The Dublin Castle

The Dublin Castle, Camden Town If the walls of The Dublin Castle could talk, they’d sing tales of musical legends and late-night revelry. Tucked just a five-minute walk from the bustle of Camden Town, this iconic pub is slightly off the main drag—but absolutely worth the detour. Inside, the atmosphere is steeped in history. Decorated mirrors plastered with band and football fan stickers hint at decades of gigs and good times. The bar pays homage to its storied past, with signed memorabilia from Madness—who got their start here in 1979—as well as Amy Winehouse, Coldplay, Blur, and countless others who first cut their teeth on its stage. Wander through the bar and you’ll find the venue tucked at the back. Standing on that stage, knowing who’s performed there, is a spine-tingling experience for any music lover. The beer selection is solid, and the staff couldn’t have been more welcoming. You get the sense that when the bands are playing, the place truly comes alive. A proper gem of a venue—rich in character, soaked in history, and still beating with the pulse of live music.

Brilliant venue! Definitely my favourite bar in Camden. The vibe is great, music in the bar fab and joyful and then there's the separate live music room at the back. Will definitely be back!

Great pub in camdam where madness first performed and amy winehouse free juke box and great beer

Visited here with my daughter who is a massive Amy Winehouse fan and myself a Madness fan. The landlord was so friendly and told us lots of information and my daughter even got to stand on the stage where some famous artists have performed. Great visit and would visit again.

We found our way here at about midnight on a pretty quiet January Saturday night in Camden. The atmosphere was lovely and the music just great. We had guests from overseas, and they quickly 'got' this simple, unpretentious slice of London spirit. We had a few beers and a bit of a boogie, and left with big grins on our faces. Thank you to all of the staff for creating such a happy, safe environment. Viva Camden!! x

A lovely bar with a love music venue at the back. The bar staff were friendly and quick to serve. The atmosphere may suit folks aged above thirty but it's a fun spot in Camden town. Be sure to have your ID as almost everyone gets carded at the entrance. It's more of a classic rock vibe than postmodern music but if that's your preferred genre then you'll probably have a ton of fun.

Great pub, and music venue, with a long history of great bands that have played there, make it a must visit pub when in Camden.

I'm a fan of Amy Winehouse and while visiting London on a WI trip, I went to Camden. I know she performed here many times. This pub has a casual vibe. It is quite rundown but the building is old and plenty of people visit this place so maintenance could be challenging. I visited on the 23.11.24 and the ladies toilets were in a horrible state due to being blocked up and needing to be cleaned out. Only one ladies toilet was working, plenty of graffiti and stickers on the wall. The toilets also stank because of being in the basement and no ventilation. The upstairs bar and stage area is smaller than I was expecting. I asked about vegan white wine but they didn't have any so I had a rum and coke for £8.80. Staff were polite. The gentleman with a Scottish accent was friendly and helpful.

Absolute trash... Now I will start by saying the pub it self isn't too bad... the issue I have is they had live music.. there was a cover as I literally walked in, paid and got stamped the band wrapped as they took my 5p and then said "oops sorry, there was another bad but instead there is a dj". Like what absolute trash... Take it for what it is but that's dodgy

Went to this pub for a couple of beers with a friend. Was sitting outside having a good time. My buddy went in to use the restroom without any issue. I tried to go to the restroom after he got back but was blocked by the owner who kept telling me to "Fuck off" while pushing me. He said the restrooms are only for paying customers and when I told him I was, he didn't believe me until I showed him my beer. And instead of apologizing just said "people like you always try to come in here." My friends white and I'm brown it felt like racial profiling.

Great indie music venue with some solid music history and pedigree. The music venue is in back separate from the bar in front.

