BITE user comments - junction25
Comments by junction25
This is by far the best pub in Enfield. Finding a replacement for the sadly missed Enfield Arms is incredibly difficult. The only other alternative is the Beef & Barrel but The Taps has got that little bit extra. From the outside it looks like a quaint Irish pub but looks can be deceiving. Open the big front door and you're greeted with one of the nicest looking bars.........ever. Clean, sparkly, plenty of choice, and the bar staff look pretty good too! Service is excellent, they have to be as this pub gets packed. Reasonable sized seating area at the back is always kept clean and staff are always on hand to take away your empties. Wooden (unpadded) chairs are surprisingly comfortable. Small flat screen TV's hang from the wall, much better than one huge widescreen TV which would be more at home at the local Cineworld. Varied background music is piped throughout the pub at a reasonable volume enabling punters to have a decent conversation without busting vital vocal chords.
The only thing that lets it down from getting maximum marks is that the toilets are downstairs. Which can be a bit tricky after a few beers and someone is coming down as you're trying to get up! The area around the bar can get crowded as it is quite narrow, but this just shows how popular this place is! I'm sure that if the owners bought the shops either side and made this pub bigger it will still be just as packed!
I've always had a good night in here and I would advise that you find plenty of time to check out this pub, you won't be disappointed. Go in and you will be pleasantly surprised.
20 Oct 2005 16:21
Overpriced, poncey, lifeless, bad service, crap jukebox, don't need to say any more except it's shit. Toilets are nice though.
18 Oct 2005 14:15
This pub can be best described as..........odd. It feels more like two pubs in one. Actually, it is two pubs in one. The smaller section of the pub is typical of a traditional North London boozer. Here you can sit comfortabley and chat with your pals whilst watching the sport on the big screen. Bar is stuck in the middle of the pub which looks a tad strange but works as there's always plenty of room to get to and from the bar without having to force you way through. Walk through into the 'other' pub, passing the food serving area on your way (where do you sit and eat?!), and it changes completely. Opens out into a huge open area with a complete change of character to the smaller section of the pub. Here it is busier, lots of people standing because there are very few chairs. Go downstairs and you can find a small seating area, aahhh I think this is where people tend to eat! There's also an upstairs gallery which I can imagine is quite good if you like to look down on people. Trouble is I've never found out how to get up there and it's always rammed! Obviously this is the place to be because there's.........wait for it................seats! I don't understand the fake shop fronts though. It is however a nice touch and something you don't see every day.............shop fronts in a pub that is! Ooooo there are some tall chairs for you to sit at outside the shop fronts but get there early if you want to sit down!
Personally I really like this pub, I could be biased as I'm into alternative/rock music etc so tend to blend in quite well. Not spent all night in here yet, usually it's just to pop in for a quick couple of jars before going to the Underworld. Good for a meeting place before a night out and good for a late night drink. The bar staff aren't thick! They just change more times than the cast of Eastenders. If you like loud music and alternative lifestyles and fancy the chances of meeting members of the band who are playing in the Underworld then this pub is for you! Yeah, toilets are extremely bad and why have they got sinks from McDonalds which never work?!
18 Oct 2005 13:28
You know those typical Wetherspoons pubs which have no atmosphere and are full of pre-18 year olds drinking alcopops/Stella and getting arsey when asked to leave as they haven't got id? Well this isn't one of them. For a Wetherspoons this isn't bad. I'll admit that there isn't a great selection of beers but do you really care if they haven't got your favourite brew? Everyone's got a backup beer so stop using the "not a good selection" excuse! (Think I just contradicted myself there!)
I'm not a huge fan of Wetherspoon pubs and this one isn't all that but it's better than most. Nicely laid out with a good upstairs seating area for those of you who like to people watch. Clambering up the stairs can be a bit tricky if getting a large round so make sure you have a mate to help to reduce any risk of spillage. Non smoking area is plain and boring as this is where the eating area is. The main area at the front is spacious with a varied selection of chairs (high, low and arm chairs), something which alot of Wetherspoons are lacking. There is even a small outside seating area at the front which is nice during the summer and warmer periods.
