please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
More interesting than other pubs in Finsbury Park but still too noisy, especially in the back hall where you have to shout across the table. Great pubs don't need music!
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I live opposite the pub so go their a lot. Its a lively place, especially at the weekend or when London premiership clubs are playing, but the back area is usually big enough to accommodate people (gets a bit crammed when arsenal are playing).
Lots of seating in the 'sin bin' (back room).
Friendly crowd and bar staff. There isn't a duke box in the back room and its generally not that loud (except weekend nights when it can be a bit loud). If its not the weekend I'm sure they'd turn it down if you ask at the bar.
Its got a good reputation and people travel to get here, I've been asked a couple of times for directions to it.
Decent outdoor area.
Nice Thai food thats cheap.
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I have heard through the grapevine that this pub is closing down or being taken over. Is this true???
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Best pub in London.
Music is too loud in back room though or maybe i'm just old.
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A little gem.
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Great pub, good-value Thai food (go for the green curry). A gem.
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I am amazed that there are not many many more positive reviews about this gem of a pub. I always drink the draft Leffe - served in fridge chilled cold glasses. London prices and great Thai food.
The father&son team keep the atmosphere well, and the hanging garden of strange objects in the front bar makes for conversation. Busy on match days.
Maybe the lack of reviews is down to the typical clientele - too busy boozing to log into this site!
MY FAVOURITE PUB - better than The Worlds End, dairy, Larrik, Chapter One. All roads lead....
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Very friendly anything goes sort of a pub - I particularly enjoy the Irish music in the front bar on a Sunday night - if I lived closer then this place would be in grave danger of becoming my local.
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FAO little underpants
EMO
Emotional hardcore / Warrior think straight men that look effiminate, wear skinny jeans ,have posh spice hair cuts and cry alot
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What does Emo mean ?
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great pub, staff are friendly and the decor is quite nice, kick ass smoking area too. beers are a wee bit pricey
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Just off the Blackstock Road - easily missed. Attracts less chavs than World's End and less pretentious than a couple of others. London Pride the only cask, but well-kept.
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I've been going to this pub for around 6 years now, and while the new garden area is fantastic, they really need to sort out the noisy jukebox in the back room. The jukebox has been way too loud for as long as I can remember, but now it seems to be mostly Nu metal and EMO which makes it unbearable. Don't get rid of the jukebox, just turn the volume down!
It's a great pub but I go there to meet mates and be able to hear them talk. On a few recent occasions I've walked in and turned around again just cos the music is too loud.
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Great boozer,good quiz on mondays,wish they would bar me !
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Nice traditional bar. Lots of interesting `ornaments` - including bicycles hanging from ceiling. Lager choice extensive, no lunchtime food though !
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Lovely Victorian pub on a back street off Stroud Green Road. Sitting in the main bar is lovely...but oddly there is a big hall attached where you can get Thai food...
If you're ever in Finsbury Park though this is definitely your first choice. Great pub.
anonymous - 24 Mar 2007 17:50 |
This has got to be one of the best pubs in London, let alone Finsbury Park. And you'd never find it by chance, tucked away up a back steet in a residential area as it is. Something for everybody - friendly locals and bar staff, good range of ales, cosy traditional boozer section, good (Thai) food, big sports screen (in a different, somewhat school canteen-like room), pool table, (secluded) beer garden: it's got the lot.
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It's a bit schizophrenic. The bits where you can see a bar are great but I'm not a fan of the barn out the back with the uncomfortable seats and nu-metal jukebox. Great chilled beer though, quite good thai, proper pub atmosphere and a good mix of locals and after-work crowd. Pool table also, though hard to get a game when busy. Very smokey, which is great, as I've given up cigs and need to get my fix from somewhere.
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I'm dropping my rating slightly as "panhead" is sadly correct. It is now over-popular. Still very pleasant on a quieter evening though and Pat who runs the place is a top bloke!
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spent years drinking in her but not again
absolute moody arse of a barmaid who was just totally rude last time i went there - i said could she possibly turn the jukebox on as they had the tv with the sound off (and this was after i put in my two quid) she came in and turned the sound up really loud on the tv
what a twat - she thought she was the queen and ruined what was turning into a good session
very over-rated - awful staff
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Since the demise of the Dairy, The Fullback is unchallenged for the title of best pub in the FP.
Good beer, friendly barstaff (my mates are in love with one of them which is always a good sign), pool, jukebox, Irish bands on Sunday eve's - this place rules.
And Phoenix Nights style Thai Kitchen too - who can argue with that!
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Easily the best pub in the area- only danger is it becoming too popular and therefore too full-...especially on big match days.
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Really cosy pub - tucked away - defo worth a visit
anonymous - 5 Nov 2006 14:06 |
probably the only decent pub around this area, divided into several drinking areas, London Pride on draught.
