Just when I thought I had a rudimentary knowledge of London neighborhoods, you introduce me to Crouch End. I can’t thank you enough for braving the elements to share these wonderful pubs which are now on my list of “future adventures.” Truly appreciate your time and efforts…CHEERS!!! 🍻
Thanks Ed! Yes it's a bit off the beaten track in terms of pubs but I thought there were a few gems here, and most of these were new to me, so I'm guessing they'll be new to many people watching as well.
Another great sampling of pubs. Crouch End is, as others have stated below, something new to me. I did buy an old cottage from a lady in Higher Bebington, Wirral whose forwarding address was Crouch End. First time that I had heard of it. Brunning and Price have revived some lovely old pubs. One The Dinorben Arms in Bodfari, near Denbigh, Wales, was my mother's favourite for a family meal. Sat next to an ancient church and with a well exposed inside the bar, it was extremely popular. Sadly the business went down and fifteen years or so ago it was empty and falling to bits. They saved it. The Grange country club, a former mansion in Thornton Hough, Wirral had degenerated into a low class late night knocking shop and was looking to follow many similar former glory 1930s 'country clubs' by being demolished. Brunning and Price reinvented it as The Red Fox, a very popular pub now. Well worth Googling some of the pubs that they own. I do think that you would particularly like The Dinorben Arms. Thanks again for your videos which are the highlight of many a person's day!
Thank you! RUclips is a very mixed bag isn't it? Sometimes I am delighted, sometimes I am very disappointed. I suppose one man's rubbish is another man's treasure though!
Good to see my recommendation on screen. I was at home nearby staying out of the rain. I generally drink at the pub in Crouch End that’s a former shop, Small Beer. It’s serves THE best quality ales. But I frequently make the trip over the hill to The Robin. Knowing that they always have a stout/porter and a mild on cask is a draw for me.
Ah yes, thank you, I think an earlier comment from you did give me a nudge to come to Crouch End. Would it be reasonable to call Small Beer a micropub? I had thought about doing a video on micropubs at some point, so perhaps that could be a good excuse to return.
Fascinating stuff. I went to school in Hornsey and worked at the library briefly. Even now, I love hanging out in Crouch End -- it has a proper fishmonger, butcher and greengrocers and the pubs are an integral part of that. The Railway was my pub of choice as a teenager, but I recently tried the King's Head, which was nice but a tad soulless. My only time in the Queen's was as a sixth former and it did not end well as, not surprisingly, I could not take my drink as well back then, particularly when others were buying!
Hi John, some wonderful pubs there, they all looked great, my favourite was the Queen's without doubt. But all the others had some lovely details especially the wrought iron over doors. I think the man in the Shaftesbury was Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy, not that I've met him, but the Hop back brewery have a carved cornerstone over their brewery in Salisbury, pretty sure he's on their beer bottle labels (I have a Summer Lightning bottle somewhere, I'll check!!). I could see your brolly hanging off the bar at the start and thought you'd left it behind again but it miraculously reappeared later. Thanks for braving the rain for us and for including the old Crouch End railway station. Very enjoyable, well done. All the best!!
Thanks David! Dionysus would make more sense than the green man in the context of a pub. Unless of course the pub is called the Green Man, which this one isn't, and as far as I can tell never was.
Thanks Alistair! I don't seem to be much good at sticking to a regular schedule for publishing videos but hopefully it's a nice surprise when I do get my act together.
Very enjoyable, this one. I (kind of) remember a couple of those pubs quite well. I also remember (c1980s), apropos of nothing much, lending my CZ 125 motorbike to a friend, Jim, who was 6ft 4" tall and uninsured. He crashed it, drunk, right outside the police station not far from the clock tower.
Hi Tweedy. You certainly found some gems whilst experiencing such awful weather. Kudos to you. Such a wonderful collection with fabulous exteriors and interiors. Keep up the great work. 👏👏👍😀🍺
Don't know if you've done some of my favourites The Flask closer to Highgate, The Spaniards Inn, (would love to join if you go there) and visit the The Scarsdale Tavern near Holland Park in Kensington. Hidden little gem.
