Kilburn (North West London) Pubs

[@Traveller69]

Food vloggers are ten a penny, so I know who I would rather watch and I remain ever hopeful that the great unwashed wake up to your winning combination of beer banter and facinating history, always professionally delivered.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you for those very kind words! That segment was mainly just an observation that my take on things is a bit niche... but I'm delighted to have discerning viewers like your good self who appreciate that!

[@stephfoxwell4620]

Had a very depressing 80 minute drive through Somerset on Thursday. I counted 12 recently closed pubs and another six that shut up to a decade ago. London is lucky to hang on to so many decent pubs.

[@TweedyPubs]

Sad news - all pubs are struggling, but it does seem particularly hard on more rural areas... Which I find particularly upsetting, as despite most of these videos focusing on London, many of my favourite pubs of all time are actually country pubs.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

@TweedyPubs Not sure what we can do. We are watching a way of life vanish before our very eyes. We are like the canal boat owners in the age of the railways.

[@oldandintheway1955]

The Black Lion looks spectacular; a real beaut; "sumptuous" fills the bill nicely. Thanks for another very interesting and informative pubs review.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!The Black Lion is indeed a real beaut.

[@wayinfront1]

Those copper panels by Callcott in the Black Lion are so beautiful, and they bring the past to life with their depictions of 18th century pub pastimes. And as you say, the whole interior is sumptuous. A feast for the eyes. What an absolute gem of a pub. Thanks so much for yet another marvellous review.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you, and I completely agree - the panels are both a wonderful historical document and a work of art. I know people grumble about prices of beer in pubs today, and not unreasonably - in relative terms it probably has never been more expensive... but in a pub like that I look on it as an admission fee to a museum filled with beautiful artefacts. With a welcome drink thrown in for free!

[@lindah5910]

Interesting about Kilburn being called the 33rd Irish county. I live in California and we sometimes call Los Angeles the second largest city in Mexico. It's a compliment - the Mexican food is so plentiful and excellent. Love your channel, kind sir. I am a Historian who studied mainly English and Scottish history way out here in the Wild West. My DNA is a LOT more English than my British husband's, which is a constant source of much mirth.

[@TweedyPubs]

Sadly I don't think there are as many Irish people in Kilburn today as there once were, I think with the resurgence of the Irish economy in the 21st century the draw to come to London for work wasn't so strong. It's nice that there are still echoes of it remaining though, felt particularly in some of these pubs. What sort of eras of history are you particularly interested in? In these videos I tend to focus a lot on the 18th and 19th centuries because they're relevant to pubs (and it's easier to find the records!) but I also dabble in more ancient history over on my other channel, Tweedy Outdoors.

[@davidclare4983]

Thanks again, Tweedy! Modest pubs on the surface, but your reviews brought out many points of interest and made several of them places I'd go for a pint. Cheers, Dave

[@Dismas444]

Excellent stuff as always. If I can make a suggestion for your next area to focus on: Brentford. Off the beaten track, usually quiet with some wonderful (and often quite historic) pubs. Black Dog Beer House, Express Tavern, The Griffin, The Beehive, The Weir...

[@mitchelluk1445]

sir colin campbell "what have you got on hand pump?" "doom bar, doom bar and ummm doom bar" hahahahha, great video as always tweedy, well done

[@TweedyPubs]

So good they named it thrice!

[@elvis197797]

Hi mate. Yes black lion has funny hours. Great pub and thanks for covering. Love a pub on a January afternoon!! Lived in West Hampstead for years so used to pop down to Kilburn for the Irish pubs. Thanks for covering mate. Brilliant stuff as ever. Excellent editing, presenting and research. 👍😎😎

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Elvis, and I'm impressed as ever with how many of these pubs you already know!

[@stevenovetsky3274]

Brilliant, genuinely interesting, thanks for making it.

[@eddavis1832]

I had the absolute pleasure last year to spend a bit of time in both the Black Lion and the Coopers Arms thanks to the recommendation of my VRBO hostess during my stay in Cricklewood. Lovely pubs…you really made my day! Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to publish and share…CHEERS!!!🍻

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Ed, and great to hear this brought back good memories!