Dublin Castle is a live music venue, something more of an Irish pub rather than your typical British place. I've been there a few times with attending the live music sessions in mind. Historically, this particular venue was the inflection point in the destiny of many famous British pop bands. For example, it was the first major gig of: Madness, Blur or Amy Winehouse. Amy in particular was a frequent attendee and used to serve drinks to customers here as well. Back to today, the venue still showcases interesting and high quality up and coming bands. Usually the concerts start at 9pm and consist of 3 performances, each about an hour long. The really great point about this place is the complete intimate atmosphere during the gig. The room holds maybe 100 people max and usually there are just 30 of them at a time so you can get to really interact with the musicians. It's also very common to see performers after the event in the pub section of the place mingling with the crowd. So all in all, it's an amazing place. Don't go there for food though. The place itself is a bit rough around edges and it would definitely not win the most beautiful pub contest. Dublin Castle is where you want to be to enjoy the bleeding edge of music and potentially spot the next Adele. Tickets £5/£7 as of early 2016. The entry prize applies only to the live music room. Spending time in the pub is of course free of charge.

Don't come here with expectations. It's a pub with history but it's also a pit of drunken fools who think they are cool and alternative. I've been here a few times, for a drink, for a heavy night out and to see a few gigs. Every time I've walked out with a nice amount of blood in my alcohol stream and a satisfied feel that I've had a good night. It's about the people you go with, you see. Because this place is full of twats, you have to bring enough friends with you for it to become an acceptable level of fun. The beer is a little steep and the staff surly but what's not to like about that, it keeps the more offensive idiots and teeney bobbers out. It's a fab spot to find new local talent though, they have great bands playing, mostly unsigned but mostly awesome.

A Camden Town music pub institution that's been around for ever. Lots of big names played here when they were starting out. They have bands every night and reasonable cover charge and friendly staff. The pub in the front is OK and crowded but at the back there's a decent music space. Nice and intimate so you can get up close. Nothing like live music, a bit raw and unproduced and that's why it's good. The place is a bit grimy and rough and ready but it's just right and how it should be. This is Camden Town, not bloody Sloane Square. If you want velvet ropes and decadence, go elsewhere.

I was staying in Camden for a month and this became a regular local for me. I thought the drinks were priced reasonably, the bartenders were very sweet, the doormen were even polite and there is a lot of musical history stowed away in this place. Worth coming just to have a pint but I would spend a bit of time and get to the know the person rolling a cigarette next to you...

Great live music venue and bar in Camden, grungy & raw, makes you feel like you're 16 again! Recommend!

Although... - the punks and bikers have largely abandoned this place and been replaced by emos; - the toilets, that once reeked of piss and were covered in the lewdest, funniest graffiti in Camden have been spruced up; - the duke box tends to play more Radiohead than rock 'n roll these days... ...it's still often open 'til 1am, the seats are still red & velvety and you can get pints of Old Rosie. That's 9% cider. So I'm happy.

Lizzie G's review of this place really says all that needs to be said about this place, but in a far more concise fashion than I ever could. Anyone miss Lizzie? I do. Truth is, I know this place mainly from around (eeek) 14 years ago when I played here regularly. Yup so long ago that many bands that now play arenas were going on before me and my group at that time! But, I will defend the Dublin Castle - it has been long established as a place to come and play and it's in the centre of town. There are not many places of this kind left! Please support venues like this... there are the gateway to get new acts started in the UK. Complaining that new bands suck and nothing is like that old music from the previous 40 years? Well those older acts all had many places to play and learn their craft. May the DC be around for a very very long time to come.

I came here to watch a friend of friend preform in the music venue stage area in the back. I didn't get much time in the front bar area but it was pretty crowded on a friday night and I wasn't really excited to stay. The music stage in the back is separate and you have to probably pay a cover every time but it was actually pretty good sized and the band was great. Anywho. Will probably come back again if I want to hear some music, but maybe not for the bar scene. oh, I ordered a cider and it was like 3 pound and something. Is that cheap? If it is then come here for the cheap cider. 8)

As a total Anglophile, my British cousin wanted to take me to all of "key" spots in English music history. Enter Dublin Castle. In historic Camden town, famous for being the hang of choice for one of my old fave groups of childhood, Madness. The red painted interiors and vinyl booths were cozy enough, and the drinks were average. I loved all the autographed memorabilia, but it only made me wish I had been old enough to be here "back in the day."

