The Black Cap

Eat dinner before you go.
The food isn’t great and it takes a long time…
Nice little venue in the basement for drag shows. I really had a ball when I went.
I would return with bells on!

It’s a gay PUB. Not a gay gastropub (Oh god, I wish, can you imagine… they’re full of gay people anyway, somebody open one please!), just a pub. A bit like a gay wetherspoons I suppose, but maybe slightly better. I haven’t been downstairs but the upstairs just feels pubby.
With a beer garden.
And god-​awful chips, don’t, just don’t.
And don’t put their mayo on your chips, the opened bottle has clearly not been kept in the refrigerated since opening.

One of the spots on the docket during this years camden crawl. I was not apart of it but I think I needed the restroom and it was the closest pub and I didn’t realize it was one of the ticket only spots at the time.
DOUCHE SECURITY GUARDS!!!
The ticketed performance was downstairs but we were able to go upstairs to the bar. Which was not that bad looking but still. And I got to use the bathroom which was great but…
THE DOUCHEBAGERY OF THE SECURITY GUARDS MAKE ME NOT WANT TO COME BACK.
Look, I know it was the camden crawl and you’ve probably dealt with about a thousand other drunkards this evening but seriously you don’t have to be like that. And hopefully those guys aren’t always there on a regular night? One can always hope.
And It’s a gay bar? okay.
I will go back to give it another chance when Im in the area, and a little less silly on the sauce.

So on my first trip to Black Cap I ran into «Michael». He’s a treat. He refused to serve one of my friends because he didn’t say «please» after his order. And then went into this diatribe about Americans are how they’re rude. He then asked if we worked for Goldman Sachs. God I love stereotypes.
The beer garden garden is cute and the drinks are reasonably priced.

Okay, I have serious beef to pick with this place. Friends are already in, upstairs, having a pint when I go to meet them. Cue two very large door men.
Me: Um, can I get through?
#1– Have you ever been here before?
Me — Uh, yeah, lots of times
#1– Do you know what kind of place this is?
Me– Um, a pub? Yes, I DO know that it’s a gay pub, why are questioning if I’m gay?
#1– Yeah, I am actually.
Me– Look dude, my friends are upstairs waiting for me. Are you going to let me through or not?
#2– It’ll be £2
Me– You close in 20 minutes! I’m just meeting my friends
#2– it’s £2
I’m sorry, REALLY?! You’re questioning if I’m gay? Because I look feminine and wear makeup? You made ME pay to go upstairs (which is free, btw) which I TOLD you. WOW. Look, I go to Gay bars all the time, sometimes with straight friends but when it comes to discriminating AGAINST people coming in, when I’m not ‘gay enough’ or when there are friendly people who want to support their friends, where do you get off trying to kick them out. I WILL NOT be coming back to this place.

Been there twice, first time was alright, not a very good looking crowd but fun music and dancing and the show was decent. However, I went back with some friends last weekend and all three of our jackets and my sweater and camera got stolen. As there is no cloak room we had hidden them behind a table and someone took them while we were dancing. The staff was not helpful at all and no one offered to help. It was freezing out and my friend was from out of town and it was her last night in London. I am definitely avoiding the place from now on.

A friend and I were discussing how there weren’t any gay bars in Camden that we knew of just the night before randomly popping into here. We had happened to wander up to the top pub to meet a friend because of the location, and were pleasantly surprised to find a cheap & cheerful gay venue in the area. The upstairs pub was nice and they have a decent sized roof garden in back (with heat lamps!). Though after a certain time they close up shop upstairs and the downstairs bar turns into a drag cabaret sort of show. We had stumbled upon a review of it a few days later and the performer said she preferred the midweek shows cause there was more room to roll around and you’ll get a mix of students that don’t have early mornings, or after-​work people that want to unwind so people are out to generally have a good time and not just get wasted like the weekend crowd.
Word of caution: I think you have to be brave to stand front & center at the show because sometimes things get spewed into the crowd (probably not as bad as it reads, but still)
Cheap cheap cheap! You can’t beat it, and if you’re looking for another gay venue in Camden, well err, literally you can’t beat it because none other ones exist. Odd isn’t it? I would have liked if the upstairs was open later because we were more in the mood to sit and chill than be in the loud cabaret room midweek, but still, a fun bar and worth the trip.
It’s also in front of the bus stop for the 31 which only runs once an hour at night (don’t get me started), so if you’ve missed it like I tend to, pop in for a drink and kill some time.