[@WidowsWisdomSoulflower]

Thank you for the amazing Pub tours and videos! Love them!!❤

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you! Great to hear you're enjoying the videos.

[@stevo728822]

In the Colin Campbell, the plain bar is similar to what you find in an Irish rural pub. In Ireland, the pub would often double as a store for other goods.

[@TweedyPubs]

In my childhood I had relatives living in various parts of Wales, and I also remember village pubs doubling up as things like shops and post offices. It makes a lot of a sense!

[@TheApeThatEscaped]

Well that was timely. I watched this video the last night before going to The Kiln Theatre this evening to see The Lonely Londoners. I managed to visit 3 of the pub before the show. The Black Lion didn’t disappoint, although it was very quiet (it was a Monday). I had a pint of the Foundation Bitter, which was alright (if not quite up there with a pint of Harvey’s Best at my local). I then visited the Cooper Arms which felt like a nice welcoming pub. Unfortunately they’d run out of beer (it being after the weekend) and all they had to offer was Fosters or Carling, so I had to make my excuses and promise to return another day. The last pub was the Colin Campbell, located directly opposite the theatre. A good location for people watching. They were all out of the cask ale (Doom Bar), but thankfully the Guinness was well stocked. This was my first trip to Kilburn in over 20-years. I definitely won’t leave it so long for my next visit. Especially as I have a promise to keep at The Coopers Arms!

[@stuartdennis8506]

I’ve some great times in Kilburn, this video has reminded me to go back for a wander and a pint 👍🏻

[@TweedyPubs]

Great to hear that Stuart! I tend to do these videos in the daytime on weekdays, partly so as to try to not annoy the other customers! As a result maybe the videos give a different sense of the atmosphere compared to what it would be like on, say, a Friday night. I tend to prefer quiet pubs myself, but I can imagine some of the ones featured here are absolutely full of life at other times of the week.

[@SnazzySnezz]

I can't recall what the name of the pub was, just before and on the same side of Priory Pk Rd on Kilburn High, coming from the south. There was a college where I studied English. Anyway, my colleagues and I used to go there for a drink🥃 every time we had the English oral exam! BT, it's good to talk, as Bob Hoskins used to say!😂

[@philcollinson328]

I absolutely love the classic styles of these pubs. One practically needs a degree in geology to know what the frontages are built from...Unlike in the modern era where a brick's a brick. Awesome vid Mr Tweedy.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Phil! I have learnt everything I know about pub geology from the work of Ruth Siddall - I should contact her and ask if she'd be interested in appearing in a video one day?

[@philcollinson328]

@@TweedyPubs I think that'd be a splendid idea!. It'd make wonderful Urban Geology/pub outing vid.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Hi Tweedy. Gosh, The Black Lion certainly lives up to it’s reputation. What a truly majestic pub, both outside and inside. Once again you provided such an interesting overview of the history and architecture of these quintessential London pubs. However what did disappoint me is how The Coopers Arms has been spoilt with its relatively recent signage and hideous typography . The photo you shared at 14:53 shows the period correct typography, the loss of which I lament. As for your final beer, I am with you, Hobgoblin Gold is far too citrusy for my liking. You definitely should have had the London Pride. 👏👏👍😀🍺

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Andrew! I agree, there were aspects of the modern fittings/decor of the Coopers Arms which were regrettable, but I've spent so much time in pubs in the past few decades that I've been forced to develop something of a "look for the positive" attitude, partly just to keep myself from falling into utter despair! I do feel what remains there was still rather beautiful, and overall I had a really nice feel for that pub, helped in a big part by a very friendly landlady, and overhearing excerpts of banter from the regulars which were quite amusing! It was interesting to stumble across that 1960s essay on pop culture vs traditional pub architecture (discussed at the Kilburn Arms), which I found very insightful, particularly regarding how Victorian pub architecture was viewed by some at that time. There have been many waves of modernisation which these pubs have had to withstand - the 1960s was a particularly tumultuous era. Given that, I feel fortunate anything has survived at all!

[@SteveCopps]

You cant go wrong with London Pride(mind you, I used to say that about Greene King IPA and look what they did to that: they”blanded it!)