The Dublin Castle is the best of the pub/music venues I've been to whilst watching my sister's band play across London. It's true, it's not up against a whole lot of competition: the bars in these places tend to serve a few mainstream, commercial lagers, some soft drinks and a cider or two. The stage for the music at best is a small room at the back and worst, a small strip of floor at one end of the pub offering up muffled acoustics. At the Dublin Castle however, things are different. The music room is separate to the bar and quite big too, with a large stage for the band to perform on. Acoustics are good, as was the standard of the bands there. The range of drinks served in the bar is respectable too: a couple of ales nestled alongside the usual lagers etc. Seating is a mixture of booths and bar stools, and there's plenty of it. Overall, likely to be one of the more enjoyable evenings for loyal followers of new bands.

The Dublin Castle's reputation precedes itself. Upcoming indie bands, already established artists and mini-celebs of the music world have all either graced the stage here or visited the bar once upon a time. Being a music fan, of course, I've visited here more than a few times. However, I've always found the music there really mediocre. It's commercial indie rock and there's nothing "alternative" about this place at all, it's all just bluster really. I'm not a fan of cliquey places and I find the indie kids that go here a little too "NME" for my liking. But if this floats your boat then fair enough. But it's really not for me.

Best summed up with my friend's opening line: 'It looks like we entered the red light district!' Eh, I wanted to like this place, truly I do. Living in Camden, I try to go for 'street cred' and not look out of place amongst the too cool emo kids. Sadly, this is simply a place I do not belong. With its bright red lighting, turning everything into a nice shade of blood, I think it tries a bit too hard. While the rest of the reviews raved about Saturday night bands, we went on a Monday night and the band was simply awful. and so absolutely loud that we couldn't hear each other from 4 inches away. The music was the heavy metal screaming...had it been in the vein of blur or one of the other artists the pub is famous for, it would have been cool. Not so much with the Monday night bands. The drinks were fair priced, you average fair for a Camden pub. Meh.. I'd go back if it were the only place open but that's about it. No, seriously.

A small music venue in Camden with a friendly atmosphere, you can always hear people bustling away as they chat and joke around when you're walking past along Parkway. It attracts quite a mix of people; punks, indie kids, rockers, young and mature. Every time I've been we've made friends with random people who just enjoy striking up an interesting conversation. The entrance fee is generally £4 - £6 and drinks are averagely priced so it's a decent cheap night out. After the bands finish the back room turns into a club, blasting out more indie tunes whilst guys and girls dance, prance, and sway their way about the room. It is also one of the latest pubs open in Camden (till 2 am) so if you want to go after the bands finish at 11pm, the price drops to only £2 entry.

This place is better as a live music venue than as a pub. It has many former glories, as evidenced by all the Madness pictures above the barincluding one featuring a very young Suggs with a pint outside the pub. I'm not sure how good it is as a music venue beyond that. I have only been here once for musical reasons to see a friend of a friend's band As a pub it is certainly not the kind of place you would go for a quiet drink (which is more my scene these days) it would never be called cosy and the toilets are not particularly pleasant (haven't they heard of toilet seats in this part of Camden?) The drinks are great though, with 3 decent real ales and a cider available. Tribute is a big favourite of mine and the pints I had of it here were excellent and even a little bit cheaper with the Camden wedge card, a local discount card.

If only I'd lived in London during the Dublin Castle's glory days. Having been a massive fan of the bands that came out of the Camden scene, I cannot help but attach fond feelings to this place, in spite of the area's actual action having long passed leaving only repute and a kind of nostalgic glow. That doesn't mean that the Dublin Castle has taken any notice, or the bands who pack their schedule every week. Is it the opportunity to share a PA with the greats, or, rather, the fact that the kids still pack the place every night as though they were still seeing the greats that keeps them coming? Nobody can tell. Regardless, its popularity never on the wane, the Dublin Castle remains a great venue to catch new music. The front bar is crowded, over lit, and a bit seedy, but the back is where the action is. Or the smoking area out front between sets. Definitely a younger crowd here, hardly out of uni if out of uni at all.

