The Swiss Cottage

It's time once again for our annual pub crawl, sagely curated by member Ian White, a luminary of the Campaign for Real Ale (and the Campaign for Real Cider).

This year’s escapade will be heading to north-west London postcodes, starting off in a Sam Smith pub that has lent its name to the tube station and the area, the Swiss Cottage. If you’ve never been there before it is an actual Swiss-themed premise. then we will go to a pub that was completely rebuilt and then off to other fine public houses up the Kilburn High Road ending up in Cricklewood!

 3.30pm–4.15pm Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road,
NW3 5EL  (Sam Smiths) 

Styled like a Swiss building, this pub was built by T. Redmond in 1830 next to a toll gate, so travellers could stop at the tavern while waiting to pay their fees. There had been a gabled building on the site called Lausanne Cottage, said to have been used by Charles II as a hunting lodge, and there may have been an earlier pub called the Swiss Tavern.

 Overground South Hampstead to Kilburn High Rd, then 10 min walk

 4.30pm–5.30pm Carlton Tavern, Carlton Vale, NW6 5EU (Independent)

Nationally famous after a developer illegally demolished it and was forced by Westminster Council to rebuild it brick for brick. Much was salvaged from the wreckage of the old pub, including tiles, reusable bricks and the original bar and fireplaces. Some of the decorative ceilings were also rescued.

98 bus from Maida Vale to

5.45pm–6.30pm Kilburn Arms, Willesden Lane, NW6 7SD (Star Pubs & Bars—Heineken)

This massive old Victorian pub still retains original features, in particular some excellent etched and cut glass in the old Saloon Bar doors, in some internal screening and in the very rare curved windows.

 10 min walk to

 6.45 pm–7.15pm North London Tavern, Kilburn High Road, NW6 7QB (Green King)

Built in 1894 for the Railway workers, but given a modern make over!

 Quick 4 min walk to

 7.30pm–8.15pm Black Lion, Kilburn High Road, NW6 2BY (London Village Inns)

Fantastic interior décor, with a rich ceiling, original bar counter, island back bar, screen partition, etched and cut glass and very decorative cornice. A Grade II listed building, a pub interior of outstanding national historic importance.

 Short bus ride to

 8.30 pm until closing Crown Hotel, Cricklewood Broadway, NW2 3ED (AG Hotels Group)

A hugely imposing, landmark Grade II listed Victorian pub built by the Cannon brewery in 1889, with an interior of special national historic interest