[@Fantasticmove]

Hello! Great video The first pub is very beautiful inside

[@liamkatt6434]

Thank you once again, your presentation is outstanding and no one comes near to equalling you. Typical of a general to miss a free shot, had he been an NCO or experienced soldier, the outcome would have been so different.....my father was one of the myriad Irish men and women descending on Kilburn, Cricklewood and Paddington in the early 1930s. He left in 1938 having watched H.G.Wells film 'The Shape of Things to Come' and decided Blitzkrieg was not for him.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Liam! I wondered if the general missed deliberately?

[@liamkatt6434]

​@@TweedyPubs Perhaps!

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

You always make such informative videos about pubs❤😊

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@JustcallmeKathi]

Hello Tweedy, thank you for your research on this handful of noteworthy pubs. The art nouveau elements in the Black Lion and the Kilburn Arms IMO are very nice, even though in the essay from 1969 which you quoted the latter is mocked as a "tedious piece of Old Englishe Good Taste". 50 years on, there's perhaps more appreciation for this style. - Your diagram of the subscriber numbers for food and "granite videos" is hilarious. I for one can't get enough of the granite! 😀

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Kathi! I found that 1969 essay fascinating, as I'd often observed indirectly that the 60s was the era when a lot of Victorian pub interiors had been removed, but it was the first time to read a contemporary account which documented how (at least some) people in that era felt about them. As a child of the 1970s I don't recall growing up in anything like that atmosphere of revolutionary fervour, so I may just be speaking from a position of envy!

[@TheBostonR]

Enjoyed this Mr Tweedy, first time I've ever seen any of your KZbin offerings and I will certainly look out for anything else you put up. But me, 65 heading for 66yrs, a very enthusiastic 'taker of the waters' in my youth. A North West London guy but had mates everywhere due to an interest in Punk Rock, which led me to pursue my passion for pints all over town when attending dodgy little back of the pub gigs. Kilburn - 'A List' destination for the committed drinker, especially for those with an Irish background, which I have, so very familiar with all the establishments you have visited on this vid and, the many sadly demised hostelries that have bit the dust since the change of demographics. Black Lion, always a beauty, but since the smoking ban and the shift in clientele from a working to middle class variety, we've seen the place professionally cleaned and restored, brought to an architectural glory that it probably never really enjoyed, even in its heyday. But fantastic that it exists / survives the way it does (possibly only viable as the place is a 'boutique' hotel nowadays). Sir Colin Campbell - last of the 'old school' Irish boozers, a classic, fantastic venue to talk and talk and talk and talk to strangers...and come to that Denis Nilson, who searched for his victims within its doors. Prince of Wales / Kilburn Arms. Wide range of patrons, including the travelling community, but everyone behaved themselves as the landlord demanded such😀 The Coopers - known as 'The English Pub'...not because the customers were English, though most were by birth, but due to the fact it would not sell draught Guinness as the then landlord was trying to attract a different customer base. I emigrated to the USA over forty years ago, only use these watering holes on my return visits, hope they hang on while I'm still able to get over. BTW, Tweedy - a name I only came across on one other occasion, that being in Waterford City where they own and operate a number of pubs / clubs, would you be one of that clan?

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you for all that wonderful colour about the history of these pubs! This is clearly a part of London with a rich history and I think in this video I only really scratched the surface. As for the channel name - no it's just a nickname because I wear a lot of tweed!

[@Micktyb]

Excellent thanks some nice Pubs in Kilburn 😁👍🥶

[@TweedyPubs]

Cheer Mick! 🍻

[@ermanerdogan9461]

Thank you Sir!

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

You always make great videos ❤😊

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@123malichi]

Kilburn used to be Irelands 33 rd County.

[@twigglesuk7346]

I love your phrases. Started playing word bingo. Pubby Pub is my fav expression. Can we get more videos please. I’ve run out ! What about Clapham junction and the ex-longest continuous bar in the uk ? The falcon

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Kilburn is closed today! Well, I'm glad you persevered. Not just for the exquisite finery of the Black Lion, but also the hugely nostalgic Coopers Arms. I'm sure most pubs were Charringtons when I was young, although maybe the memory cheats. There's something about the fonts they used and the olde England design - marvelous. I don't know why, but I can imagine Enid Blyton writing the Famous Five in a pub like that, although I'm sure that didn't happen. Doom Bar tastes the same as it always has to me, so I don't really understand the criticism it receives. There's no grapefruit in it, is there? Often it's the only bitter stocked in local shops round here and I enjoy it. Excellent frontage sleuthing at The Old Bell, by the way!

