please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
in the last few months this place has really gone down the shitter. they've lost their chef, one of their barmaids and a fair few punters if my last few visits were anything to go by. midweek it's like a morgue! staff are scruffy and unproffessional and the last few times the ale hasnt tasted right. a shame, because it was really good. one to avoid from now on.
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Having just moved to Barnet, we decided to try the Monken Holt on Sunday. We found the Monk to be a very friendly traditional pub with plenty of real ales (I highly recommend the Sharps Doombar) and my wife thoroughly enjoyed her (bottle of) Merlot a little bit too much if you ask me! We both had a roast beef dinner which was hard to improve on and apple pie to follow. The bar staff were very friendly and even though the pub was busy with football etc, they always had a smile for you. Very welcoming. We will definitely be back and would recommend the pub to anyone. Shaun and Amy McCormack
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Best pub in the area by a country mile and much improved since the Irish guy was put in charge. Popped in last Sunday for their weekly jam night and the place was rammed. (Talent varies but usually a good mix). The food is worth trying, always fresh and very reasonable.
No idea what the previous reviewer is on about. They must be confusing a roll-up with a spliff because the staff here have eyes like hawks and you'd never get away with smoking anything illegal in their garden. Very kid friendly during the day.
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Great pub if you don't mind the staff and customers freely smoking drugs around you in the beer garden. I won't be bringing my family back in future.
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This is a friendly pub where you see people of all ages mixing together. I've been three times now, on different days of the week. Once on a Thursday for a steak meal. That was a huge meal, good quality too for the silly price of about £7 if I remember rightly. The wine selection was good too and not badly priced for the quality.
The next time I popped in was to catch a band and see what the crowd was like on a Saturday. It was straight after an England match in the World Cup and thought there would be nothing more telling about the pub than what is was like after a big World Cup match. What a great night! The pub was full of people who may well have been out all day due to the football, but they were very well behaved and spent the night enjoying themselves.
The live music wasn't a band as such but a really good duo, guy on guitar and a woman singing a really nice range of songs. Nothing heavy but a good mix. The punters seemed to enjoy it. If this act was placed where the bands usually go though, I can see why people have made comments as there was just enough room for the duet.
I also returned a couple of weeks ago for the open mic night that a couple of the regulars told me about. It's not just an open mic night, it's a fully fledged jam night with muscians, singers, dummers the lot. There's a little bit of Barnet that has a lot of talent. It was also mildly amusing to watch teenage boys having a go at prog rock and doing very well at it too.
Really very recommended.
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this is a pub that will never set the world on fire. its full of locals which is lovely - but never seems to make the newcomer unwelcome. Lovely leather armchairs in some areas which again make you feel like settling for the night. Weekends can become a bit of a cattlemarket for the middle aged - but again nothing wrong wtih that. Never any trouble, nice easy going clientele, nice wine its just a nice place to go and relax - probably not much cop for those under 28 though i would suggest
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Disappointed on this visit. I recall having some decent unusual beers in here in the past but all that was on offer was an insipid trio - GK IPA, Bombardier, Directors. Tried the Directors which wasn't any great shakes. Usual Saturday night pub crowd. No longer worth trekking up from the High St on this showing.
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came here for a quick drink before dinner across the road. very nice pub. quite dark and cosy with good atmosphere. garden out the back. it got quite busy and a bit loud but it was nice to see regulars rolling in and being greeted by first names. quite rare these days. ales were first class and the wife had a reasonable glass of wine. food looked good so might come back to try that as chez gerard opposite was bloody awful
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This place and The Mitre are the best pubs in Barnet, hands down. The Monk is a bit of a trek up the high street but much better than the nearby Misty Moon and White Lion. Best nights to go are Thursday (quiz night) and Sunday (acoustic night) - not a fan of the DJ or live bands they have in on Fri/Sat or the blow-your-wages-on-vodka-redbull crowd they attract.
Ales are kept in very good condition, Guinness is properly poured, wine is above average pub standard, and spirits are the standard selection. Prices are reasonable. Food deserves a special mention for being a) cheap and b) tasty. Steaks, pies and burgers are particularly good. Huge portions too.
