Ye Olde Cherry Tree, Southgate

Soul-destroying in every way. Lacklustre and inept staff, uninspiring beer selection (the only ale on was Greene King IPA), bland hotel d�cor, uncomfortable furniture, glaring lights and a self-important, small-minded 'X-factor' client�le.

Bizarrely, three quarters of this sizeable pub was reserved for diners, of which there were exactly two, leaving everyone else crammed into a small, overcrowded area at the back.

You know times are bad when you find yourself decamping to Caf� Rouge next door for some relief.

4 Aug 2011 00:28

The Old White Lion, East Finchley

As other reviewers have noted it can take some time to be served at a not particularly busy bar here, but at least the rude staff seem to have been replaced.

Aside from slow service, it seems to my eye that they offer a somewhat better than average selection of ales and lagers, the food is good and the atmosphere convivial. Nice to see Brooklyn lager and Meantime pale ale, a shame they've got rid of the Kriek though.

31 Jul 2011 19:41

The Pineapple, Kentish Town

Classic back street pub, received a friendly welcome on entry. Decent beer (4 reasonably well kept real ales), decent prices, lovely decor and patio at the back. The Thai food looked pretty good but "pub does Thai" seems a bit pass� these days and in this kind of environment I really hanker for some traditional solid pub fare.

31 Jul 2011 19:31