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Mr WC21! Yes the Coopers Arms was really charming, and the thought of Enid Blyton penning a novel there is equally delightful! She was hugely prolific wasn't she? Something like 700 books under her belt, not to mention the short stories. I don't know whether or not she was a pub goer, but if she was, she almost certainly would have spent at least some of her time there writing, given that kind of output. I agree about Doom Bar - surely no worse than many other widely available real ales...? Certainly a huge improvement, for me, on anything hip, modern and grapefruit flavoured. The hops are apparently Northern Brewer, Northdown and Perle. The first two English, the third one German (but with partial English heritage). They all sound like safe territory to me - no relation to the dreaded Cascade / Citra.

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

I love your videos ❤😊

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@daikidetbilisi]

Keep making these videos. Fascinating and gives me a great sense of hiraeth. I miss pubs and cask ale so much.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you! I find it amazing that cask ale is pretty much a uniquely British thing - it should have UNESCO recognition or something!

[@daikidetbilisi]

@ I believe that Craft Beer Channel / Jonny Garrett are pushing for UNESCO recognition. Worth getting in touch if you want to join the push?

[@graham4028]

The Black Lion is part of the same ownership as The Wrestlers in Highgate which youve previously reviewed and has a better selection of beer with Tribute, Boltmaker , Pride and Harveys Sussex ale which would meet your approval i feel. I think they also own a couple in Stoke Newington, i cant recall if youve ventured that way yet. Great work , keep it up . I used to scour internet looking for decent old school boozers but you are know doing it for me , Cheers 🍻🍻

[@markjohnathanappleton8642]

As always ,another excellent video,keep up the good work

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@maximuslollius6147]

Glorious you’ve covered Cannon St and Kilburn - worked in the former area, lived in the latter. Nice to see the pubs of these areas given the fine Tweedy attention to detail

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks, and very happy to hear of that fortuitous coincidence of these last two videos!

[@brenallaround1986]

Black Lion looks good. Thank you

[@brenallaround1986]

Coopers Arms looks a really nice pub for a lunchtime pint, or ten.

[@JC-gm3zs]

Hi Tweedy, A fascinating look at pubs in Kilburn. I'm impressed with the research you do on all the pubs you visit. Just a thought. I'm a Londoner and would say that at least half the pubs, if not more, outside Central London don't open until late afternoon during the week. If I plan to go to a pub on a weekday, I check it's opening times, usually on Google Maps, which is rarely wrong.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you! Yes I'm increasingly noticing this pattern about pubs out of the centre and their opening hours too. Having fallen foul of that before, I had checked the opening hours of these pubs before heading to Kilburn, but either I misread it or the information was inaccurate. I think the Black Lion in particular isn't so clear because it also operates as a hotel, and therefore Google Maps shows a slightly different version of all the information.

[@fifteen8]

Very enjoyable trip, viewed from afar. Cheers!

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@mabbrey]

great stuff tweedy

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@gabb1972]

A lovely historic pub near the old bell was The Westbury it closed in 2012 formerly known as the Red Lion as way back to 1444.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you for that extra detail - I should have included a mention of the Red Lion!

[@MrFlyingguy]

loving your content, look forward to each instalment.... thank you for compiling, editing, presenting and perhaps the hardest part.... sampling

[@acropolisnow9466]

England is being killed.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you! Bizarre as it sounds, I actually do find the sampling (i.e. filming) the most strenuous part of the whole endeavour. I enjoy the research beforehand, and even, surprisingly, the editing afterwards (many other KZbinrs don't!). I enjoy visiting pubs when I'm not doing any filming... but when I'm out filming at pubs I always feel a bit on edge and self conscious about the whole thing. I make sure to ask behind the bar if it's OK to get the interior shots, and almost always that gets a good response, but occasionally that's met with suspicion, and I then have to explain what it's all about. Sometimes it ends up fine, but sometimes there's still a lingering air of mistrust! Also not all customers of the pubs necessarily want to be on camera, and it can be difficult getting all the shots I'd like to get of the interior while respecting other people's privacy. Then there's often the difficulty of finding a quiet corner where I can sit and talk about the pub without bothering anyone else and whilst also being audible with all the background noise. Hopefully it's all worth it though! I'm usually pleased with the end result, and I feel there's something important in documenting these places.