I wouldn't recommend spending all night in here as I can imagine it getting quite boring. If you plan to stay out all night in Highbury/Islington then I would advise starting off in here and moving on elsewhere as it's a good place to meet and start off. I tend to use this pub whenever I'm going to the Garage as other pubs in the area can be too crowded or overpriced.
18 Oct 2005 12:31
I don't know what it is about this bar but I really like it. It may have something to do with the fact that I work just up the road and am in there nearly every Friday and that I�m normally several sheets to the wind most of the time. The atmosphere is very good, possibly because I'm usually with a big crowd from work. DJ Scooby leaves much to be desired as the selection of music isn't much cop, still ear plugs are surprisingly cheap these days don�t you think? Bar staff are very good at what they do and are always friendly and polite, even if they speak very quietly, must remember to take the ear plugs out! Drinks are slightly overpriced in the way that Craig David is slightly annoying and it took a bit of getting used to when they got rid of the 2 for 1 offer. Decor is typical of a chain restaurant/bar in the mock American stylee and is always kept tidy. Have not yet eaten in here as there are cheaper eateries around the area. The restaurant is seperate to the bar which is good for those who just want to go for a meal. To be honest I have never had a bad night in here and never seen any trouble. Clientele tends to be people aged between 18-25, some have wandered down the dark alley marked �Chav� but aren�t from the same tribe as those really annoying little gits in the local pubs. This bar is great if you're in a big crowd celebrating a leaving do or birthday. I highly recommend this particular branch of Old Orleans, it's bigger than the others, and better. Been to the one in Guildford and that's rubbish!
22 Sep 2005 16:49
I agree totally with that last comment. This pub is pants. I was with Mr Monkfish at the time and the barman was very rude to both of us on 2 seperate incidents. Could it be because we're from London? Doubt it! Avoid this pub, it's crap. Lloyds No 1 my arse, this wouldn't even make it in the Lloyds Top 100. Food was ok but had to change the order because they had run out of most items on the menu by 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. Thought these sort of pubs now had tv's and played music?! I could only see one tv and that was at the other end of the pub, music was barely audible. There were also a number of inconciderate smokers who moved the no smoking signs in order to get a seat. Perhaps it may have been the area it was in but I would never go back there again. Got a friendlier service at The Nelson!
25 Jan 2005 13:49
The Enfield Arms, Enfield Town
I agree with Sid and Scotty. This is by far the best pub in Enfield. Certainly not one for the faint hearted! This pub generally caters for the alternative scene, where rockers, skaters, goths and punks used to take up the majority of the pub. As times have changed over the years a different mixes of people have arrived and some of the old crowd have moved on. The jukebox is great, although it hasn't been updated as regularly as it used to be, you can still find a good selection to cater for everyones musical differences. The bar staff are always friendly and welcoming and the service is generally very good.
The whole look of the building is lovely, very distinctive with plenty of room inside although it does sometimes seem a bit dark. All the drinkers are friendly and I have never known there to be any trouble in the years I have been drinking there. As said in previous comments the only real thing that lets this pub down is the toilets, the gents are always flooded and I've not yet experienced the ladies! If you're into piercings (like myself!) this pub is a must if you're looking for new ideas, just take a look at me for inspiration!
I can't believe this pub is being knocked down on the 10th Jan, the rumours have been going round for ages and now the time has finally come. I've met some great people over the years of drinking here and I hope that everyone can find an alternative venue. I have had good times and bad times in here with memories that will stay with me forever. The only place in Enfield where you can get a decent Snakebite and black is finally coming to an end.
RIP The Arms, you will be missed
7 Jan 2005 13:41
The Kings Head, Enfield
Forgot to mention that the DJ is only there on Friday nights, not that that makes a difference!
31 Aug 2006 14:17