A pub and live music venue in Camden Town, I stumbled upon this place as I was meeting some friends for some post gig/birthday beers. It was £3 to enter, but it was 11pm on a Friday night and there were some bands playing, so I am guessing if you arrive earlier there won't be an entry charge, we weren't going to watch any of the bands though, so we paid £3 for the privilege of just ordering a few beers. The front part of the venue is the bar area, coolly lit with dark red lighting, lots of mirrors and cosy little booths, although I did find one of the barmen to be quite rude and kept asking us to sit in tighter around our table and at one point asked us to move one of our stools. I am thinking don't place them around the table, if you don't want people to sit on them, also one of the toilets didn't have a lock on the door. The pub is famous in the area for being part of the late 80's indie scene and a place where Madness hung out in the 70's and pictures of those artists who have frequented the pub now hang behind the bar. Nowadays live bands play in the back room, meaning you can enjoy a quiet drink and conversation out front, but if you do fancy your evening to become a little more raucous, you can head out back.

One of the better 'toilet circuit' music venues in London, with a smallish to decently sized back room dedicated to the performances of bands who think they will very soon 'make it' in the big world of 'the music business'. Pardon the cynicism, but I seem to have missed all vaguely palatable bands who've played here in favour of the impotent screechings and empty posturings of absolutely terrible people. Still, they have nice red walls and pretty toilets with funny signs outside them like NO DRUGS and RANDOM PATROLS IN OPERATION.

Only go for a gig, otherwise avoid, despite it being at the 'nice' end of Camden. It's one of those pubs that can't really shake the faint whiff of death since the smoking ban. So it's a perfect rock pub.

I played a gig here last week and after the show we obviously stuck around for a few drinks. There aren't THAT many tables and chairs so I imagine on a Friday evening it gets pretty crowded but they've made an outdoor smoking area at the front where most drinkers seem to congregate. It's quite a nice vibe in here (one of Amy Winehouse's old watering hole if that's your sort of thing) and the drinks are fairly cheap. The staff will let you have tasters of what's on tap if your not entirely sure what you want which I think is always a nice touch.

I love the Dublin Castle. This is a really honest - no frills - rock music venue with a great history in the London Music scene. It does get a bit crowded but that's all part of the atmosphere. I feel that many of the bar, clubs and restaurants in Camden are a little bit a victim of their own success. Maybe a little bit too scene orientated or pretentious. But the Dublin Castle cuts right through the hype. Just a good english pub with a huge mix of people and rock music at a reasonable price. Sure some of the bands can be a bit average - but normally at least one act is exciting. I personally love this pot luck approach to live music. One of the best and certainly one of the cheapest nights out in Camden.

The Dublin castle is a world famous pub in Camden Town and has seen many famous acts step on its stage. There is live music almost every night and it is quite a small but intimate venue In Koko or other larger venues, you do not feel the same vibes The landlord is actually a family friend, but I have never had to call in any favours, YET Very efficiet and professional staff, a mixture of clientele, but all are certainly welcome. On a Sunday night, this is the only pub (i believe) that does not close at 11, so it is usually aone for the road in the Dublin castle before we head off to bed after another heavy binge drinking weekend If you are in Camden, it is worth visiting the castle, which is located at the top of parkway, just so you can say that you were there.

It was my first time in London this weekend, and I took the redeye over on friday/saturday from Chicago. I arrived around 6 am London time, and met my friend, then we immediately hit the tourist spots. After an entire day of museums, sites and walking all around we went to the theatre for a show and then out to some bars after. I was so tired that I was falling asleep during the first act of the play, but fortunately the live music and beer at Dublin Castle woke me up later on. I was happy to get to check out a music venue with live bands while I was in London. It was 6 pounds extra to get into the back where the bands played but it was well worth it. They were actually pretty good as was the crowd. I had tons of fun. I will definitely go back here when I get back to the UK. It's just a shame that I couldn't check out more spots.