Tweedy, another excellent review with great attention to the history and architectural details of each pub. It must have taken some research and/or local knowledge to find these gems. The nearest I have go to Crouch End in recent time is Finsbury Park, but it has to be worth a detour to visit a couple of these.
Thanks Ken! I leant heavily on CAMRA's excellent Pub Heritage list for choosing the pubs for this video. I only live 2 or 3 miles from Crouch End but I hardly ever go there, largely because it's not on the tube/rail network. That's a bit silly really as it is quite well served by buses. I think one of those bus routes connects it to Finsbury Park, or you could take a leisurely stroll along the Parkland Walk!
I dont know that part of London at all so its always great to get some insights. A few great looking boozers up that way. Not sure i will get over that way but if i do, i will know where to stop for a pint or two. Always love the history as well. Thanks
I believe last year the Sunday Times declared Crouch End to be the best place to live in London! I did like some of these pubs, and it has some other nice shops and businesses but I think I'd probably go a bit mad without any tube/rail links!
@@TweedyPubs It uses to be cheaper to live there so attracted more artist and musician's making it trendy. Stock Newington was the same and speaking of it , that area has some interesting pubs , like the Coach and Horses, once owned by Charlie Kray.and was a very nice pub. Situated on the High Street ant the park end.. Always brightens my day to see you pop up on my screen. Cheers from Southen on Sea .
Averaging five pounds a pint? *Thud*. I do love pressed metal ceilings, something about them charms me. I enjoyed your pub travels vid Mr Tweedy, as ever, a joy.
Thanks Phil! I'd say the average price of a pint in central London is now somewhere around £6.50, but it does seem cheaper in less central areas, like here in Crouch End. £4.88 at the Robin (for something I actually enjoyed drinking) seemed like a bargain to me in 2024. That half at the Kings Head - £3.70 for something out of the keg taps - was a bit surprising. It's often the case that keg beers are actually more expensive than cask beers, which makes no sense whatsoever to me.
Another wonderful tour. I live vicariously through your videos. My wife and I are also vegetarian. I checked the menu for the Queens, and they have an appealing vegan burger. Maybe we'll get over to the UK from NYC to do an extended tour using your vids as a reference! Thanks, Tweedy.
Thank you! Very glad to hear the videos are providing travel inspiration. I think the vegan burger at the Queens is made by Moving Mountains - that might be a UK only brand, but it's fairly similar in style to Beyond Meat.
There are also quite a few good vegan/veg restaurants in Crouch End, so even if you choose to only drink at the Queens (it is lovely), you can find a meal here easily.
We are very fortunate in this area to have such great historic pubs as well as fabulous restaurants, bars and have more in Muswell Hill, Hornsey and Stroud Green/Finsbury Park, all around the corner. (another fabulous pub just on the edge of Crouch End/Hornsey is the Victoria Stakes, which is worth a visit).
Ah Amazing. Suggested our little corner of London a while ago and so so happy you came to show everyone around some of its pubs. Amazing video as always, and cant wait for the next.
Thanks Elvis! Notting Hill video currently uploading - I think another of the areas you suggested at some point. Should be going live within the next hour.
@@TweedyPubs ah mate awesome!! Yes I did but didn’t want to keep badgering you as I thought you would get around to it!! Ur a gent. Can’t wait to watch, I’m currently rewatching the Belgravia revisited pubs as back there next week so will be popping into the gems that are the grenadier, nags head and the star. Thanks again mate I genuinely look forward to your videos and get a lot of pleasure watching them and learning about the history behind them and appreciate all your research, filming and editing. 👍🍺😎
I have no idea whether you have ever tried your hand at brewing? I really think you should. Never mind ESB and IPA your first release has to be Tweedys QSB Quaffing Session Bitter. Love it, lovely video again.
