The Cock Tavern (Somers Town), pool in Somers Town / Euston (NW1)

Photo: CAMRA WhatPub

The Cock Tavern (Somers Town): Pool & Snooker in London

Free entryWalk-inPool tableDartsLocals pub

23 Phoenix Road, Somers Town · NW1 1HB · Mo-Su 09:00-23:00

The Cock Tavern is a traditional Somers Town local just behind Euston, the kind of unfussy back-street pub where a pool table and a dartboard come as standard. It suits you if you want a proper old-school boozer for a casual frame rather than a polished games bar, and the single most useful thing to know is that it is the home pub of the Chalk Farm Pool League, so the table sees real, regular play.

Expect a Grade II listed building with a 1930s interior, a mainly Irish crowd, sport on the TV and a well-poured Guinness. It is a walk-in pub with no booking and no door charge, sitting about five minutes from Euston station. Come for a relaxed pint and a game, not for a slick night out.

The pool setup

There is a pool table here alongside darts, and it is treated as more than a token bit of kit. The Cock Tavern is the home venue of the Chalk Farm Pool League, so on league nights the table is in use and the standard can be high. Outside of those, it works as a casual table you can play between pints. There is also a function room if you want a bit more space. Sport on the TV draws a Celtic-supporting crowd, so expect it to get lively around big fixtures rather than quiet and pristine.

Good to know

This is a walk-in pub, so there is no booking system for the pool table and no entry fee to get in the door. Turn up, get a drink and wait your turn if the table is busy. It opens daily from 09:00 to 23:00, though hours on a traditional local like this can shift, so it is worth a quick check before a special trip. The pub is known for its Guinness and has done a lot for charity over the years. It is around five minutes' walk from Euston station, with King's Cross St Pancras also close by.

Get directions

Common questions

What is The Cock Tavern in Somers Town?
It is a traditional Grade II listed pub at 23 Phoenix Road, NW1 1HB, just behind Euston. It has a pool table and darts and is the home pub of the Chalk Farm Pool League.
Is there a charge to play pool at The Cock Tavern?
There is no entry fee to the pub. It is a regular boozer rather than a paid games venue, and the table is used by the Chalk Farm Pool League. Coin or table charges for individual frames are not confirmed, so check at the bar.
Do you need to book or can you just walk in?
It is a walk-in pub with no booking. Turn up, buy a drink and wait for the table if it is in use, especially on league nights.
How many pool tables are there?
There is one pool table, plus darts, sport on the TV and a function room.
What are the opening hours?
Listed as Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 23:00. Hours on a traditional local can vary, so it is worth confirming before a special trip.
What is the nearest station?
Euston is about five minutes' walk away, and King's Cross St Pancras is also close by.

Other pool & snooker bars nearby