[@MrFlyingguy]

@@TweedyPubs everything you have written here (except enjoying editing) has crossed my mind as i watch your videos and hence i congratulate you on making a difficult exercise look naturally easy.. i particularly enjoy the architectural details you point out .. a bit like Robert Elms "notes and queries". please continue your endeavours as i am sure many people like myself appreciate your work and watch this channel grow.

[@toddfouts]

Another excellent and highly appreciated episode, enjoyed while ironing my clothes for the coming week and nursing a pint of Yebisu Premium Ale (surprisingly good). Just wanted to say that the background noise you often seem concerned about is never a problem. Credit to the mic or perhaps your post-production? Anyway, cheers.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Todd! Glad to hear the background noise didn't spoil the audio for you - it might vary a bit depending on your speakers? I just bought some naff earphones and it seems much more pronounced for me... but I guess I'm not making orchestral recordings here or anything - as long as you can hear what I'm saying it's good enough for me!

[@WalksInCamera]

Kilburn is always an interesting area to visit. Always seems to be changing and has a decent selection of pubs. The North London Tavern further up is usually a decent place to rest the legs and get a pint. The Black Lion certainly is the most memorable of them though.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks WIC - I feel embarrassed to say I hadn't been to any of these pubs before! I had barely been to Kilburn either, despite it being only half an hour or so from where I live in London. One of those funny things about London isn't it? You can live here for decades and there's still bits of it you've got never round to visiting. Glad I finally did!

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

The bar looks pretty 😍❤

[@stevo728822]

23:50 I like the name of Shoot Up Hill on that map. Sounds like the kind of place you'd find in a Western.

[@TweedyPubs]

It jumped out at me too! Still exists as a road name today.

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

We had real grapes growing in the middle bar at the Oxford Hotel in my home town in New Zealand ❤😊

[@Kenny1977-b1j]

As a professional northerner (Cheshire) who’s lived in Australia for 30 years, much of my knowledge of the Big Smoke comes from watching your vids…and JoolzWalks…. and the occasional times Alexei Sayle does a biking vid. In hindsight, it’s maybe not such a bad place😀

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks Kenny! Like most big cities London is really a collection of smaller towns and villages. I can quite understand that the centre might not be everyone's cup of tea but all these different areas have their own character. Hopefully something for everyone!

[@philtanner2083]

Tweedy is more about architecture with a beer topper 2 of my favorite things good show...

[@moiralong9809]

Fun to watch with a bit of a history lesson thrown in! How on earth are you not permanently drunk, even though you drink halves? 😂

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you! Although the video's only 24 minutes, filming for this was spread out over four and a half hours (in part because I had to hang around waiting for two of the pubs to open). I believe it takes about an hour to metabolise a half pint...?

[@rideshareguy5.0ridesharead46]

Wow!!! Coopers Arms looks like a really nice pubby bub. 4.60 for a pint in London??? I’m definitely going to check that out next time I’m in the area. Thanks, Tweedy!

[@TweedyPubs]

Yes I really liked the Coopers Arms, and the landlady (Tracy perhaps?) was very welcoming and friendly.

[@sturdeehouse]

Another couple of pubs around Kilburn worth mentioning, The Carlton Tavern, which was recently rebuilt completely after being knocked down accidentally, and the Priory Tavern, which is behind Kilburn Station.

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks for the suggestions! I haven't been to the Priory Tavern, but I did include the Carlton Tavern in a video on Maida Vale (I agree though it probably is close to Kilburn!): kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpO3pJSAmNBgjdE

[@simonlatham552]

Love the channel and the episode. Was expecting some reference to Shane McGowan?

