“When they came and said to me: ‘You’re playing the Camden Crawl, they asked me where I wanted to play and I said ‘the Dublin Castle course!'”
– Amy Winehouse
“If I was an MP, the Dublin Castle would be registered as my second home.”
– 6Music DJ Steve Lamacq
The Dublin Castle is a legendary pub and music venue located 2 minutes away from Camden Town tube station. It has been ran by the same family for over 28 years and features 4 live bands every night as well as a great selection of beers, ciders and wines. There’s DJs after the bands on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and a fabulous jukebox in the front bar if you’re after a more relaxed atmosphere. But what is it that makes the Dublin Castle the long-standing centre of the indie rock universe? Is it because it’s Madness’ birthplace? Because its stage has been graced by everyone from Blur, through Coldplay, Supergrass, The Killers, The Arctic Monkeys, Billy Bragg, etc? Is it because it was no surprise to see Amy Winehouse behind the bar serving costumers? Or Suggs? (who, mind you, tended to ignore costumers and serve himself) Or is it because far from being just another Camden venue it has established itself as an indie rock institution? The answer is that it’s not only because of its musical heritage that people come to the Dublin Castle, it’s because whilst you enjoy a pint, play some tunes on the jukebox, check out the live bands, get your dancing shoes on for our DJs, chat to our friendly staff or even stage-invade a little, you’re inadvertently being part of this movement the Dublin Castle leads, this cultural legacy. Expect no castle battlements. Just pure rock and roll royalty.
In loving memory of John Aloysius “Alo” Conlon
(2nd January 1936 – 9th January 2009)
“Grimy, sticky and beer-soaked, the Dublin Castle’s red-painted and poster-plastered interior hasn’t changed in years. And that’s how the punters like it. But then no one comes here for the decor – the Caste is one of the best music venues in Camden. You can catch a handful of new acts here every night, and standards are high; this is, after all, where Madness, Travis and Blur first cut their teeth (signed posters adorn the walls). The handful of faded, velvet-covered banquettes at the front quickly fill up come nightfall, when the latest additions to North London’s indie and rock scene down pints with their fans. In summer the smoky fug spills out on to Parkway, with indie-kids slopping their beers from plastic glasses.” Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2006/7