please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Yes another much Improved Pub with a better Range of Real Ales & Wines Will defiantly visit again and recommend to Friends. Also a good stopping point on the way home if you of the tube at Highgate.
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Excellent place to stop in as a half-way point on the Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace Parkland Walk. Good food, cosy decor, and relaxed atmosphere. They've also got a couple of pool tables tucked away unintrusively at one end. The one downside was the ale selection - 4 of my least favourites (Courage Best, Directors, Bombadier, and GK IPA). However, I liked the pub so much otherwise that I'll definitely return next time I do the walk.
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Went to this pub with 8 colleagues for a lunch meeting on a Wednesday. It was nice and quiet with a welcoming open fire. The bar service was excellent - very friendly barman (Dan?)and the food was fantastic. Great selection of starters, mains and desserts all sensibly priced and freshly made. I chose seared Crocodile tail salad to start as I had never tried Crocodile and never seen it on a menu - delicious! The chef (Xavier) came out 2 or 3 times to help the server bring the food and to check that everything was in order - which it was.
We spent about 4.5 hours in the pub and couldn't find anything to fault it. Perhaps when the barman isn't on duty they have someone working who isn't as good, hence the previous review, because nothing was too much trouble for the guys who served us.
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Are you serious saying you had to leave your Credit Card with someone behind the Bar before you could get served? That’s too risky for me taking my card out of sight to be cloned or misused I would have cancelled that card immediately I have been ask in Pubs and Restaurants to do this but always refuse even on my Business Accounts cards when with colleagues these days. You should know that no one should take your credit card out of your sight for security reasons how do you know that it was not cloned or misused whilst you were absent. No respectable Place would ask you for your card until presented with the Final bill then you pay at the till or by remote device. Please check your next statements carefully and if any transactions look suspicious report it immediately to the appropriate authorities. Have you never heard of Identity fraud? These People have now had the time to take or copy you Name bank card details account number & even the security number on the back of card. If you complained at the time and left your address they will have that as well?
I think both you and wimc should both write to the owners of this Pub and make an official complaint because if both these statements are true it seems extremely serious and not something that should be discussed here.
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I liked this Pub, especially for food and its handy to pop into on the way home from work.
This weekend we took my partners parents and had a couple of drinks and some food - lovely. Then it all went horribly wrong, when I went to pay I knew something was afoot when I was asked to pick my credit card from a book containing all cards of customers that had set up a tab!
My bill was around half what I expected it to be so I did the honourable thing and said so, big mistake. I spent the next 15 minutes being humiliated at the very busy bar. My “complaint” was viewed with deep suspicion; I was passed to very grumpy, rude busy women who prepared four drinks orders for others while I was left standing at the bar. She spoke to the staff about me as if I was not there, “did you serve her, what did she have etc”.
My mother in law is disabled and a wheelchair user, we had carefully selected the table beside the disabled toilets, I asked four times for this key but by now I had been deemed the “trouble maker” and all my requests were ignored. Not even the sight of her hobbling at crawl speed to the main toilets with a stick prompted any action.
I am a forgiving sort but this is unacceptable, when someone is telling you have not charged them for everything they had and that they would like to pay £55 not £31 you should have the common decency to treat them with grateful Thanks.
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Made my first visit recently and seems to have had a gastro refit; think it was previously more of a Mr Q's type of place.
Decent enough.
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just gets better & better...
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I would think this would be highly Illegal If you’re saying the woman’s toilet has a monitor that shows whats going on in the gents then some men would deliberately wave it around for all to see? As soon as it was Know I think someone pulling your chain.
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Went there for the first time last night and found it to be an extremely nice pub with excellent service, and good food to boot.
Shockingly they have CCTV in their restrooms. The fact that there is CCTV without any kind of warning or indication is not the scariest part, but the way they use it is. In the men's room is a hidden camera inside the roof, seemingly right next to the light. The image from this is being displayed on a screen in the ladies room. The reason for this setup would not be disclosed - only the fact that the police OK'ed it(I didn't ask if they did - it was used as a means to avoid the question).
To me it looks quite voyeuristic, and I wonder if there are other hidden cameras in more, um, questionable parts of the WC, and maybe in the ladies' too? Surely this is not common practice in restrooms?
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Not a very inspiring beer range when I visited. That said, the pint of Bombardier was better than I expected. I actually like to go to the bar to get drinks. The waitresses seemed to think that was odd. As for the future plans, a 300 seater heated beer garden is not exactly good news for the environment!
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First went to this pub in 1980, same name, nearly the same configuration. College buddies drinking Guinness after Guinness. At the time it was a hangout for the local Kiwi community, of whom there were lots.
Just went again; appears to be a pleasant place, making an effort to upgrade beer selection and food service.
uskev - 19 Oct 2007 21:25 |
visited yesterday and had a beautiful roast. smiling, attentive staff which creates the perfect atmosphere.
highly recommend. new management has certainly made this a lovely pub.
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I have just bought the pub (25th June).
In January 2008 it will be completely refurbished, which will include a 300 seated and heated beer garden.
Until then, what you will find is :- friendly table service - so you don't have to go to the bar; quality home cooked food with a daily changing menu; an extensive wine list; 3 quality real ales (will be 5 later) and a beer garden that currently sits 140+
Over the previous 6 months I ran the pub on a mangement contract where we have been focusing on good service and managing out the less desirables. If you haven't been for a while I think the pub is worth a 2nd Look.
Many thanks for showing an interest
Best wishes
Tom
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Full of chavs and polish builders. Horrible beer garden. The only 'black swan' among the pubs in Highgate.
anonymous - 4 Jun 2007 23:34 |
The Woodman is a pretty relaxing over 21’s pub with a couple of pool tables.