Worth a visit in the week when it's quieter or when there's a match on. The regulars are a mostly well behaved bunch and you often see dads/sons and families with kids in which goes to show it's friendly and safe. Never had a problem with the staff, though some of the barmaids spend a lot of time sitting at the end of the bar eating, drinking and chatting to mates, though I've never waited long to be served.
anonymous - 4 Apr 2010 15:50 |
Things didn't get off to the best of starts when visited for the first time this week, as the barman short changed me on my first pint.
Thankfully this was my only gripe in what was an otherwise very pleasant little pub. Four ales on offer including Greene King IPA, Adnams Explorer and Sharp's Doom Bar, the latter of which arrived in reasonable condition.
A nice fire was going at the front of the pub, and despite being almost empty when I arrived at 5:30, a decent crowd had built up by 6:00 generating a nice atmosphere from the mixed clientele.
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Certainly one of the best places for real ale in the area - had a few very nice pints of Broadside on Saturday night! Friday nights is normally a disco, with a bias towards rock, but pop and indie requests get played too. There seem to be bands playing most Saturday nights, although last weeks 'rock & roll' band (keyboards, bass & drums but no guitar?!!) were a bit dull. The place the put the bands isn't very good though, and it was much better when they used to play at the raised area at the back.
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Another good pub but just short of the Mitre in terms of beer quality. Very friendly bar staff, was told it gets very busy when they have live bands on. Only locals and a few workers in today but they seemed friendly enough.
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Three months since my first review of this place and it's now my favourite pub in Barnet - not that there's much competition! Really good bar staff and a lovely crowd of locals of all ages. Bands at the weekend play classic rock covers and pack the place out. If all you want is somewhere chilled out and friendly to enjoy a drink, you can't go wrong here.
anonymous - 20 May 2009 21:33 |
This is a good pub and the people of all ages packed in on Saturday obviously agree with me. Greene King IPA, Directors, Explorer and some standard lagers are all available from the very nice barmaids. Behind the main bar there is a smaller seating area that leads to a garden at the rear. There was a band setting up under the plasma screen in this rear section but I left just before they started playing.
This is definitely one of the better pubs in Barnet and I would have no hesitation in returning.
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Went in mid-week and were the only ladies in the place, which was fine by us! Bit rough around the edges but very homely and welcoming. Great bar men. Can't imagine where they put the bands so will be going back to find out!
anonymous - 26 Feb 2009 22:29 |
Haven’t been to Ye Olde Monken Holt for many years, but used to drink here a long time ago due to its good beers and congenial atmosphere. After a bit of a disappointment at the Orange tree in Totteridge, chanced my arm that the Holt was still a good boozer..
Was not disappointed. Still a pub of character with an L shaped front bar and a further seating area at the back of the square serving area.
Four real ale handpumps, three of which were the usual Green King fair. But the forth must have been the guest beer which started out as the Sharps Doombar (first time I’ve drunk this outside of its base in Cornwall, so top marks for that) and then changed to CW Bombardier when that ran out, both of which were excellent. And served efficiently by the three bar staff.
Also, being a Saturday night, there was a band on, who wedged themselves in the corridor to the back seating area. Would probably explain why there was a colourful lively crowd in last night as well.
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Discovered this little gem a few weeks ago. Was very impressed with the Oldie Worldie atmosphere, the cleanliness, and friendliness of the staff, and was truly impressed with the quality of the food.
I'll be back.
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Hadn't visited the pub in a while but found it a pleasant surprise. Had a great range of real ales on and the food standard has risen dramatically. Bar staff were very welcoming. Nice garden as well.
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pub filthy, real ales bad, guinness worse,loos disgusting, bar staff missing or incompetent apart from a nice irish guy called colin, manageress never there. customers come second to the staff here which is a shame because there's a good mix of people. needs a good spring clean and better management.
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The new bar staff are a welcome change from the foul mouthed fishwife and tattooed yobbo that previously worked there. Its great pub with great atmosphere. Recommended.
anonymous - 6 Jul 2007 16:52 |
Reasonably priced drinks for the high street and late licence is a bonus. Food also quite good.