I have tried a couple of times but I was put off by all the cleaning involved! My Dad is quite an accomplished brewer, although he focuses more on cider these days. I would love to see a "Tweedy's QSB" on the hand pumps though!
@@TweedyPubs Really nice that your Dad is a Cider man. My Father'-in-law is an organic farmer based in West Cork. He has produced an Oak barrel slow ferment (7 months) ABV 8% very balanced Cider for the last 40 odd years. He buys the seasoned barrels from Middleton the malt Whiskey distillery of Jameson which imparts really a second to none flavour. If you are ever in that part of the world let me hook you up.
Thanks so much for visiting Crouch End pubs!! My partner and I were there for a visit five months ago and went to the Railway Tavern almost - it was so nice to see it again, and the neighbourhood, of course. We also went to a few of the Maida Vale pubs Tweedy had covered and we loved it! Awesome channel!
Bit late to the party - tied up in the editing “studio” - I know you’ll be able to relate! Whilst I’m sure many will favour the Great Northern Railway Tavern and The Queens - and justifiably so - I did really like the Railway Tavern. These 1930s pubs just take me back to the world of The Famous Five. And apparently that’s something I like! The inclusion of a disused railway will be much appreciated by David B and how wonderful there are pubs named in connection to the railway, even though it’s gone. I use a pub up here run by that pub chain you mentioned. Very much a food pub, but it’s good and they always have proper bitter. As well as getting wistful about that Famous Five pub, I also mourned the passing of that ironworks company. We used to have so many companies like that - making things. But at least there’s still a London Brick company - I didn’t know that. I’m sure the rain was a pain, but I liked the shots with it slating down. What a misery I am. Excellent video. Thanks!
Thanks Mr WC21 - and yes I entirely understand how all-consuming it can be when you're in the midst of a big edit! I recall you are a fan of those inter-war pub interiors. Aside from the slightly questionable paint on some of the walls I did think the Railway was quite charming, and I particularly loved the fact they had table skittles. I was pleased with that "action shot" at 18:28 - I made a rare break with filming protocol and used the GoPro for that, which normally is reserved for exterior shots, as it tends to be unhappy with low/artificial light conditions. I actually think that looked a bit nicer than the phone footage in the end! I think the trick is with the GoPro that if the lighting is a bit dim it has to be absolutely static, or the footage ends up jerky and awful. I propped it up on its little tripod on the corner of the table which was at a perfect distance from the skittles to capture the action. Very satisfying! Yes I too liked the fact that a pub called the Railway has long outlived the actual railway. I suppose that's a testament to the fact that pubs just develop a life of their own. Reading some of the comments here it seems the Queens has been through some, um, "interesting" phases in its more recent history. I wonder what John Cathles Hill would have made of all of that. You know me, I love the rain! Although it did make me slightly regret that I had chosen to spend the afternoon doing a pub tour, rather than sitting under a tarp with a bottle of wine in the woods. Thanks as always for watching and your commentary - always a highlight for me!
I grew up in Crouch End, and my first pub was the King's Head more than 40 years ago. Drank regularly in most of these pubs. A trip down memory lane. Cheers!
How about a video of the once Irish pubs of Kilburn? There's some interesting contemporary history there, especially at Biddy's (Biddy Mulligan's). You were almost there when you went to Maida Vale, which is next on my watch list. Great video of Crouch End by the way.
Great selection of pubs, each one unique and beautiful in its own way! Perhaps it's a good thing that this area is out of the way for tourists - I for one haven't even heard of Crouch End. A couple of days ago, I read in the Guardian that each month of the first half of this year, 50 pubs closed down in England and Wales. The number is a bit lower than in the first half of 2023, but it is feared to go up next year because of inflation and higher taxes. So it's even more important to make people appreciate traditional pubs.
