BITE user comments - Saintjohnny
Comments by Saintjohnny
They must have had their reasons for turning this place into a gastropub - because we so desperately need another one in North London, son't we? This move has stripped the Queens of any remaining fun or enjoyment it might once have had. Sure, it's a lovely building and interior, and sure, the staff are friendly and competent, but would you move a council estate into the Louvre Aert Gallery? because that's what The Queens has done. A bloody shame.
16 Jul 2006 17:29
The choice of the locals - no frills, no extras but a decent pint and a comfortable seat are yours. A bit shabby, but that might be part of the charm. Will probably visit again if passing through.
14 Jul 2006 04:00
Alas, another modern, forward thinking, enthusiastically run bar in completely the wrong location. Nobody knows why O's is so attractive to the local chav population, but they swarm here at weekends, and generally piss everybody else off. There remains a problem with violent behaviour and it is true that when not full, the bar can be cold and uninviting. A great shame really, because if this was a little further up the road, it would probably be great. At present it's Ok for a drink on the way to somewhere else, and no more than that.
11 Jul 2006 18:39
Tries hard to offer an alternative to the old men's pubs and chav haunts that abound locally, but it has opted for a bland "American" theme and the DJ's are just plain annoying. This place might have worked if it wasn't in Finsbury park, but there you are. A shame, because there is potential here, especially for younger punters.
11 Jul 2006 18:34
Potentially this is a good pub. It's spacious, handily located and does a very good selection of drinks. Problem is, it is frequented by Arsenal supporters and chavs, which does somewhat lower its standards. Avoid, as there are several better pubs nearby such as The Faltering Fullback, Chapter One and The Old Dairy.
11 Jul 2006 18:32
White Lion Of Mortimer, Finsbury Park
Only go to this pub if you are
a) A chav
b) Wish to buy or sell knocked off electrical equipment
c) Enjoy people staring at you and then starting a fight
d) Have no class, discernment or sense of style
e) All of the above.
The White Lion is a monstrosity, and to be avoided at all costs.
11 Jul 2006 18:27
This place really tries hard, and credit should be given for that. The problem is that the clientele are typical Crouch End media / minor celebrity types who don't really understand what a pub or a bar actually is, and so the Kings Head is dragged down to a blander level than it deserves. Staff are good, drinks selection is fine, there are enough little nooks and corners to keep it interesting, but overall, what could have been a jewel of a pub is ultimately let down by its customers and location.
11 Jul 2006 12:52
The Stapleton Tavern, Finsbury Park
In absolute fairness to the Larrik, it does indeed serve beer, and so does deserve to be classified as a pub. That, however, is where the similarity ends. Someone once compared it to a "Pine showroom" and that is not far off the mark. It is quite simply a pub for people with no imagination, and no style. Spend more than 30 minutes in this place, and you'll feel your life force ebbing away. In all honesty, it lets the area down.
11 Jul 2006 12:47
The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
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.
11 Jul 2006 12:42
I've noticed improvements here recently, although the comments about the staff are well founded. Anyone can have a bad day, but the barmaids at the Dairy have become almost local celebrities for their sullen and irritable demeanour. That, however, is only one criticism of a pub that is generally going in the right direction. Good selection of beers, a mouthwatering food menu, the quiz night and the big screens do make watching the football an enjoyable experience. There is a chav element creeping back in, but as long as the management keep an eye on it, it should be OK.
11 Jul 2006 12:14
This is one of the most Jekyll and Hyde pubs you will ever visit. Go one time, and you will be greeted by warm and chatty bar staff, sit down in the old front bar and enjoy a leisurely pint in a quaint and characterful little pub. Go another time, and you'll be greeted by sullen staff, a crazy seating plan and bad beer. There is a touch of arrogance about the Pineapple - it is (fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view) starting to attract actors / comedians etc, and the ethos of the place is somewhat "in your face" but it is redeemed by bbeing such an unusual and generally well kept pub in an interesting little corner of London.
11 Jul 2006 12:09
After a period of uncertainty, this welcoming bar on Stroud Green Road is rapidly getting good again. The late licence is back, the bar staff are more professional, and the regulars are genuinely nice people. There has been a repaint and some changes to the decor, but it essentially retains its ambience, which was always its biggest advantage over other bars. The range of drinks is good, although an extra choice of lager would be nice - currently the selection is dominated by those awful gaseous "cold" lagers which taste like windscreen washer fluid, and a few bitters wouldn't go amiss either. The "World Tapas" menu is tasty and imaginative, but this does come at the expense of bar snacks. That said, ask nicely, and the bar staff will probably do you a bowl of olives or pistachios. Weekends can be heaving, even though the DJ's hired to play here are quite often embarrassingly bad. A good natured, pleasant bar in an increasingly vibrant area.
11 Jul 2006 12:04
The Wishing Well, Crouch End
No nonsense, no frills pub where you get what you pay for. Can't say fairer than that.
18 Jul 2006 01:50