Southampton Arms - Kentish Town - Pub Reviews

The Southampton Arms (139 Highgate Road, Kentish Town NW5 1LE) is a celebrated, no-nonsense alehouse dedicated to real ales and craft ciders. In fact, it bills itself as “London’s only dedicated ale and cider house” – every one of its taps serves UK microbrews and artisanal ciders. Inside, you’ll find a cosy, old‑school interior with wooden benches, panelled walls, and a working fireplace. The atmosphere deliberately eschews modern distractions: there are no TVs or loud music, and even Wi-Fi is turned off, so conversation and the drink selection take centre stage. The clientele mixes beer enthusiasts with local regulars (and even a resident pub cat, “Scratchings”), creating a warm, communal vibe. It’s no wonder reviewers praise the Arms as an “experience” – one writes that it’s “not just a pub…for those who appreciate well-crafted ales, a sense of community, and a touch of nostalgia, it’s a must-visit”.

Inside the Southampton Arms, the bar is lined with hand-pulled ale pumps and cider taps. The wood‑panelled walls, open fireplace, and communal seating give it a classic pub feel, and with no TVs or phones, the focus stays on the company and the drinks.

Facilities & Entertainment

The Southampton Arms keeps its facilities and entertainment refreshingly straightforward, staying true to its ethos as a no-frills alehouse. Tucked away on Highgate Road, it is easy enough to reach on foot, by bike, or by public transport, with Kentish Town Underground station just a short walk away and plenty of buses passing nearby. As with many central and North London pubs, there is no on-site parking, so visitors are encouraged to leave the car at home. Opening hours are generous, with doors open from midday until late every day – usually until 11pm, stretching to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. One important detail for first-timers is that the pub remains resolutely cash only, so you will need notes and coins in your pocket when you head to the bar.

Inside, the lack of modern trappings is immediately apparent. You will not find dartboards, pool tables, arcade machines or television screens blaring football. Even Wi-Fi is absent, a deliberate decision by the owners to encourage conversation over scrolling. Entertainment here is more traditional and laid-back, built around community and atmosphere rather than gadgets and gimmicks. Monday nights are quiz nights, drawing in teams of locals and regulars who compete in good spirits, while the rest of the week may bring live piano sets or the soft crackle of vinyl records on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. On quieter evenings, a background soundtrack of vintage records keeps things lively without dominating the room.

Outdoors, the Southampton Arms has a snug little courtyard garden at the back, a welcome spot to sit with a pint when the weather is kind. The pub is also famously dog-friendly, with patrons regularly accompanied by their four-legged companions stretched out under the tables or snoozing by their owners’ feet. A small sign cheekily reminds customers not to feed the pub’s own dog, but otherwise dogs are treated as part of the family here. This relaxed approach, combined with the outdoor seating, reinforces the communal and homely feel that makes the Southampton Arms such a beloved local.

Food on Offer

The food menu at Southampton Arms is very simple and centred on classic British pub snacks. You won’t find a full kitchen or gourmet dishes here – just hearty, meat-based fare done well. Typical offerings include Scotch eggs, pork pies, sausage rolls, and pork scratchings. The signature item is undoubtedly the hot pork roll (pork bap): a potato or barm roll stuffed with roast pork, crackling, apple sauce (and sometimes mustard). This sandwich is so popular it can draw a line of eager punters and even takes about 20 minutes to prepare. Customers consistently rave about it – one reviewer calls the Arms a “pork lovers paradise,” noting offerings like pork bap with crackling and award-winning pies.

Vegetarians are also considered – for example, a cheese-and-chutney bap is available instead of pork. In recent years the pub has expanded its snack list slightly (The Nudge notes it now even has British cheese boards from Neal’s Yard and a veggie Scotch egg). But overall the philosophy is “simple but satisfying.” You won’t go hungry, but the food is meant to complement a pint, not overshadow it. Portions tend to be generous for pub fare, and ingredients are well cooked and flavourful. Expect good value for the prices – customers generally agree the modest menu delivers tasty, unfussy comfort food at reasonable cost.

Beers on Tap

If the Southampton Arms excels anywhere, it’s on the beer (and cider) front. Behind the dark wooden bar you’ll find dozens of taps dedicated exclusively to UK craft beer and cider. According to Atlas Obscura, the pub boasts roughly 16 drinking lines: eight hand-pulled cask ales, eight keg beers, and six varieties of cider (including perries). All of these are from small or independent producers – no Budweiser or corporate lagers here. In fact, National Geographic notes that “the 16 taps on the small bar of Southampton Arms…only dispense beers and ciders from independent breweries and cidermakers”. There’s a steady house ale and lager that remain on all the time, but the majority of taps rotate frequently. This means there’s almost always something new to try – one week might feature a hoppy London IPA, the next a dark English porter or a Welsh barley wine. The beer selection is deliberately diverse: you can find traditional bitters, milds, pale ales, saisons, stouts, and in-season specials. Real ciders – often keeved or hand-pressed styles – are equally prominent, reflecting the pub’s ciderhouse identity.