Thanks Kathi! Yes I really didn't get the sense any of the other customers in these pubs were tourists! I was definitely the only person being a nuisance and taking photos of everything! I completely agree that the rate of pub closures is a worrying trend. I suppose that is part of the motivation for this channel, to hopefully encourage people to appreciate and take advantage of what we still have, but also in a slightly more pessimistic way to document these pubs before they've gone. I think I've featured over 300 pubs on this channel since I started it just over a year ago, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of those pubs have actually closed for good.
Fun fact, Queens is featured in S2E02 of Slow Horses. Lamb goes to meet the Russian defector there. There's an exterior shot of him approaching with the clock tower in the background, then I believe they seat themselves tucked next to one of the panels.
Pros: Fascinating, heartwarming, illuminating, generous in tone, considered, humorous, loves his real ale and is a regular at The Southhampton Arms. Cons: I live in Saudi, so can't drink and he never wears a tie. Conclusion: Keep it up, do the pubs near Jermyn St. and go to Harvie and Hudson.
Thanks Alexander! I have done a video on St. James's pubs but alas I wasn't wearing a tie in that either! ruclips.net/video/twdwNO6oZrI/видео.html I may have explained before - it's not that I don't like the idea of ties, it's just unfortunately I have a disproportionately fat neck, and with a tie on I look as though I have a head directly connected to my shoulders, with nothing between. It also makes it harder to find shirts which fit properly, off the rail at least, given that they tend to work backwards from neck size. Even with the "extra slim fit" etc versions if I bought a shirt for which I could comfortably fasten the collar button, then it would be baggy to an unsightly degree around the chest. So I end up buying shirts for a slightly smaller size than my actual neck size, because the bulk of the shirt is a better fit, but I would struggle then to fasten the collar button. Back in the days when I actually had a proper job I did dabble in made to measure shirts from Harvie and Hudson, Turnbull and Asser and the like. Somehow I was still never really happy with the fit, and the overall quality in terms of durability etc really didn't seem notably superior to the significantly cheaper off-the-rail shirts I wold otherwise have bought. In the unlikely event this channel becomes wildly successful I might revisit the issue, perhaps even try fully bespoke shirts one day, but for now, I fear, you're all going to have to put up with my rather dishevelled appearance!
It was quite rough then, very studenty and 'countercultural' (Hornsey School of Art). Crouch End is now solidly gentrified, and the house prices are ridiculous.
Thank you! I'm not sure about Halloween, as I'm probably a bit out of touch with that side of pub culture these days... but I think there's a reasonable chance of a Christmas special. Last year I did a festive "pubs to escape Christmas shopping video" and a (very short lived, now unlisted) "Twelve Pubs of Christmas" video - all in song - which as you might imagine met with very mixed reactions.
Good afternoon 🍺having had no cause to visit Crouch End ?after seeing your video Tweedy I wish I had because it looks a great place on a wet afternoon ☔️👍😁well done thanks 👏👍😁
@@TweedyPubs yes 👍 I would never have Guessed Crouch End had such nice establishments but now I do thanks too your Glowing commentary and camera work 😁👍
Me too - porter is great - and often a life saver in the sort of pubs which have a heavy focus on "craft" beer, and therefore pretty much everything else is some kind of grapefruitey IPA.
Brilliant video as ever tweedy! Love this as they are all pubs I have never visited and never ventured up to Crouch End but they are on my list to visit now! Thanks again mate great video. 😎👍🍺
Thanks Elvis! Yes Crouch End is a bit out of the way, and despite only being 2 or 3 miles from my bit of London, I hardly ever venture there either. I do think it makes for an interesting pub tour though!
Aha! Brolly is back. Not so great news for you, though Tweedy. These videos are encouraging us to drag ourselves down to London to retrace some of your steps. I'm looking forward to maybe a Christmassy edition? Keep cheering us up in these dodgy times Tweedy.
Yes the brolly was very much required on this trip! Very glad to hear the videos are a source of encouragement to do some of your own pub exploration. You're the second person who has commented about a Christmas special! I had better start giving it some serious thought!
