Anthony Leahy, MyVillage said on 17th October ... "Situated in the middle of Parkway, The Earl of Camden has the kind of deceptively inviting interior that seduces drinkers into believing they’ve scaled another rung of the social ladder (it’s easy to be impressed by the absence of smoke-stained interiors or flea-infested soft furnishings).

Devoid of gnarled and cantankerous regulars, the clientele is a blend of skinny jean clad boys and sumptuous numbers of young women so obviously beyond the reach of mere mortals that there’s no point plying them with wit and charm.

Once you’ve looked past the soft leather armchairs and distressed wooden floorboards, you soon come to realise that it’s little more than a faux All Bar One. In comparison to other ‘residents’ of Parkway, it lacks the piss stained non-conformist attitude of The Dublin Castle, or the sub ‘old man boozer’ quality of The Spread Eagle. Indeed, The Earl of Camden is a veritable banquet of 'meh'.

The draught beers on offer appear to have been finished in casks formerly used as latrines. The uniquely sulphur-like taste that accompanies every mouthful of (any) pint makes for a slightly unpleasant drinking experience. The tragic aspect of this tale is that this pub is one of the few in Central London that serves Deuchars.

The bar staff are your usual collection of drifters who care little for your woes or their legal obligation to provide a full pint. Once you’ve warmed their surly, hate-ridden hearts to the idea of serving you, you’ll find their service to be inefficient and impersonal.

The food on offer is just as unremarkable, so don’t expect Michelin star cuisine or gastro-pub style fare (Parkway is well served by enough restaurants to negate the need to consume frozen burgers).

In terms of positives – of which there are few – it does offer a multitude of television screens showing whatever game Sky has chosen to inflict upon you. It’s an ideal venue for the lunchtime Saturday kick-offs, both in terms of screen visibility and the availability of seats.

Avoid this pub unless you’re nursing a hangover (soft drinks rarely manage to insult the palate) and have a pressing need to watch football.
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