Remember Camden’s Great Fire of 2008? The Hawley Arms rose from those ashes. This Victorian pub stands near Camden Market, the railway tracks, and the canal.
The Hawley Arms dates back to 1851. Back then, it was known as the Hawley Arms Tavern. A brewer even fought a railway company for the land it stood on. The brewer won.
Step inside The Hawley Arms. Picture Amy Winehouse behind the bar. She loved this pub. She would chat and giggle with guests. She even served Kate Moss and Pete Doherty. Amy felt it was what she was born to do.
The Hawley Arms was “hipster central” back then. Russell Brand, Liam Gallagher, and Noel Fielding frequented this pub. Paparazzi waited outside to snap photos of celebrities stumbling out.
Amy had a favorite drink here. It was called the “Rickstasy.” It had vodka, banana liqueur, Southern Comfort, and Baileys Irish Cream.
In 2002, Ruth Mottram, Doug Charles-Ridler, and D-Day bought The Hawley Arms. They installed a jukebox. Later, they added an upstairs bar. Greene King bought the pub in 2004.
Singer Amy Winehouse was a regular here. Indie rock band Razorlight also showed up. Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs were spotted drinking here too.
Then came the fire in 2008. It severely damaged The Hawley Arms. Amy Winehouse famously screamed at the Grammy Awards “Camden Town ain’t burning down”.
The Hawley Arms faced challenges in reopening. Local regulators initially refused a new building at the rear. Mottram and Charles-Ridler campaigned to save the pub. They went to Glastonbury Festival and the Hop Farm Festival. Celebrities like Noel Fielding and Katie Melua supported them.
A fundraising event was held at Dingwalls. Winehouse even made an appearance. The Hawley Arms finally reopened on October 31. There was a three-day private party.
In 2019, Greene King had to sell The Hawley Arms. Mottram and Charles-Ridler decided to buy it. They sold a signed Winehouse setlist and “Hawley Heroes” merchandise to raise funds.
Liam Gallagher, Kate Moss, and Wolf Alice have all been known to drink here.
The Hawley Arms even appears in the Netflix series Baby Reindeer. It’s fictionalized as “The Heart.” It’s where the main character meets his stalker.
Today, The Hawley Arms remains a popular spot. It is known for its music heritage. It is a place where people can come together. The Hawley Arms has delicious food and drink. It is a true Camden institution.