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Not a bad pub.Quite classy when you consider whats around it.I'd go back
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A lovely pub in finsbury park that has atmosphere without being too small, space without being too big and cool clientelle without being pretentious. I went in for the first time recently and felt cheated that, after having lived in Finsbury Park for 2 years, I had never been there before.
The thing that really got me hooked though was the Thai food they serve, it tastes just like the real thing! I had chicken with chilli and cashews and my boyfriend had red curry. Once we started eating it was like being in Thailand again the food is so authentic. Definately worth trying if you fancy real Thai food - absolutely de-lish!
So if you fancy a good night out in a really nice pub with really good food, the Fullback is for you, definately the best pub in Finsbury Park.
anonymous - 10 Aug 2006 10:05 |
I must agree this is a cracking local pub. Bigger than you think once you get inside. Run by a professional pub-operating family.
It knocks spots off the other local pubs.
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By some distance the most enjoyable pub experience in the area, the Fullback is one of those places that seems to draw in literally all sorts of people. The front bar is small but very atmospheric, whereas the back bar is a little barn like but comfortable nevertheless. There is a small garden too. The pub is run by a young, enthusiastic team, who have really made an effort to keep the place's character, which after all is its main selling point. Also, Monday nights sees the best quiz in London by a long shot.
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My new favourite pub by far. Nice staff, nice tables, nice chairs, nice food nice crazy crap on the ceilings. Its a first choice in that area. Did go down there the other saturday after a big rugby match and there was a distinct whiff of all day drinking violence in the air which was quite off putting and i never felt that there before, so going to avoid rugby games from now on.
meady - 30 May 2006 18:25 |
Far and away the best pub in Finsbury Park - the nearest place that can hold a torch to it is probably the Harringay Arms on Crouch Hill. There's always a fine pint of Pride on, decent Guinness and the Thai food is good too. It has a nice spread of different-sized rooms, so many a taste is catered for, plus shows a lot of football and has a beer garden.
So yeah, go.
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The fullback is the best pub in finsbury park.. (Larrick people don't even try and tell me you would rather sit in a pine showroom and pay £3.10 for a guinness?!)
The only small issue I have with the fullback is that the students can tend to take over during term time. However, it's always a relief when these spotty little twats head back to middle england in the home counties for their summer holidays and let us locals have a seat.
Lovely food and friendly staff, great guinness in cold glasses as mentioned by other reviewers
Has a nice mix of clientele,…... media types, twenty -something blokes with beards, chavs, old weird blokes, sexy indie chicks, gays, lesbians - all make up the variety of people that makes this pub so interesting..
Just getting a bit busy these days, think its secret is out. shame
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I visited on a Saturday night and we had a picnic table in the large pool room at the back of the pub. It was pretty lively and a good mix of folk I suppose. I would prefer to drink in the bar next time and I didn't have a a chance to try any ales (if they had any). Folk were friendly and so were the staff. Phad Thai was very average (only my girlfriend ate) but then we're used to the Brownswood Thai which is excellent http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/42/4299/Brownswood_Park_Tavern/Finsbury_Park.
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I really enjoy every visit I have to the Fullback. Best pub in Finsbury Park worth the few minutes walk from the main drag. We enjoy the thai food and the chilled atmosphere. Plus the glasses from the freezer helps to keep the pints tasty.
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Yeah not bad. I think finsbury park has got some cool pubs in now and has improved a lot. Try The Old Dairy on a Friday night! Now that is what i call effing blinding - they got an indie dj on, and the music is the best i've heard for a long time. I think i'll go there on fridays and maybe FF on Sats.
anonymous - 18 May 2005 16:22 |
Can be over-crowded, but that's the price paid for a good atmosphere. The jukebox is cracking, but unfortunately your choices often cannot be heard in the aircraft hangar attached to the main pub. The Thai food is generally good. On balance, I like it as it's a good place to meet friends (particularly in the garden on a summer's evening) and looks like a magic pub from the outside.
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I've been to the Faltering Fallback several times in the last year and it is without doubt the best pub in Finsbury park. True the large room at the back does come across as a student union bar, but so what! There is a small beer garden that is open in the summer months that because of its size does get a little cramped. The best thing about this pub is the great "horseshoe" bar at the front which serves good beer and food. But because of its popularity it is recomended to get there early if you want a seat. A great pub for the summer evenings.
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one word: pretentious
anonymous - 4 Mar 2005 21:48 |
Student union theme pub for middle-aged ex-students. Too many candles, tasteless thia food that stinks the place out and the bar bit gets too cramped. 50p to play the pool table - fair play, but even so you have to wait for about 10 games until your name comes up. Most popular pub in finsbury park for middle class residents, presumably because it's the only one that thieves don't operate in.