Another excellent video. Was going to add this area to my short list for our next london pub appreciation tour. Unfortunately it's a trek on public transport from Waterloo...
Thank you! Yes it isn't the easiest part of London to get to, but on the plus side you won't be competing with tourists to find a table at any of these pubs!
Thank you! I was looking forward to getting to 10,000 subscribers because I remember hearing in the past that gave you access to the "RUclips Creator Lounge" in London, and I was looking forward to doing a pub review of it and complaining about the decor and the lack of real ale. Unfortunately when I checked again recently it seems that no longer exists!
The entire district used to be called Hornsey. The old Hornsey Town Hall was in the centre of modern day Crouch End and has since been turned into apartments.
Thanks L&J! To be honest I quite like this kind of weather, and as I mentioned in the video it really made me appreciate the stained glass in the first two pubs.
Thanks - I'm quite surprised that I want to go to Crouch End now ! . looks like an interesting cluster of pubs, Thanks for casting some light on an area of London unkown (and to be honest, unconsidered) by me.
I had heard of Crouch End, but had no idea where it was. I grew up in the Old Kent Road, and I realize now, after post video research, it is a long way away; but what a discovery! Some beautiful pubs.
You're not alone! I live in North London now, but a decade ago I used to live in Pimlico, and back then I probably wouldn't have been able to point to Crouch End on a map.
I used to live in Muswell Hill (up the road from Crouch End) and date a girl who lived off Old Kent Rd in the Aylesbury estate. It quite far, maybe too far for a pint, but not for love.
I lived and worked in the Railway Tavern in i think 2001. My best friends mum was the land lady and i worked there before going to University. Minty from EastEnders was a regular! I think it was a Mitchell and Butler back then, could be wrong though.
I lived there in the 90's and went to these pubs. It's interesting to see a comparison of the pubs now and when they first existed while knowing that as little as a couple of decades ago they had a different feel from either. They look the same in terms of everything specified but the interior of the Queen's for example had a much rougher vibe.. not rough, rougher.. it wasn't a plush place at all, it looked stunning but not tarted up and a slightly edgy vibe. It also had a pool table. I'm just about to look up the robin because it's quite near where I lived and I don't remember it, even with a previous name but as it is now I definitely would have gone often.
Very interesting to hear that - others have also commented that the Queens recent history was quite different from how it presents itself today. I actually visited a week ago, before I did the filming for this video and it all seemed very civilised and relatively up-market. Apart, that is, from my former colleague who I met there for lunch, who, bless her, after half a pint starts swearing like a sailor.
Cheers - used to live opposite the Old Dairy and the Stapleton Tavern in Finsbury Park so know this area well and spent many a happy hour in all of these pubs other than the Robin (which was the Tap I think when I lived there - or possibly the Greyhound??) Anyway, the second photo of the Kings Head is likely early 1900s as the sign on the shop on the left refers 'HM the King'. You did go an odd route too - over Crouch Hill and then back to the Railway then back up and over to the Shaftsbury (which is definitely in the less celebrated part of London!).
Well spotted there that the route didn't make sense! The reason is the opening times of these pubs, and the fact I always want to get to the pubs during daylight hours so I can get clearer exterior shots - not that conditions for those were particularly good on this occasion! It was a Tuesday and the Railway didn't open until 4, then the Shafestbury didn't open until 5.
The Arthurian themed mural was well done. Some inspiration from Maxfield Parrish's "Old King Cole" mural at the legendary St. Regis Hotel Bar in New York City perhaps? Merlin looks hilarious. Queen Guinenivere and Sir Lancelot, with their initial medallions, look like ballers and Sir Galahad with the head of a foe.
Thanks RRD, I'm really glad to hear you liked the mural too. I wasn't aware of Maxfield Parrish's work but yes I can see the similarities! Nick the landlord says he spends lots of time looking at the mural when the pub is quiet and is constantly finding new details in it.