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you! My grasp of history after the mid 20th century is a bit weak - Dylan Thomas and Brendan Behan have definitely featured in earlier videos of mine, but I agree more recent Irish poets have been unfairly overlooked!

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

The kilburn arms looks nice ❤😊

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi John, What a pub the Black Lion is, a mini palace. Always pick up a word or two on your descriptions, the tourelle in the Black Lion being one. I really liked the Cooper's Arms, a very locally local!! Thanks for explaining its coat of arms, very interesting. I've just been down a giant rabbit hole trying to see what a royne is. I can see it called up in the description of the coat of arms but can't find anything searching for that word (or grose - also in the description). It looks like a Cooper's croze? The word royne means, to bite or gnaw which also has similarity to the Spanish roer from where they get roedor (mouse, squirrel) famed for gnawing and comes to English as rodent, told you it was a rabbit hole, they gnaw too!! Excellently presented with balloon Tweedies every so often. I think it looks a great area for a few drinks ..... or even a duel!! All the best!!

[@TweedyPubs]

Thanks David! Yes heraldry seems to have its own specific language, and I suspect a cooper today (if you can find one!) wouldn't refer to that tool as a royne - as you say croze might well be the more common term.

[@patavinity1262]

One of these days you should do a video on your idea of what a perfect pub should be, as George Orwell did in his famous essay.

[@TweedyPubs]

That's a great suggestion, thanks!

[@markbetman5855]

Used to drink in their an the beaten docket, yr2001 happy days, lads from cosmos, bin done up a bit since then 😂

[@gaffysmenk]

In the last pub, in the beer garden. What's the pinky purple thing next to the building in what looks like a mirror to your right our left?

[@TweedyPubs]

I think it's an unfurled parasol on one of the tables.

[@DavidTepper-q8v]

As always, I enjoyed the tour, although I doubt I will ever get to that part of London. I also liked your tweed suit. Have you worn that one in many of your other videos?

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you! That suit is in fact the very first full tweed suit I ever owned, it's over a decade old now (prior to that I just made do with tweed jackets, but never felt entirely happy with that arrangement). It has made one or two outings in these videos before but I think it was at the back of the cupboard for quite a while as it was in need of repair and I kept putting it off.

[@UKTravelAdventures1]

Very good 👍

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank you!

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

We used to have 3 bars in pubs in New Zealand ❤😊

[@pjofurey6239]

Biddy mulligans and the crown were our our holes , it’s gone for a proper shoite these days .

[@tbwatch88]

having spent a month and change in Hampstead last spring, I now wonder why the devil I didn't venture Kilburn way to have a pint or ten at one of these amazing boozers?

[@TweedyPubs]

I live in North West London and this was the first time I've been to any of these pubs! Obviously, compared to Hampstead, the streets here look a little bit down at heel... but that's true of lots of parts of London, and let's face it many of the posher bits of the city have ended up with no decent pubs left, because they've all essentially been converted to restaurants.

[@JohnAleman1]

Decent little collection there 👍 although not much choice on the ale front no comment as regards doom bar 😁 🍻

[@TweedyPubs]

Thank John - and I particularly appreciate the diplomacy regarding the Doom Bar - any port in a storm!

[@Melonecolonie]

You are right. 'Ich dien' is German and means 'I serve'. Nice tour!

[@pdjhh]

I’m glad all those nice pubs in London are still open whereas a lot of puts outside London are closed as nobody has any money. This, even though a lot of our people have moved to London and help you keep yours open.

[@Micktyb]

A pint is always more expensive in London and pubs those that have not closed outside London are still very busy on average? And those that have closed ? Closed mainly because no one used them and lack of interest plus maintenance etc etc

[@Micktyb]

A pint is always more expensive in London and pubs those that have not closed outside London are still very busy on average? And those that have closed ? Closed mainly because no one used them and lack of interest plus maintenance etc etc

[@TweedyPubs]

It's a complex issue but I agree that country pubs have been hit much harder with closures. It's particularly sad as, although I mainly cover London pubs in these videos, my absolute favourite pubs of all time are country pubs. The Harrow Inn at Steep, the Boat Inn at Penallt, The Bridge Inn at Topsham, to name just a few. Thankfully those pubs are still going strong - for now - but I can also think of a number of pubs I have loved and lost in rural areas. I still really miss the Cherry Tree in Tintern. It was a magical place.

