as it is a really popular place. That being, i would get in early and have some food. The food is ok priced and is actually pretty good. the drinks are ok priced for the area too.

The staff are really nice - even the door bouncers are pretty cool - so go and have a good time!