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Cardboard cut-outs posing as barstaff. Apart from Abbi,who's lovely. Let me clarify that: Abbi is really, really lovely. Good pub, though. Oh yes, Abbi's lovely, in case you haven't heard.
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I agree with the earlier comments from Tony about this place having a studenty feel but without the students. Basically a good, friendly pub and one I would go back to. The only down side is it's in Finsbury Park. I have to also say that, contrary to what some reviewers have said, the barmaids are nothing special to look at, although they are very friendly, which is ultimately what matters (honest!).
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Right, where does one start? being an employee there i may be a little biased but it is easily the most chilled out and laid back pub, patronised with an eclectic mix of people; you get all sorts in there! Take it from me, when i'm not in there working; i'm in there drinking (usually with the barmaids). i think that may be the acid test for any pub; when the staff actually choose to come back and chill out at their place of work! Awesome place, awesome management! Nice job pat, keep up the good work!!
Kai - 2 Nov 2004 12:36 |
One of the reasons why I moved back to Stroud Green from Crouch End. It is a fantastic local and has something to offer for eveyone. The beer is lovely (chilled pint glasses, nice touch) and the thai food is on a par with Cats Restaurant down the road but a mighty site cheaper!! And Dan is right , we all do secretly fancy the barmaids.
Andy - 1 Sep 2004 17:19 |
Fantastic pub! Great atmosphere and Best pint of Guinness in London. The barstaff are sound especially the Irish lad working yesterday! The Sunday dinners and Thai food are very good and great value. If you are looking for the best pub in London, head for the Fullback in Finnsbury Park!
James - 23 Aug 2004 13:58 |
Filthy, clutter laden place. Mediocre food and very ordinary service. Think I must have gone on an off night, it had come highly recommended, but I can't see what everyone else is raving about.
anonymous - 28 Jul 2004 14:19 |
Best boozer around. We secretly all fancy the barmaids, but recommend it to others for it's laid back clientelle, atmospere and beer. Frosted glasses for beer is a nice touch. Good crowd most nights of the week. Did I mention the barmaids? Buy 'em a drink; they're lovely.
Dan - 2 Jul 2004 16:24 |
Talk about the best pub in north london...Sports on the big screen, those hot barmaids and funny irish barmen. Irish owned free house ... it just doesn't get any better. and pub soccer on thurs nights
stephen tangney - 24 May 2004 20:16 |
It is definitely one of the best pubs in London, if not the UK. Friendly staff and friendly clients with a kind of studentey feel, although few if any are actually students thankfully. A little beer garden for the summer to host those frosted glasses. Pool table, great Thai food, juke box, fairy lights and that front bar with the big windows. I am very privileged to call it my local.
Tony - 16 Apr 2004 15:46 |
I too used to go to the World's End when I worked in F/Park and was amazed I missed this one. My first visit was last year when a friend recommended the cheap and tasty Thai food. I've now been back a number of times, I love it's eclectic decor, although I was slightly concerned when I glanced up whilst sipping a pint from a frosted glass (nice touch) and saw a rather heavy object hanging from the ceiling above my head and spent a good few minutes pondering my fate should it fall on my head (like one does after a few sips of the old loopy juice)There's a nice selection of beers and of course there's the fab food and really nice staff to boot, what more could you ask for? A hidden gem.
EMMA - 16 Apr 2004 15:24 |
I used to live 5 doors down the road from this little gem but never used to go, favouring the Worlds End instead. WHAT A FOOL! Now I live bloody miles away but am of the opinion that this is The Best Pub in North London, without doubt! Great atmosphere, great glasses, great memories!
Terrence - 8 Apr 2004 10:02 |
listen i am in india right. and even from over here i can safely say there is no other pub in the world i would rather spend a few choice hours, enjoy the best staropramen in FROZEN glasses. God how I miss it! and pizzeria pappagone just round the corner
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Great! Was very sceptical because of the lcoation but what a find. Very friendly pub with a real proper pub vibe. Love all the bizarre stuff hanging from the ceiling. I shall never have to go the the Worlds End again!
Blondie - 26 Feb 2004 12:49 |
A good pub with tasty Thai food and real ale. Good alternative music with a student type feel. Gets very crowded at the weekend.
Sarah - 19 Jan 2004 15:06 |
Thai food is great, so I am told. Got to get big thumbs up for being so eccentric and just plain cool
anonymous - 12 Jan 2004 21:47 |
Lovely pub, with tasty Thai food (yum) and a nice cosy atmosphere in winter - and the only beer garden in the area in summer (plus the chilled glasses are great for a cold cider). The triangle-shaped front bar is great for watching the world go by.
Kate - 24 Oct 2003 10:30 |
HUGE, looks good though we only popped in for one. Has a bit of a backbpacker feel to it, certainly didn't feel seedy. London Pride, a pool table, and a little yard / garden, definitely worth trying if you're in the area.