[@pdjhh]

@@TweedyPubs Some nice pubs you've listed there.

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

In the USA we have more beer gardens now because liquor licenses are so expensive I was wondering if it's the same in the UK ❤😊

[@TweedyPubs]

It used to be the case that it was easier to get a licence to just sell beer/wine but not spirits (liquor), and there was a boom in these "beer houses" after the legislation enabling them in 1830. However I think there were subsequent changes to the legislation in the ensuing century and new "beer only" licences eventually weren't issued any more, although I'm not sure exactly when. The Fox and Hounds in Belgravia was famously the last pub in London which had a beer only licence, but I believe that ceased to be the case in the 1990s.

[@Maitreya0208]

Let’s play a game: every time John says Larvikite, pilaster, or pediment….drink!

[@TweedyPubs]

That's what I'm doing when I'm filming these!

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

I love Gary eats ❤😊

[@diggermcfly5604]

Great video Tweedy, i was suprised you didnt cover the Cock Tavern , North London Tavern , or the Priory Tavern.

[@infinitelimitlesslightx5437]

New Zealand has Lion breweries ❤😊

[@darganx]

You missed out the two oldest pubs on that stretch of Kilburn: The Cock Inn (est. 1486) and two doors down the closed Red Lion nr. Starbucks (est. 15th Century).

[@richardwager283]

Could there be a three way collaboration between you Gary eats and John Rodger’s??? I know you done one with John! Could chose an area. You pick the pub, Gary the food and John has to create an historic walk between 🍻everyone’s a winner.

[@TweedyPubs]

It was very gracious of John Rogers to do that collaboration as he is much better known and has a much larger subscriber base than I have, so I'm not sure he had much to gain in terms of increased exposure for his channel. The Gary Eats channel is even bigger still, and I don't think many of his viewers would be interested in my channel as I hardly ever talk about food in any of the pubs I visit! I would like to do more collaborations in future but I'd rather find other people with a similar interest in pub history/interiors/architecture - or possibly real ale?

[@dennismcgarry6486]

Ghost sighting at the Black Lion! Spooky

[@TweedyPubs]

In the video? I didn't see it!

[@dennismcgarry6486]

@TweedyPubs sighting, i meant. It's in the round corner window when you are outside across street near the beginning.

[@argopunk]

When I look at many UK-based KZbin channels, the barbarians seem to be at the gate, but I'm glad they aren't in any of Tweedy's Pubs.

[@TweedyPubs]

Yes there is a very strong trend of "the UK is going to the dogs!" type content on KZbin. It would be hard for me to pretend we don't have our fair share of problems, but I'd far rather focus on the positive!

[@argopunk]

@@TweedyPubs Good call

[@edwilson5416]

Carlton Tavern?

[@ianknox8742]

Did you ever box? I pride myself on being able to spot ex boxers so it will be interesting to know.

[@mancroft]

Was the beer in the public bars cheaper than the posher bars?

[@TweedyPubs]

Yes I believe it was. My understanding was that there wasn't someone checking at the door that you were properly attired for a particular section of the pub or anything like that. You made your own choice about which bit of the pub to go into, but the prices differed correspondingly.

[@mancroft]

@TweedyPubs TY

[@david6920-r6z]

Nice Pub Tweedy 🇬🇧 🇳🇿

[@stevo728822]

The name Kilburn originates from old English for a stream. But it could be easily be mistaken for the name of a place where they burnt witches.

[@brianoreilly239]

The etymology of the name comes from two old English words, ciele and burna, meaning 'cool stream'

[@stevo728822]

The smoking ban has resulted in a huge improvement in beer gardens.

[@TweedyPubs]

I agree! When making these videos I really appreciate having some outside space as it's often difficult to film indoors.

[@clario2178]

These pubs are in Irish folklore

[@stevo728822]

I had Irish Protestant ancestors who left Ireland around 1900 to relocate to London. Perhaps there were a sizeable number of them making the journey as Catholic and Independence sentiment was on the rise.