Marcel Duchamp stayed at the Queens pub. When i go to the mens urinals i allways think 'R Mutt'. also Laurel and Hardy who were performing at the hippodrome opera house, now a fitness business. I live in crouch end.
Beautiful pubs. Even better for not being packed full of tourists. Just the kind of quiet pubs I like to sit in and complete a crossword with a pint of bitter.
The first pub is neo Jacobean because of the Dutch style shape of the gable, queens pub is not Jacobean because it’s gable is a different shape, I’d just call it Edwardian although I’m sure someone with more knowledge can correct me. FASCINATING video love love LOVE the knowledge about where the iron railings were made etc - very special details like that make your videos absolutely superb as I have often wondered “where was that made?” And you answered 😂😂😂 thank you 🎉🎉🎉 bravo
Thanks Jack - that's a really useful nuance and I've learned something there! Superficially to me both gables looked similar because they're both crowned with a semi-circular pediment. However, the one at the second pub (the Queens) is mostly triangular - the sides of it are roughly straight lines. Whereas at the first pub (the Great Northern Railway Tavern) the sides of the gable are curved lines - so that makes it Dutch, right...?
The Sir Robin and the Shaftesbury are NOT in Crouch End. I'm surprised that you left out The Maynard Arms in Park Road, built in 1850. This is Crouch End's oldest extant pub building, and, again, has been through many iterations in our 33 years living here. Park Road was formerly called Maynard Street, which dates back to the medieval period.
A bit out of the way probably, but you missed a trick not going to the Salisbury on Green Lanes. Also nearby, The Famous Royal Oak in Muswell Hill is a gem.
Yes I did consider the Salisbury, and it would have been nice to include that in the same video as the Queens to compare, but it was just a bit too far out of the way and also made difficult by its opening hours in the week. Perhaps a future video!
Been drinking round Crouch End with my brother in my alcy incarnation, years ago. It's probably right up his street but not mine. It's not that I particularly take exception to poncey bistros - it's some of the poncey vendors who irk me. I do, however, commend the small, independent second hand vinyl record emporium which sported a sing-along LP by 'On the Buses' actor Reg Varney as its 'record of the week' in the window display. I distinctly recall the handwritten testimonial, "LET'S ROCK!" Unfortunately they were closed on the day we saw it. I'd rate Cheltenham or Peterborough better for poncey bistros. Although in Peterborough's case, I have to say it wouldn't be fair to attribute 'poncey.' Clean, welcoming, not extortionate and the local people are alright. Apart from the melee of shoppers, none of whom would give me the time of day to furnish my request for directions. Mind you, an Irish bloke approached me and tried to bum a cigarette, looked up at my face and immediately backed off, saying he'd got the wrong person. Maybe they're not accustomed to single-headed, two-eyed Earthlings in Peterborough shopping precinct. A young skinhead lad sorted me out, though, so - big up the Peterborough skins.
You can get 4 pints for about £5 in the supermarket so I tend to get tanked up at home and have a couple more at the pub after. That way the pub still gets some revenue and I don't go bankrupt
The cover photo of the Kinks Muswell Hillbillies album shows the band standing in a pub with drinks in hand. Do you know the name of the pub where the picture was taken? Could it have been the Queens?
You're surely an architect, right? If not then you're unusually knowledgeable about the subject. Something I'd find interesting in future videos is more discussion of good pub food, especially traditional food.
Thank you, but my interest in architecture is purely amateur! Although it does run in the family a bit - one of my uncles (now retired) was an architect who worked in conservation of historic buildings, another uncle more of an art historian but also very knowledgeable about architecture, and my Dad was very involved in the early days of CAMRA, which to me has always been as much about preserving pubs as it has been about real ale. I'm learning as I go with these videos and I find it fascinating. I'm actually a vegetarian believe it or not - I know it's a bit at odds with the tweed! So I probably wouldn't be a very good candidate for reviewing pub food. In London at least I would say the bulk of pub food isn't in a particularly great state. So many pubs are owned/ran by the big chains now, so it's often the same menus over and over again, and I get the sense a lot of the food on those menus is at least partly pre-prepared off site. Not many pubs in London seem to do a good job of walking the fine line between actually serving decent food cooked from scratch on the premises without just turning into a full blown gastropub (and therefore not really being a pub any more). Country pubs have always seemed to do a better job of that in my opinion.