Care is taken to keep everything in top condition: according to enthusiastic customers, each cask pint is properly cellared and poured. The bartenders know the line-up inside-out and are happy to pour tasters or make recommendations based on your preferences. One review comments that if you tell the barkeep what flavours you like, they’ll “fire off two or three near-perfect beers without blinking”. In short, the beer is the star of the show here, and it shows in every well-kept pint. (On the flip side, this focus on cask ales means keg or bottled imports are limited – you won’t find Bud or major Euro lagers on tap.)

The bar at the Southampton Arms is crowded with hand-pumps and taps for independent ales and ciders. Every beer on offer is from a UK microbrewery or cider-maker, underscoring the pub’s “Ale…Cider…Meat” motto.

Price Range & Value

Prices at the Southampton Arms are very fair by London pub standards. Although a pint of craft beer can often be pricey elsewhere in the city, here it’s generally moderate – many ales and ciders hover in the £4–£5 range. In fact, one guide boasts that “it’s £3.40 for any of their gloriously varied pints”. That reflects the pub’s old-fashioned pricing (no premium on trendy hops or branding) and its focus on giving customers good value. Bar snacks are also reasonably priced: a large pork roll, Scotch egg or pie usually comes in around £4–£6 each. In short, you get hearty portions and well-kept pints for modest outlay.

This fair pricing reinforces the Arms’ authentic feel. Reviewers note there are no gimmicks here – just honest pub grub and quality beer at honest prices. The pub itself falls into the mid-tier (one review calls it ££ on a price scale), but even that is relative; many punters say it feels like great value for London. There’s no automatic service charge if you order at the bar, and tipping is up to you. Many locals appreciate that the Southampton Arms keeps its pricing down so deliberately – it’s “perfect if you’re skint,” notes one blogger, as long as you watch out for how strong the ciders are!.

Customer Service

Service at the Southampton Arms is typically straightforward and friendly. Long-time staff and the publican (landlord) are knowledgeable about the beer list and eager to chat about what’s on tap. According to customer reviews, patrons “frequently highlight the friendly and knowledgeable bar staff, who are happy to recommend beers and ciders”. In practice, that means when you step up to the bar, you’ll get a warm greeting and your order poured with care. Bartenders often remember returning customers’ favourite drinks and gladly hand over a perfect pint – or even pour you a half for tasting if you’re undecided.

Even when the pub is busy, the staff stays efficient. During the typical pre-evening rush (e.g. 5–8pm), they skilfully juggle multiple orders. Tables are cleared quickly, and food plates and pints arrive without undue delay. One regular notes that even during a crowd it’s rare to wait too long for a drink. The laid-back, no-nonsense environment means the staff aren’t trying to upsell anything – they just keep the taps flowing. In short, the combination of a personable team and a swift bar service makes for a very pleasant experience. Many visitors say they feel genuinely welcomed – one blog even jokes about the lack of a booking or a phone, saying “we expect you to contribute to the gaiety of the atmosphere”, highlighting that the staff take a friendly, communal approach rather than a transactional one.

Events & Special Nights

The Southampton Arms isn’t a nightclubbing venue, but it does host a few special events that regularly draw in crowds. Monday nights are quiz night, organised by the regulars, with teams competing over trivia while enjoying pints. It’s become something of a local institution (the quiz can get quite competitive!), and no reservations are taken – you just drop in with friends and join a team. Other than the quiz, entertainment is infrequent but memorable. Live music pops up occasionally; for example, the pub often features piano sessions mid-week. Specifically, you might catch a live pianist tinkle the ivories on Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday evenings. On most nights without live performers, the bar simply plays vintage records to create a nostalgic mood.

Aside from in-house events, the Southampton Arms sometimes celebrates pub-related occasions. It has had themed nights (e.g. fundraisers or special “beer launches”) and will occasionally put on extra live sets or beer festivals in the summer. However, there are no sports screenings or large promotional tie-ins – the focus remains on the pub’s own character. If you’re looking for a lively event, your best bet is to come on a Monday for quiz, or keep an eye on the pub’s notice board and social media for any surprise gigs or local music nights. In general, though, the atmosphere tends to build naturally: as the sun sets and locals gather for a pint, the space hums with buzz – it doesn’t need glitzy programming to feel alive. And remember, because they don’t take table bookings, you can usually just show up and find a spot (though during a busy music night it might be wise to come early).

Atmosphere & Accessibility

Stepping inside the Southampton Arms really is like stepping back in time. The pub’s character is unabashedly traditional: bare wood floorboards, low ceilings with exposed beams, a long wooden bar with hand-pulled ale casks on display, and an open fire that crackles on winter evenings. These vintage touches give the room a warm glow and a sense of history. The furniture is a mix of old wooden tables, benches and mismatched chairs, encouraging communal seating. In one corner you’ll often hear a small piano or a playlist of vinyl records. Overall, the vibe is casual and convivial – you can comfortably belly up to the bar and strike up a conversation with anyone. As one review notes, the combination of rustic interior and friendly crowd makes it “warm and inviting…instantly familiar”.