[@milobell5525]

Word of warning about the 'Sir Colin Campbell": I went in there on my own before seeing a play at the Kiln Theatre opposite not long ago and had to down my drink very quickly as the atmosphere was so hostile (to me) you could cut it with a knife. I couldn't understand what I'd done wrong but rather than hang around to get my head kicked in I hurriedly left. Then I realised: It's an Irish pub.(Which isn't surprising in Kilburn I'll grant you) but presumably a VERY Irish pub. I'll also add it was the clientele rather than the staff but they weren't exactly welcoming either.

[@Kenny1977-b1j]

Anything the locals did specifically hostile? Maybe just a “working man’s pub” atmosphere…. no matter where you are (anywhere in the world), such pubs can seem a bit edgy (swearing? Loud? Spirited level of determined drinking?!) until get used to them, warm to the place, it’s nothing specifically against you.

[@TweedyPubs]

This is one of the potential pitfalls of the way I make these videos, I try to film in the daytime on weekdays when the pubs are quiet, so I can get the shots I need without hopefully disturbing the other customers. Of course that means it doesn't really give much sense of what the typical atmosphere would be like when there's more people there in the evenings.

[@BigJoeChrisLewis]

Back in the 1970s and 1980s the Black Lion reputedly used to hold collections for the Provisional IRA. And it was also alleged that Special Branch had bugged the payphones outside.

[@michaelclarke1792]

The Licensee of the Coopers Arms PH in the late 1960s - early 1970s was the Olympic Welterweight Boxer - Nicky Gargano. He was a super host and a great bloke! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicky_Gargano

[@ifcukin8mufc168]

What boozer opens at 4pm ?

[@TweedyPubs]

I know, it's a worrying trend isn't it? Particularly in winter, as by 4pm it already feel like it's pretty much midnight!

[@StewartyMac]

I don't get the hate that Doom Bar seems to get from the real ale community. Is it the best pint in the world? No (we all know that's a certain Sussex pint...) but it's far from the worst. Very smooth and very drinkable. I guess it's the popularity of the thing that puts people off, who knows?.

[@apuldram]

Not sure why, but I hate the stuff. Especially, when my local pours me a Harvey’s Best in one of their glasses 😂

[@markjohnathanappleton8642]

doom bar was good,untill a macro brewery took over

[@TweedyPubs]

I agree - it certainly isn't the same beer as when I first had it a quarter of a century ago, but I don't personally think it's substantially worse than other fairly large scale real ales, like, say, London Pride. I'd still rather have Doom Bar from the hand pumps than just about anything out of the keg taps.

[@RobertAtkinson-p9q]

Dropped in the Colin Campbell last year, cracking boozer 👍

[@TweedyPubs]

Great to hear that - independent pubs are usually a winner!

[@basingstokesteve9131]

The Black Lion is one of the best Boozers in London

[@RichardHayhoe]

Ere mate, have 2 or 3 pints in every pub and finish at the end lying on the pavement with ya trolleys round ya ankles laughing ya tits off. Top viewings..😄 Seriously tho, love what ya doing and keep on doing it.

[@peckerdecker]

its so GREY ..miserble and dark. whats going on?

[@TweedyPubs]

A typical English winter I'm afraid! I mostly use a GoPro for the outdoor footage, but I think being designed in California (where it's presumably always sunny) they struggle in these kind of weather conditions. A better KZbinr than I might be able to compensate at least a bit for that during editing but pretty much every time I touch any of the colour correction controls it seems to make it worse!

[@peckerdecker]

@TweedyPubs you made a Great film. It's 2025 And here in London village it's like 1825! So.. gloomy. Keep sharing.... Drinking and stay happy (everyone)

[@TweedyPubs]

@@peckerdecker Thank you! Looking out of my window right now and comparing the colour palette to some of the scenes in this video it really doesn't look so far from reality!

[@philtanner2083]

Coopers is better on the inside by alot...

[@duncanbradshaw6504]

North London tavern undertube station

[@dirtywaterpj_dj]

Three Doom Bar pump clips on a row? Lowest common denominator slop. Urgh.