Thanks to its unusually large beer garden, north Londoners flock to spend sunny afternoons lazing at The Edinboro Castle. It’s a cornerstone of Camden Town’s drinking scene.

The pub has recently undergone a complete refurbishment, and a lick of blue paint, dramatic lighting centrepiece, and a roofed barbecue area outside have added a touch of glamour to this old staple.

We visited on a crowded Friday night, the pub full of 20 and 30-somethings ready for a wild one on the town, with the music loud – perhaps too loud if you were seated underneath speakers like we were.

But there’s certainly no shortage of atmosphere, and the place was packed with punters on our visit.

The refurbishment comes with a complete overhaul of the pub’s food menu, which leaves diners spoilt for choice with the number of dishes on offer.

As well as more than a dozen à la carte mains, the Castle also offers small plates of dishes like arancini balls or confit duck – three for £13 or five for £20.

But after long days at work and rumbling stomachs, we opted for two of their hearty main courses.

Prices are competitive, with mains ranging from £9.50 to £14.50, but there are plenty of offers to entice midweek diners too.

A burger and a drink for £9 is the deal on a Wednesday, while you can share three tapas plates and a bottle of wine for £20 on Thursdays.

My guest took up the menu’s offer to ‘build your own burger,’ which was cooked perfectly medium rare, a deent chunk of juicy meat garnished with fresh lettuce, tomato, melted cheddar, and a slice of crisp bacon.

My sirloin steak was pleasant enough, but the powerful béarnaise sauce and crispy, salted fries stole the show. We washed it all down with a bottle of a highly drinkable, berry-rich merlot called The Velvet Devil, recommended by our knowledgeable waitress.

The dessert menu is a list of six British classics.

My sticky toffee and medjool date pudding was a light domed sponge gloriously slathered in sweet sauce, with a light vanilla-pod ice cream to cut through the richness.

The brownie had a good, chocolately flavour but unfortunately even the accompanying ice cream couldn’t abate its dryness.

We left wishing we had planned to spend the whole evening out, as a meal at the Castle with its lively atmosphere and elevated pub grub certainly sets you up for a night out amidst Camden Town’s bustle.