The crowd itself is refreshingly diverse. On any given night you might find a group of craft-beer aficionados discussing the hops in their IPA, a couple of local residents sipping quietly after work, and even a few students or young professionals lured by the famous pork roll. There are regulars who’ve been coming for years (some even through the pub’s major overhaul in 2009), alongside newcomers discovering it as a hidden gem. Despite this mix, the common love of real ale and no-frills pub culture unites everyone. The result feels more like a friendly village taproom than a trendy city bar. Dogs (and yes, even a pub cat) roaming underfoot further add to that homey charm.

In terms of comfort, the space is on the small side, so it can get quite snug when busy. The layout is mostly one level (no steep staircases to the bar), which is helpful, but parts of the pub have narrow doorways and uneven steps (typical of a Victorian building), so wheelchair access is limited. If mobility is a concern, note that the main entrance has a small threshold step, and the toilets are downstairs. On busy Friday or Saturday evenings the front area can get cramped, so you may find yourself tucked into a back bench or even standing by the bar with your drink. That said, the management tries to make the most of the space: they clear tables promptly and encourage a turn-around, so even a full house doesn’t become chaotic.

If you prefer to sit outside, the tiny beer garden is a treasure. In summer months a few tables spill into the yard with potted plants and fairy lights – a peaceful little nook off the street. It’s especially nice on sunny days or warm evenings. There are also a couple of cafe tables out front where you can sit facing the street, weather permitting (though traffic noise is more audible there). In cooler weather, the interior’s fireplace ensures the pub stays warm and snug. In short, the Southampton Arms has a genuine “local pub” feel: it’s cosy and lived-in, with character in every corner, even if that means it’s not spacious by modern standards.

Location & Nearby Attractions

The Southampton Arms sits on Highgate Road in Kentish Town, an area of North London known for its villagey feel. The exact address is 139 Highgate Road, NW5 1LE. It’s conveniently close to Kentish Town Station on the Northern Line (about a 5-minute walk) and also serviced by multiple bus routes along Highgate Road (for example, routes to Camden Town, King’s Cross, and beyond). This makes it easy to include the pub in a wider London itinerary.

Kentish Town itself is a lively neighbourhood. Just around the corner is the bustling Kentish Town High Street, with shops, cafes and music venues. If you fancy some strolling before or after drinking, nearby attractions include the historic Hampstead Heath (only about 10–15 minutes’ walk north) where you can wander through woodlands or take in skyline views from Parliament Hill. In the opposite direction, Camden Town’s markets and canals are also just a short bus ride away, offering more food and shopping options. For culture lovers, the pub is not far from London’s West End (e.g. a quick Tube ride to King’s Cross or Leicester Square) if you’re planning a show after a pint.

That said, the immediate surroundings of Highgate Road are fairly residential/commercial – it’s not a tourist hotspot. The quiet charm of the area actually adds to the feeling that the Southampton Arms is a hidden gem, mostly known to locals and beer buffs. If you do come as an outsider, you’ll blend right in: many patrons have walked from various parts of London just to check this place out, a testament to its reputation. (Tip: the pub itself does not take reservations, so it’s open to spur-of-the-moment visits – just show up and you’ll be welcomed if there’s room.)

Overall Impression

The Southampton Arms delivers a truly authentic London pub experience. It excels at being exactly what it sets out to be: a cosy, unpretentious “real ale and cider house” where quality drinks and good company are the priorities. Almost every aspect has earned high praise: the beer and cider selection is exceptional and well-curated; the simple food hits the spot; and the atmosphere is genuine and warm. It’s clear the owners and staff take pride in preserving traditional pub culture. The pub’s numerous awards and accolades reflect this – for example, it was named CAMRA North London Pub of the Year 2024, and even London Pub of the Year 2011. Time Out London has also recognised it as a top pub, thanks to its classic decor and focus on community.

Of course, it isn’t perfect for everyone. If you’re in search of a modern gastropub with flashy décor, games and big screens, this won’t be your scene. The lack of card payments and digital entertainment can catch first-timers off-guard. And yes, at peak times it can get crowded – you may have to wait for a seat, or nurse a drink standing at the bar. Some mention the limited seating as a drawback (especially after a quiz or music night when the place is packed). But these are minor quibbles in the grand scheme. Most fans would argue that these characteristics are part of the charm, not flaws.

The Southampton Arms is more than just another pub – it’s a community landmark. It reminds you why English pub culture endures: the pleasure of a well-pulled pint, an honest chat by the fireside, and hearty snacks to soak it up. Whether you’re a Camden local or a visitor touring London’s beer scene, you’ll likely leave the Southampton Arms with fond memories – perhaps the lingering warmth of a great pint in hand, or the taste of a legendary pork roll. The consensus among reviewers and punters is clear: this pub is a gem. It’s a place worth seeking out if you want to sample some of the best cask ale and cider London has to offer, all in a setting that feels timeless and welcoming.