The Dublin Castle is a Camden institution, and many famous '90s bands hung out and played there in their early days. Today it's a great combination of grubby pub plus music venue. The front room is a single large space with long tables, a small bar, an excellent jukebox and a ragtag cross-section of humanity getting off their face. It's the kind of place where you can becomes mates with the drunk person waiting to get served beside you. There's a back room that's a gig venue. It probably only holds a few dozen people, and the up-and-coming alternative and garage bands that play there every night of the year make it a pretty noisy place. The doors between the rooms are surprisingly soundproof, but if you're drinking in front after 10pm you'll certainly be able to hear a bit of the show for free if you sit near that end. The Castle has an anything-goes but friendly vibe that make it a common meeting-place for my mates and I.

Down to earth pub well known for live music. It's very rare occasion when you go in and don't see somebody with a guitar case drinking there. Good music venue. Small and cosy and always worth a trip on a whim to see whatever bands are playing.

As far as Camden's relatively gross music venue/pubs go, Dublin Castle is probably the tamest, or maybe the least likely to turn into a discoteque on the weekends. They do get some great bands in, and that's always been the big attraction for me: I have had the pleasure of seeing bands there that played ULU the next time they were in London, and it's far better to catch them in the cavernous live room of Dublin Castle. There are a few other back rooms, too, so when it's not too crowded or there's a gig on you're not confined to the main entrance area. And like everywhere in Camden it's brimming on Friday and Saturday nights, but generally it's a less trendy alternative to some of its dressier counterparts in Shoreditch.

I believe this is a sort of proper place for gig-goers, the back room is dedicated to loud music performances so drinkers won't be disturbed sitting at the front area. It looks quite old and not very clean but still bearable. Services are alright, I think. When it's not busy, staff might occupy themselves with newspapers - no harm done, you just need to alarm them to get attention.

Apart from the miniature live music room hosting lots of bands -the place sucks. Great for putting bands on the map and being an iconic London live music venue but quite a dump. Far from being a CBGB's kinda place.

This was a nice friendly pub. One of the best, if not the best, in Camden. Good beers and it shows the football. I know it's known for its bands but there wasn't one on when I was there. Easy to find - 3 mins walk from the tube.

Saw my mates band Violet Youth play there 22 April. Great night, great atmosphere, reasonably priced booze for London. Just good fun with rough edges and decent crowd

Fire the bouncers. Music and staff are awesome but having been a bouncer myself, you don't need to be an as-*^+~ to keep control. In fact a little courtesy goes a long way.

Scruffy and original venue that I'm surprised still exists in London, long live Dublin Castle. Good prices for beer and a sweaty little venue out back of the pub. TV's for sports up on the walls too.

I love this dirty old pub, mainly for its relaxed but mischeavous atmosphere and live music. New bands play here every week, Thursdays seem to be the best, and theres no shortage of banter and beer. Give it a go for a begginners guide to live music.

stumbling along camden highstreet after a few shots of tequila, whiskey and a few pints of beer to wash it down, the dublin castle seems like a great option. the first thing that gets you is the red. blimey that place is red. so red I want to paint it black. we sit at a table and order more shots to add to our drunken stupor. we make observations and statement on life that seem so beautiful and so profound, yet looking back are rubbish and banal. a man sits at the bar. he is asleep, nodding off and suddenly waking up again. he looks around quickly to make sure nobody caught him. everyone does but he doesn't seem to know. he finally drifts back to sleep. some ozzie girl at our table jumps up and starts taking pictures with him. he must be dead pissed to not notice this girl dancing around him snapping photos. one of my mates at the table goes to take a piss. he is followed by someone, someone who was in the toilet with him and who is looking to make a friend. he follows him back to our table and proceeds to pick a fight with him when we refuse to speak to him. yelling ensues. the bartender comes in with the voice of reason but defends the man, saying he's a regular while the man sulks at the bar, watching us with eyes of death and condescension. learning this, we leave, not wanting any more trouble. we leave the red and head back into the black.

