Jaunted

The Hawley’s had a hard time the past year. Not only has its most famous customer spent most of it in rehab, but last February, it was destroyed in the fire that burned down much of Camden. It reopened in November, though, with Razorlight playing a rooftop gig to celebrate.

Despite its connections, this is no crack den. In fact, it’s dressed up as an exceptionally genteel gastropub with its wooden benches, pub grub and jars of sweets sharing bottle space behind the bar.

Where it differs from other gastropubs is that instead of white-shirted blonde chicks at the bar, you’ll be served by indie boys and girls – most of them in yet-to-be-discovered bands – and the other customers look like they’re on the way to a Babyshambles gig. The only word of warning – they’re mostly quite young.

It’s a nice atmosphere, though – the staff are surprisingly devoid of airs and graces, the owners (and resident dog) are loads of fun, and if you run out of conversation, you can look at the Hall of Fame – signed rock photos plastered over a corner of the ground floor bar. And upstairs, the terrace bar is gorgeous in summer.

And then there are the celebs. Kate Moss, Kirsten Dunst and Dita Von Teese have all propped up the bar, and Luke Pritchard from the Kooks, who just went out with Mischa Barton for about two days, played a set last week. Although we’ve never seen an A lister, we have shared a pint with the men of Babyshambles (minus Pete Doherty), crap anarchic band The Towers of London and a barman who looks like a hotter version of Nikolai from the Strokes.

Insider Tip: If sweaty rock t-shirts don’t float your boat, or you don’t fancy grungy Camden (all those offers of weed as you step out the underground can be a bit unsettling if you’re not in the mood), try the owners’ second pub the Wilmington Arms, at 69 Roseberry Avenue in Farringdon. Equally nice atmosphere, lots less pressure.

Related Stories:
· Pub Travel [Jaunted]
· The Hawley Arms [Official Site]