While many a London pub may claim names such as Charles Dickens or Dylan Thomas as former customers, The Dublin Castle touts its connection to Suggs and Amy Winehouse.

The pub got its start in 1856 as a meeting place for Irish immigrants. It was one of several north London pubs specifically catering to people from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, an effort to quell sectarian conflicts. 

Then in 1979, the pub, which also houses a live music space, offered a residency to the up-and-coming local band, Madness. This kicked off the band’s career, and in the following decades, The Dublin Castle became a launch pad for bands and artists such as Blur, The Libertines, Coldplay, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, and Amy Winehouse. The Dublin Castle still hosts live music from Wednesdays to Sundays. 

Despite its growing fame—in 2017, the pub was awarded the Music Heritage Award, given to venues that played a crucial role in helping to create music history—The Dublin Castle retains a scruffy, underground feel. The walls are practically coated with band stickers, and clientele includes crusty old rock and roll types, locals, and the odd tourist taking pictures of autographed photos to a playlist that spans The Smiths, The Beat, New York Dolls, Amy Winehouse, and The Specials.