The Black Cap is a pub that I have never braved by night. The super cheap, non-​wetherspoons, menu lured me in though and lunch was nothing to sneeze at. While the food wasn’t amazing (comfortably sitting in the 3* range), the prices are absolutely 5*. Pub classics are all £3.89-£3.99 and for an extra quid an alcoholic beverage is yours. I had an ultimate burger that consisted of two 6oz burgers, an onion ring, cheese and bacon on a sour dough bun. It was served with chips and salad and cost just £5.59 with a glass of wine.
If you’re up to join the drag super stars and other all male clientele of the evening crowd, Mondays are pink pounder nights where you can drink anything from the bar for £1.50. Talk about affordable!

I was wandering around Camden one day and whilst passing the Black Cap I remembered that late at night there always seemed to be drunk looking men hanging about outside. Curiosity caught hold of me and I went inside. I found my answer.
Set over two floors the upstairs bar is spacious and nice, with a stunning roof terrace at the back. The pub has a Wetherspoons feel but wait for this… Cheaper than Wetherspoon prices. I kid you not. The food menu is ludicrously cheap and very extensive. The quality isn’t amazing but good enough. At £6.69 for an Ultimate double burger, chips, salad and a glass of wine, I refuse to complain.
Downstairs is a night club where you’ll see burlesque, and other such naughty, taboo acts through the week. I have to this point omitted the fact that the Black Cap is a gay bar, yet when I tell you that Monday night at the Cap is called The Pink Pounder, I think you’d of guessed anyway. When Pink Pounder begins drinks cost £1 and every other drink costs £1.50, I can only imagine the ABSOLUTE carnage of this place come 2am. The Black Cap is the only gay bar I know in the area. They did the right thing making this place so very good.
At least now I know why there are always men hanging around outside. For £1.50 a drink I may go hang out there myself.

When you’re feeling low and you need a place to go– head to Black Cap on Wednesdays. They’re drag queen night is sure to please! Plus mega cheap drinks– British beer, 1.50 pound shots, and 80s music– YES!!! I had a blast listening to great music, throwing back cheap beer, and just people watching. Their food’s not bad either, but you have to order before 10p because the kitchen closes.

I went to the Black Cap on a Monday night after some rollicking fun at the karaōke night in Tommy Flynns, down the road. I had been told about the club by friends before who enjoyed going on a Friday night, but had my reservations, thinking it may be a bit OTT and extravagant. I had also been told that going in large groups of straight people was a bad idea as you could get turned away at the door.
However, my doubts were unnecessary as when we got there, we were allowed in with no problems, the club downstairs had a fun and relaxed atmosphere, the drinks were really cheap (spirits were £2.00 and under), and the dance floor was a blast! It seemed completely easy going, a real mix of people and had an array of cheesy tunes and pop music. Its a great place to go for a cheap, cheerful, gay friendly and fun night out in crazy Camden.

The only gay bar and club in the Camden area, The Black Cap has a long history and strong following of devoted men and women that come frequently to it’s premises.
It’s main bar is open till 11pm and is situated upstairs. It has an adjoining outside area which is a very popular sun-​trap area during the summer. The bar is quite traditionall and the it attracts a good ix of types.
The club area, downstairs, is large and is open most week nights. Expect drag act hosts and popular dance music. It can be a bit over the top but aims to be hence it’s popularity. As a place to pull it’s great as there’s always a good mix of single guys up for it.
For those based up North who can’t be arsed to trek to Soho or Vauxhall.

I was a little bit uncomfortable in this place when I walked in, but my girlfriend definitely stood out even more hanging off my arm! For this is a gay pub. ‘The Black Cap’ is a great little den of inquinity, but perhaps even more naughty then most drinking holes (for obvious reasons). Two floors are available — the downstairs show room for all kinds of saucy performances (cabarets) and the upstairs, much more conformist pub-​bit, with a bar etc. The atmosphere was pretty damn good as people revelled in their status and there were some very happy guys having a rick-​rolling time on a table near mine and it was pretty hard not to go and join in! A decent place.

The Black Cap in Camden over the last decade or so has built itself a reputation as one of the most deadent hotspots of the gay community. Comprised of two main areas: the classy but eccentric upstairs bar area sporting wooden floorboards, offset by leopard print, and the basement cabaret area resplendent with its low-​level lighting and red curtained stage. Black Cap regularly hosts both cabaret and drag acts and, if you’re comfortable in an overtly gay environment then your in for a great time.
The upstairs bar area, though never dull, is a more relaxed affair where you can find a range of traditional pub grub at very reasonable prices. The bar is reasonably well stocked with nothing particularly spectacular, a pint will set you back about £3.
The crowd here, as might be expected, is predominantly gay and lesbian but straight people receive a warm welcome also, there’s nothing exclusive about this venue.
One of the best evenings I’ve had in ages.