Pauly - 4 Oct 2003 16:30 |
After destroying The Sir George Robey and ruining the World's End in Finsbury Park. There is a decent pub again. Chilled glasses - great for Stella! 4 separate and different drinking areas, a cosy colourful outside area, thai food, pool table, variety juke box and candles
amy - 3 Sep 2003 15:11 |
This place is so overated, I've heard for ages about it being the best pub in the area, but I find it boring and pretty seedy, if you ask me. As a woman I like to feel safe when I go out and here, there seems to be a large contingent of very seedy desperate old guys. Get rid of them and I suppose it would be ok.
Sheryl - 15 Aug 2003 11:19 |
Best pub in North London. Probably in London. Clean tasting beer, nice Thai food, and lots of areas that provide different atmospheres... front bar, side bar, back room, garden. Can be a bit smokey though.
An incredible local.
Mark - 12 Aug 2003 14:07 |
Saw Shaun Hughes having a pint in there the other day. It was often rumoured that he drank there, but I'd never seen him. Anyways. I guess I'd steer clear of pubs if I were famous, since there's more often than not some prat that will have a go. Not in The Fullback though!
:o)
TheG - 12 Aug 2003 09:19 |
Nice Barstaff
ped - 22 Jul 2003 14:34 |
I hear "The Pinch" used to drink there regulary. Best band in the world if you ask me.
Robert Plant - 22 Jul 2003 14:29 |
I agree. pinky meows all the way. Tis big and bad, both at the same time. Splendid behaviour
wazuk - 22 Jul 2003 14:26 |
Is it Leffe O'clock yet.....ICE cold glasses of strong beer that knock your socks off........ooohhhhh Pinky pinky Meow!
bnb - 22 Jul 2003 13:53 |
I spent many an evening there last year drinking leffe out of ice cold glasses until i could walk no more. Fantastic place, but don't tell everyone
steve - 22 Jul 2003 13:39 |
nice boozer
chris - 23 Jun 2003 16:11 |
Fantastic tucked away little gem, cheap as chips tiptop Thai food, lovely staff. Like any pub in FP avoid on match days if not an Arsenal Fan fan. Don't know if they still give out lollies and chill the beer glasses which was a winner. Back room a bit student bar like, arrive early to get a seat in bijou front and middle bars
Laura - 20 Jun 2003 16:12 |
Never mind "Best pub in North London"... best pub in London, nay, the world!
My local and has been for a few years now. With very good reason. Friendly landlord and staff, always shows the best sport (including the Forest play-off, though less said about that the better!) good beer and top Thai food. Not to mention a choice of "lounge bar" (my words, not there's) or sort of open air picnicky sort of room around the back with pool AND table football.
Bit of a beer garden too. Mmmmmm Thai... might go there later.
G - 16 Jun 2003 15:37 |
Best pub in North London
Alex - 14 Jun 2003 13:16 |
my favorite pub on this filthy little planet.
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best barstaff in north london. top
ade - 8 May 2003 15:12 |
The best pub in the land
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Superb pub, great atmosphere plus it serves Stella(always a good thing) service very good, management is superb plus the music is spot on, the one downer is the roast dinners - the worst I have ever tried,
Sebastien - 15 Apr 2003 11:35 |
A real gem of a pub, not too big but tucked away off the busy main stretch. Very smokey but good fun.
Matt - 14 Apr 2003 15:12 |
Easily the best pub in Finsbury Park. I found this pub 4 years ago and despite that fact I longer live in Finsbury Park I still go there occasionally. Any pub that puts the pint glasses in the freezer for optimum coldness is a pub worth going to. Good, food, great ambience, fine pool table and chilled out crowd.
Anthony - 7 Apr 2003 16:35 |
Lovely eclectic pub.Nice atmosphere and very friendly.
Michelle - 1 Apr 2003 21:47 |
As far as I'm concerned the only nice pub in finsbury park. 4 seperate rooms and a garden. great thai food at good prices. And generally relaxed atmosphere. Great for a quiet drink in the afternoon as well as a night out. And very friendly staff and management. Not forgetting the free lollipops at the bar.
Kev - 1 Apr 2003 21:35 |
Excellent local boozer. Can be a bit smoky if not your think. Food is excellent and pretty cheap. Top place to take the bird or go for a session!! Only 1 bitter (Pride) but goes down well.
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Great atmosphere especially for rugby-groovy lighting, friendly locals which are mainly thirty somethings.
Lin - 19 Feb 2003 17:50 |
Off the Stroud Green Road in a quiet area, divided into two parts with an outside bit. Popular at weekends. Pool table, juke box, and good Thai food. Nice place, close to the park.
Corin - 8 Oct 2002 12:37 |