The barman was very friendly, although one of the barmaid’s friends needs to learn some manners. Lots of paintings of half naked women for sale on the walls (the paintings, not the women).
I didn’t think the beer garden was that bad, even if it is right next to a busy road.
The other half said this wasn’t one of her favourite pubs, but she would like it in there now, so it must have changed quite a bit in the last few years.
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Found a winner here. Cozy atmosphere, friendly international staff, good value, great fun. Great to have such an un-pretentious, relaxed place to hang out in Highgate. Bar staff are super helpful and bring your drinks to your table! Warm vibe, candles on tables. Comfortable sofas and small intimate corners. Good for watching football matches or chilling out in the garden. And I hear they are even going to make it better by doing the place up a bit. Has changed very much recently as before I found it to be nothing special and didn't think I would come back. Recommended. I also managed to reserve tables for a mate's 30th this weekend without any hassle.
anonymous - 8 May 2007 23:48 |
Owner and barstaff are nice and friendly. However, the beer garden is still a tip and the place attracts savages. Went there last week, the beer garden was full of underage "highgate" kids who couldn't be arsed to walk to the toilets (who can blame them, have you seen the state of the blokes toilets?), so they proceeded to piss in the bushes of the beer garden. How delightful. Pub has great potential and makes a change from the usual up-their-own-arse highgate establishments. Could easily be a really great place to drink in, but needs a bit of tidying up.
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Yeah have to agree the Saturday nights are absolutely rocking! I have been on other days as well. It seems Archway is looking up! Its such a good venue to go with a large group of mates - there are diffrent drinking areas + pool tables. Excellent for birthdays and work do's and also for reunions etc! This pub is starting to show its potential! Also the people were nice and the owner is such a nice bloke and gives the place a decent feel and secure environment to have a drink and a laugh.
anonymous - 23 Sep 2005 17:02 |
Yeah i agree this place is brill, went there on Saturday night for their regular indie rockin dj bash. Quality place and quality music. The beer was ok and the staff were brilliant. This is a great boozer, just how we like it. Places to sit and completely unpretentious...Keep it up!
anonymous - 11 Sep 2005 21:41 |
Ho ho ho - isnt competition a lovely thing! Why are we so cynical of this board? The comp must be worried that this pub is starting to reach its potential!
Ok here is the truthful review of The Woodman. It has new management as from around Mid 2005. Slowly but surely all decent locals are realising and respecting that this pub has CHANGED! Its run nicely and it is a place where you can feel safe and relaxed while having a drink and a chat. I started to use it as a drop in after work, but have since been to a couple of the nights they have put on. Indie Dj on Sat nights is brilliant, we hear one of the top indie dj's in London. Also saw some live music that was also good + its also good for the sport and has a couple of decent pool tables and of course an excellent beer garden. I suggest you check it out - its an old unpretentious london boozer that is friendly and unpretentious...
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Have visited the place a few times and it's not one that I'd consider recommending, to be honest. As Hugh said, the toilets are pretty grim. I also found myself being attacked by flying insects in the beer garden which is right on Archway Road. Inside is OK and it does have big screens for the football but there have been some rough old customers in there the few times I've visited which, to be honest, were only because I was gagging for a beer after getting off the tube at Highgate ! Shame - it has so much potential.
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There is new management and slowly but surely a decent clientele are coming through the door. went and sat in the beer garden last week and just had a nice chilled out time. The new guvnor is a lovely bloke, always willing for a chat in a good old fashioned period boozer. Must say that the outside was a bit shabby, shame because the inside is lovely!
anonymous - 15 Jul 2005 14:06 |
Although open plan, this pub manages to maintain the old class divisions of the saloon and the lounge. On the left of the bar you have the saloon with the big screen telly and snooker, catering for the Burberry Brigade. On the right you have a nice lounge area with a fireplace, leather armchairs etc, so all tastes are catered for.
Nice arts and crafts building. Two or three real ale pumps but usually just Bombadier etc. Occasionally has live jazz. Good sized beer garden but a bit close to the traffic on Archway Road. I've never had any problems with service, but the gents' toilets pretty vile.
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Went in for one drink on a Saturday afternoon. Friendly barman, outside seating, reasonable price. Did the job for a quick thirst stop.
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Bad, bad service. The building's ok, as is the beer, but the staff are simply terrible. Just how hard is serving drinks? Very hard, if you were to ask the staff in this place.
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This place could be good - but it's not.
It has just about the worst level of service I have ever seen in any pub.
Loads of staff doing nothing and a 15 minute wait for a pint doesn't cut it.
Peter - 30 Oct 2004 14:56 |
What have they done to this place? It was great before it was tarted up.
Bring back the old men, and the Jukebox. this is not what apub should be.
Dan - 27 Jun 2004 20:28 |
superb authentic thai food is now available
fiona - 4 Jun 2004 20:10 |
great pub great atmosphere and a great pint of guiness
paul - 4 Jun 2004 20:08 |
Barmaid couldn't pour a pint of Guinness if her life depended on it, but OK in an average sort of way.
Steve Burnham - 18 May 2004 17:34 |
Distinctly average pub, with a rather sparse and uncomfortable interior.
grecian - 16 Mar 2004 17:16 |
lovely pub, lovely scenery, brilliant atmosphere both day and night
Amy - 22 Jan 2004 14:36 |
Friendly bar staff, and a generally relaxed atmosphere. there are pool tables, and the football is usually on in the background. can get quite busy around the screen on a sunday afternoon. since the demise of the Shepherds pub (now Boogaloo), the Woodman has become my favorite alternative for a pint on the way home from work.
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Good meeting point as close to tube and recently refurbished. The Sunday Lunch looks good value though I have not tried it myself.
David - 28 Dec 2003 18:24 |
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