The Black Heart Camden London bar interior
Rock Pub

The Black Heart

A black-walled Camden rock and metal institution, saved by its regulars, with a pub downstairs and a sweaty gig room upstairs.

★ 4.5 $$ Camden, London Live rock and metal, craft beer, a loud night in Camden
Published · Last reviewed · by the barsforKings editorial team
The Pitch

The Black Heart holds down a corner of Greenland Place, steps from Camden Town station, and it makes no secret of what it is. Walls painted black, fairy lights in the gloom, and music artwork everywhere. DesignMyNight calls it a much-loved alternative venue with a lively pub downstairs and concerts upstairs.

This is a rock and metal pub first and a gig venue second, and it does both well. Acts like Orange Goblin and Conan have played the upstairs room. Come for a loud night, a deep beer list, and a crowd that takes its music seriously. Skip it if you want a quiet cocktail.

At a Glance
Address2-3 Greenland Place, Camden, London NW1 0AP
NeighbourhoodCamden, London
Nearest transitCamden Town (Northern line), about 3 minutes
Price Range$$
Drinks specialtyDraught and bottled craft beer, real ale, no-frills spirits
ReservationsWalk-in for the pub; ticketed for upstairs gigs
HoursOpen daily into the late evening, later on gig nights. Check the venue's listings for set times.
Best forLive rock and metal, craft beer, a loud night in Camden

Plan Your Visit

The Black Heart sits just off Camden High Street on Greenland Place. Walk in for the downstairs pub. Buy a ticket ahead for upstairs gigs, which sell out.

Get Directions Ask Our Team
2-3 Greenland Place, Camden, London NW1 0AP

The Room

Downstairs is the pub: black walls, dim light, and a bar that keeps the room moving on busy nights. It reads as a proper local for Camden's alternative crowd rather than a polished bar.

Upstairs is the gig room, a small and intimate space that puts you close to the stage. The room you want depends on whether there is a band on.

The Drinks

Beer is the headline. The Black Heart runs a strong range of draught and bottled craft beer and real ale, which regulars rate as one of its defining features. The spirits are no-frills, priced for a pub rather than a cocktail bar.

Order a pint from the rotating draught lines and settle in. The kitchen has built a name for its vegan plates, including a well-reviewed vegan Sunday roast, so it is an easy spot to eat between sets.

What to Order

01
A draught craft beer
The rotating lines are the reason regulars rate the bar. Ask what is fresh on the day.
02
A bottled metal-scene beer
The bottle list runs deep. A good fallback when the draught you want has kicked.
03
The vegan Sunday roast
An unexpected strength. Reviewers single out the kitchen's vegan plates, the roast above all.
04
A simple spirit and mixer
Priced like a pub. The right call when you are here for the band, not the cocktail list.

The Crowd and Vibe

The Black Heart pulls Camden's rock and metal crowd, gig-goers, and locals who treat the downstairs as their pub. It runs loud and friendly, busier and later on show nights.

The pub faced permanent closure during the pandemic and was saved by a crowdfunding effort that raised about 150,000 pounds from more than 4,000 supporters. That history shows in how protective regulars are of the place.

What Regulars Say

Who It Is For

A loud Camden night

Live rock and metal with a crowd that is here for exactly that.

Craft beer hunters

A deep, rotating beer list in a no-frills pub setting.

Skip for a quiet drink

This is a black-walled rock pub, not a spot for a low-volume catch up.

More across the city in our best bars in London guide and our best cocktail bars in London roundup. Searching nearby? Try dive bars near me, browse the full London Bar Guide, or see more Camden bars and London live music bars.

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Sources
The Black Heart official site (Our Black Heart, 2026); DesignMyNight (Camden rock pub listing); Yelp reviews (Greenland Place); crowdfunding and Camden Town venue coverage.
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Photos via Google Places. Gustavo Colin Vázquez · Fran Castilla · Richard Palmer · Daniel Finlay · Steven Tiller · Mark Jervis · Eldrid Mendonce · N Lacrima