I first visited here in early 1997 after the Britpop boom that this pub was most famous for was over.

In truth that period of music passed me by. Probably because, as a big fan of T-Rex and Chuck Berry, I almost choked on my Corn Flakes the first time I heard Cigarettes & Alcohol on the radio. We all have influences but this was a step too far for me.

Back then I was en route to the Kentish Town Forum to see, huge in the US but hardly acknowledged in the UK, grunge band Bush and we mobbed up here. It was a loud, smoky and packed low ceiling two bar pub with the jukebox blasting. I loved how it’s vibe was very much the real Camden Town with right characters that you sadly don’t experience today (since the fire in 2008 it’s been a shadow of its former self)

The boozer, named due to the cement mixer trapped in the pub during construction after the original hostelry, The Cricketers was destroyed by enemy action in WW2 closed in early 2018. It however reopened later that year amid concerns it would be ruined. Other than the famous pool table going and now selling Pie & Mash with gravy (which in London is bizarre) it pretty much remained the same and was still a class boozer until Covid struck.

However, I’m very concerned as it’s now up for sale. Max Barney pubco have put this and the freehold of three others on the market. (£12.45m for the set if you’re curious). We all know how parasitic property developer vultures circle these treasures, filled with so much history, and destroy them eroding the fabric and history of our community.

Live music is still a big thing here and it must continue as part of a now shrinking alternative scene that is being driven out of central London by high rates. Certain people it seems won’t rest until we have been dominated by international changes removing the British identity from our High Streets. I fear for a time when all we have are Starbucks, Pret and Five Guys on every corner and American style Cocktail bars to drink in.

If the Good Mixer isn’t bought by an operator then I hope an ACV is immediately secured and there are people up for fighting the good fight. They’ve recently secured funding from the Arts Council I understand to keep the gigs going and I’m praying this is not another treasure, in the name of greed and cultural erosion, that we lose.

Once they go, they rarely come back.