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Got to recommend this pub if only for the Sunday evening open mic/acoustic night. Yes, there's always going to be some mediocre busker singing James Blunt or 'Wonderwall' but the night I was there there was a guy playing Dire Straits/Rolling Stones on a Mandola (very big Mandolin), some (very good) original material some great blues and folk and even an idiot playing Sweet songs unplugged. Not a chin stroking beardy place and way better than karaoke. Not obstrusive either. If you just want a pint and a chat that's no problem.
anonymous - 19 Mar 2007 16:11 |
I hope someone from the pub reads this, because I'd like to say thanks for a great day. I went in there last Saturday with a group of friends, and the reception was friendly far beyond the call of duty. During our stay, we had asked for a specific channel to be put on the TV, more plates for food when extra friends arrived, and whether I could have a play on the piano. All these requests were granted with a smile. We ended up having a good sing-song and giving the pub 8 hours of our custom. The ploughmans was decent (if a little slow to arrive) and the real ale was well-kept. Other impressive points include the speed of barrel changing after our group drank the place dry, and the family friendly nature of the establishment with children welcome even on a Saturday night. Traditional decor, a tastefully refurbished back room and beer garden make Ye Olde Monken Holt my top choice in Barnet!
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A popular haunt for my friends and myself over the years. Comparatively unspoilt pub with excellent real ales and good atmosphere. Gets way overcrowded at the weekends though.
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excellant boozer.real ales constantly changing. good crowd.good music. i strongly recommend this little gem up the top of Barnet high street
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Pete the barman is a legand in Barnet, he has poured thousands of pints for me over the years - all with a smile.
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The monk has recently re-opened after refurbishment - a really rather pleasant extension to the rear. Has a smaller beer garden - and now is family friendly which it wasnt in the past. Friday and Saturdays the place is heaving often with live music and attracts the older crowd - so not rowdy. Food is not terribly good - but reasonably priced.
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What a disaster this one was over the holidays. On a return visit to visit friends and it sucked. Flea pit conditions.
anonymous - 7 Jan 2005 20:30 |
Yes it is to do with the panels downstairs.
anonymous - 10 Dec 2004 02:31 |
There is a story going around that it will be closing due to enviromental problems with the building. Only been there once these last three months. Sad.
anonymous - 10 Dec 2004 02:23 |
The pub used to be great but since
it has been sold it has gone down
hill. One particular barman also
needs to learn some manners.
anonymous - 18 Nov 2004 09:15 |
this pub deserves at least a 7/10 simply because it has regatta, landlord and IPA on tap. frankly i wouldn't care if it was someone's front room with those babies on display
matt - 4 Nov 2004 12:41 |
Quick update on this one. I was talking to the Camra boys in the Nelson and its now up for sale again. Rumour being that someone called Woody is buying it. A local guy but I dont know him.
general - 8 Sep 2004 18:39 |
Absolutely disgrace whats happened to this one. Was sold last year and has gone from being a nice locals pub to a very run down and dreary place.
they serve anyone nowadays and some unsavoury local characters now ply their wares. I used to go twice a week but now swerve it.
general - 4 Sep 2004 18:24 |
Not bad. Nice atmosphere, and a good traditional feel. Very disappointed to see "Freedom" fries on the menu though!
Paul - 5 Feb 2004 17:51 |
A true English pub in every sense of the word, I even learnt to play Cribbage here in the 80`s
Jai - 11 Jan 2004 12:06 |
Top Pub, Top Ales I've done the mini survey of Barnet and it's easily the best. My official local. Apparently the Wed night barman is also the best rugby player in Barnet. Can't be true as he's Welsh.
Percy - 15 Oct 2003 19:55 |
love it! landlord is a top bloke although he looks like rod stewart :)
gee - 27 Jul 2003 07:44 |
Used to live in the area and rated it. Been back a couple of times recently and wont be going again. Dawdy and tatty decor, desperately in need of a refurb! Beer was good, food was poor.
Tom - 14 Apr 2003 17:39 |
Old Courage pub, now a freehouse. Stopped Courage beers and now does TT Landlord, Adnams and a lot of guests. Along with the Mitre it's about the only proper pub left on the High St.
Henry - 9 Feb 2003 06:15 |
Nice pub at top of High Street. Very busy and always has at least four ales on.
Norman Hutchinson - 8 Jan 2003 16:16 |
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