The World’s End, Camden Town: pints, pizza and the Underworld

Open until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, midday to 23:00 the rest of the week, about £7 or more for a pint of craft beer. Book a table online if you want food. The World’s End sits at 174 Camden High Street, NW1 0NE, on an island site opposite Camden Town tube. It is big, it is loud, and it plays rock.

What it is

SquareMeal has billed it as one of Britain’s biggest pubs, and the scale is the first thing you notice. There are two busy bars and a mezzanine balcony seating area, according to its Tripadvisor listing. Older write-ups describe a Victorian railway station fit-out with fake shops, but that may be out of date, so do not go expecting it. The soundtrack is loud rock, and the crowd leans towards the goth and emo end, drawn by the Underworld next door below.

What to order

The pub promotes Mother Red Cap’s Kitchen, which serves hand-stretched sourdough pizzas, and it calls them Camden’s finest. That is the pub’s own claim, so treat it as an invitation rather than a verdict. There is also a group menu. Check the menu page for current prices before you go. One Tripadvisor reviewer called it a great rock bar with food that was under par, so go for the pints first and the pizza as a bonus.

On draught, SquareMeal mentions Stella Artois and its continental cousins, plus Camden Pale Ale, and wines under £15. A Pubs Galore reviewer paid £6.95 for a pint of Beavertown Neck Oil, so budget about £7 or more and check on the day. The same reviewer said the handpulls had gone, so this is a keg pub. Listings also mention Staropramen served from a visible tank, though that comes from a venue-supplied description.

The history, briefly

According to Wikipedia, the first reference to a tavern in the area dates from 1690. The pub was formerly known as Mother Red Cap or Mother Damnable, linked to a supposed witch whose cottage stood at or near the site. By the late 18th century the Mother Red Cap stood at its present location and had a tea garden.

The size is more recent. Wikipedia credits licensed-premises developer Andrew Marler with buying the whole island site in 1988, enlarging the pub to a capacity of 1,000 and building the 500-capacity Underworld beneath it. One Pubs Galore reviewer dates the present building to 1875. Ghost stories attached to Mother Red Cap are folklore, so enjoy them with a pint rather than as fact. Do not confuse it with the Black Cap, the drag venue that closed in 2015 and was a different building at 171 Camden High Street.

When to go

• Before a gig or a match. It is a pre-gig spot for the Underworld, and Tripadvisor reviewers recommend it for pre-match drinks on Arsenal matchdays. Expect it to fill.
• Late on a Friday or Saturday. It stays open until 01:00.
• Later in the evening for a calmer drink. One reviewer found it quieter then, though that is anecdotal.

Official hours are Monday to Thursday 12:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 01:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 23:00. Holiday hours can differ, so check before heading out on 1 January. Apple Maps also tags it as having a beer garden.

Booking

Tables can be booked through the online booking page. You choose the number of guests and the date, say whether you are coming for food or drinks, and add any special requirements. The pub also offers private hire and group menus. The phone number is 020 7482 1932.

For after: the Underworld

The best next stop is downstairs. The Underworld, in the basement of the same building, holds 500 and hosts mostly alternative and goth bands. Its own site lists Foo Fighters, Placebo, Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Suede and The Darkness among past acts. Gigs are 14+, and 14 and 15 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. Club nights are 18+, and the dress code says no tracksuits. Check the Underworld site for the listings on your night.