From the outside Dublin Castle is a scummy pub, from the inside Dublin Castle is a scummy pub, but a scummy pub with a difference. Walking past the beer sodden seats and prehistorically decorated bar, through the doors at the back of the pub you will find a small music venue. Here you can often catch successful bands playing intimate gigs and spot the who's who of the music scene checking out who's new on the music scene. The venue is no beauty, but the sound is phenomenal and I would prefer any day to be watching a band in a room of 100 than sat second row from the back at Wembley paying five times the price.

This Camden landmark is where Madness got their first break, and apparently it hasn't changed much since Sugg's and co were banging out their Ska 30 years ago. The front room is an interesting mix of lost looking wannabe hipsters, emo's, middle age rockers, topped off with a sprinkling of goths. The back room, where the music is played, is the main attraction, and most nights of the weeks plays host to some interesting bands. Certainly worth a visit for the music, if you are looking for drinks you can certainly do better in Camden.

Really good as a live music venue, good sound and plenty of standing space - as a pub it's a little small, so despite the trendy atmosphere there is more often than not nowhere to sit! Big crowd of sociable smokers outside though!

Good pub for a drink. Went on a Sunday so not busy or any band playing. Will definitely try on a busier night

My regular when I lived on Albert Street! Best crowd, bands, and bartenders in London! Great music, and you'll be surprised who you see in there (Elijah Wood, Kate Moss, Kelly Osbourne) it's the most fun you can have in London! And at 3 am, hit the fry up stand by the Camden Town station for their amazing steak sandwiches!

The Dublin Castle is a thriving, fairly small pub, with a venue at the back. It is better known as a rock pub, and has that raw, grittiness about it. Even though there is an entry fee to get into the live music section out back, it is a small price, costly roughly £6, and you can catch some really cool up-coming bands! I Played there last year for my album launch, and even though we didn't get the line-up we wanted, we managed to fill the space, and the sound was okay. Recommended to those who like rock, metal music.

The Dublin Castle is a great little venue for live music. I saw a band 10 Reason to Live here and had a great time. Upstairs is a small seating area with booths and down stairs is a large bar with really friendly bar staff and a large floor area for dancing or just having a chat with your friends. The only down fall is the cash machine in the back not great after a few to many and a few to many more seems like a good idea.

Great meeting place for a quiet pint during the week, absolutely hopping at the weekend. One of my favourite little pubs.

Great pub in Camden, London. Known as a place where bands have or do hang out! Very friendly and fun place to go out for an evening and meet some nice people. Bands play most nights though the back. Great jukebox too!

This place is Cool. A proper rockers venue with live cool live rock bands. But if your not into that its probably not for you.

This pub is well known in camden for live gigs. Nice little pub situated in Camden, and the fact it does gigs is great as it brings in the atmosphere of the whole of Camden. Drinks are at ok prices. The setting of the pub is quite good and the atmosphere is really great and the music played there is a wide range from alternative to more indie styles.

Excellent music venue. I find myself there every couple of weeks. Sometimes to see a band I like, mostly to discover something new amongst the wide variety on offer. Some of the bends are not so hot & never will be, a few old stagers have it on their circuit, most of the bands seem to be trying to make it and have a group of family and friends along for support. You'll notice my review is about the bands. That's why you go to this place, as a pub it is not really worth bothering. The fairly smelly back room where bands play has recently been tarted up a little. Toilets in the basement are also a bit smelly but at least they don't have the usual toilet attendants trying to sell you lollipops and demanding £1 to run a tap for you. Hurrrah!. The sound system is good, the sound engineers do a great job, and I'll keep going back.

Moderately good place. Was sitting next to the bar and it was a bit loud due the live music. Beer was nice, altogether we had a good time there.