Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 7 and Version 6 of Spread Eagle, NW1 7BN

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[[Category Young's|Young's]] pub in [[Locale Camden Town|Camden Town]], on the corner of Parkway and Albert Street. It's changed management a few times in recent years, but as of 2008 is run by Emily and Jon Moran, with Emily in charge of the kitchen and Jon running the bar.
 On the corner of Parkway and Albert Street, the Spread Eagle was a very nice Young's pub with decent food until around 2006, then it was <em>refurbished</em>, and the selection of ales was greatly reduced from the whole of Young's range to two or three Young's beers plus Bombardier, though this was supplemented by Leffe and two other Belgian beers (as well as the usual array of lagers). The previously very good food also went down the hill after management changed (the kitchen staff changed too). Even the friendly and laid-back bar staff were replaced by nondescript people in branded uniforms.
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[[Kake]] visited on a Thursday afternoon/evening in September 2008. I arrived a little after 5pm, and there were a number of tables free, though it was quite full by 7pm and by the time I left around 8pm most seats were taken. Piped music was playing throughout my visit; it was actually quite decent and not overly loud.
 However, as of 2008, the management has changed again, and the Spread Eagle is now run by Emily Moran and her husband. Emily comments: "We are still proudly a Young's pub serving Bitter, Special & Bombardier + rotating guest ale on draught, with the full range of Young's as well as Wells' bottle conditioned ales. The management and kitchen staff have changed since the reviewer visited, with myself running the kitchen and my husband Jon keeping an eye on the bar. No-one could accuse him of being bland or wearing a branded uniform! Come in and find out how we've changed."
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The bar has an impressive range of six handpumps. Ales available on my visit were Young's Bitter, Young's Special, and Bombardier, and the bar staff told me that St Austell Tribute was coming on the next day for Talk Like A Pirate Day. The Young's Bitter was &pound;2.65/pint, and tasted good and fresh.
 [[pfig]] comments that it's always full like an egg on Friday afternoons.
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According to the Young's website, as of September 2008 food is served all day, noon-10pm Mon-Sun.
 As of February 2008, food was served noon-10pm every day.
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As well as a more standard menu of starters, mains, sides, and puddings, they also have a "create a sharing plate" menu, from which you can choose items at &pound;5 apiece or three for &pound;13.50 <small>[http://www.youngs.co.uk/cms/menus/GENERIC%20Create%20a%20Sharing%20Plate%20list%20TWO%20%20A5%20Jan%20081.pdf PDF menu on Young's website]</small>. After being reassured by the bar staff that three items wouldn't be excessive for one hungry person, I chose chicken and coriander skewers, crispy chilli squid, and porcini mushroom ravioli <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2871371812/ photo]</small>. There was quite a lot of it, and it actually defeated me, though [[bob]] or [[doop]] wouldn't have had a problem.

It wasn't bad at all for pub food, though I do feel the porcini mushroom ravioli were slightly misadvertised (they were actually cheese tortellini in a mushroom sauce), and the crispy chilli squid would have been much better (and crispier) if it hadn't come swimming in a pool of bottled sweet chilli sauce. I do really like the concept of this menu though, and would order from it again.
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<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], 18 September 2008. Opening hours and food times taken from Young's website, September 2008.</div>
address='141 Albert Street'
 <div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[pfig]], 20 April 2007. Opening hours and food times taken from Young's website, February 2008.</div>
address='141, Albert Street'
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summary='Young's pub in Camden Town, on the corner of Parkway and Albert Street.'
 summary='Young's pub in Camden Town.'

On the corner of Parkway and Albert Street, the Spread Eagle was a very nice Young's pub with decent food until around 2006, then it was refurbished, and the selection of ales was greatly reduced from the whole of Young's range to two or three Young's beers plus Bombardier, though this was supplemented by Leffe and two other Belgian beers (as well as the usual array of lagers). The previously very good food also went down the hill after management changed (the kitchen staff changed too). Even the friendly and laid-back bar staff were replaced by nondescript people in branded uniforms.

However, as of 2008, the management has changed again, and the Spread Eagle is now run by Emily Moran and her husband. Emily comments: "We are still proudly a Young's pub serving Bitter, Special & Bombardier + rotating guest ale on draught, with the full range of Young's as well as Wells' bottle conditioned ales. The management and kitchen staff have changed since the reviewer visited, with myself running the kitchen and my husband Jon keeping an eye on the bar. No-one could accuse him of being bland or wearing a branded uniform! Come in and find out how we've changed."

pfig comments that it's always full like an egg on Friday afternoons.

As of February 2008, food was served noon-10pm every day.

See also:

Last visited by pfig, 20 April 2007. Opening hours and food times taken from Young's website, February 2008.

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