The Hawley Arms Historic Bar / Pub

Camden Town / Islington, London –

Dating back to the early 1900s, The Hawley Arms has seen many a face lift, the biggest in 2008 when a fire ravaged flats and shops in the area, including this classic Camden pub.

Once rebuilt, it was clear the bar had managed to retain its old spirit, and its free monthly live shows and rooftop terrace overlooking the iconic Camden Bridge have made the venue a popular watering hole for the eclectic Camden crowd of musicians, artists, and laid-back hipsters looking to drink as much as physically possible.

The pub’s reputation for decadence hit a new high when the late Amy Winehouse became a regular and a wave of stargazers joined the usual revelers, who on any given night range from rowdy to mellow.

No matter what their mood, patrons share a common reverence for rock and roll, an interest reflected in the pub’s collection of signed memorabilia in the stairway, the collage of LP sleeves of everything from Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life and Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde to Let It Bleed by the Stones, and the jukebox that keeps electric guitar masterpieces blasting all night long.

All in all, The Hawley’s dizzying mix of anything-goes patrons and hard booze-meets-hard rock typifies the Camden scene and offers a much more exciting experience than the average English pub.