please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
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.
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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!
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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 |