@@dirtywaterpj_dj must be more than twenty minutes, it took me that long to get to the top of the hill! i used to pop over crouch hill to a pub that was near suicide bridge, i think it's shut down now.
Thanks - I probably should have mentioned in the video whereabouts Crouch End actually is! I can imagine even some people living in London aren't too sure...
I love old pubs. I am genuinely scared that’s we are going to lose them. The government is doing nothing to protect pubs and just forcing prices up to the point people can’t spend there.
i used to live in two different places off the broadway, felix avenue and weston park. when i lived there, the queens was a well known ira sympathisers pub and people would visit frequently shaking their tins and "asking" for money towards "the cause". everyone without fail had to put money in.
@@dirtywaterpj_dj That's more or less how I imagined Crouch End to be - for some reason I thought of it as a part of town filled with actors, writers and most of all comedians.
@@TweedyPubs no worries, i wouldn't expect you to know, only locals over a "certain age" would know this sort of thing. love your videos btw, i often use your videos in order to plan pub visits, so well done!
Excellent as always, just keep of the over hop beers just like you I don't like them, give me a traditional best bitter, unfortunately bitter seems to be out of fashion at the moment,my local pub is Sam Smith and I enjoy old brewery bitter on cask , but many drinkers are turning to keg or Lager, shepherds nyme have recently said it's cask beers are not selling
I agree, it does seem traditional bitters are in decline. It's encouraging to see that the sort of places which have more "trendy" modern beer lineups there's quite often something like a porter at least, and that can be a lifesaver in pubs where everything else on the hand pumps looks oppressively grapefruity.
I think this area is cheaper than typical for London, because it's a bit out of the centre. It seemed like the average was somewhere around £5.50 a pint here, but I think the average for central London is more like £6.50 these days.
Sorry to hear that Don! I have heard that from other people's RUclips channels - the notifications aren't always very reliable.I don't tend to use them much myself, I go to the RUclips home screen regularly anyway, and usually find new videos for channels I'm subscribed to show up there.
Agreed, I was stretching the definition a bit there - the Great Northern Railway Tavern is also Hornsey really. I did take a quick look at the Maynard Arms in the planning stages but on Google Maps it looked a bit too gastropubby for my tastes - pretty much all of the photos were of the food! Perhaps I got the wrong impression?
@@TweedyPubsHope you didn’t think I was being negative as your video was excellent and I look forward to looking at your other videos. I worked for Haringey council in the late 70’s and the Maynard was the pub everyone went to but it is totally different today
Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot. He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin. He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways, Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin! He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp, Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken, To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin! His head smashed in and his heart cut out And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged And his nostrils r_ped and his bottom burned off Brave Sir Robin ran away, Bravely ran away, away. When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled. Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about And gallantly, he chickened out. Bravely taking to his feet, He beat a very brave retreat, Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin. He is packing it in and packing it up And sneaking away and buggering up And chickening out and pissing off home, Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge.
Prior to Nick taking over it was called the Brave Sir Robin, and very much meant as a Monty Python reference. He wanted to keep the name as is, but apparently the previous owners said they "owned" the name and wanted some extra money to use it. As it happens one of the regulars is friends with Michael Palin, and pointed out that if anyone owned the rights to "Brave Sir Robin" as a name it would not be the former owners of the pub. Nick however is a nice bloke and didn't want to cause a fuss so just renamed it to the Robin.
It is a funny old business isn't it? All this effort put into creating these grand and imposing buildings with their intricate interiors which ultimately are just there for people to get drunk in!
*Rusty grinding noises as the cogs of my mind struggle to catch up* Oh, the big skylight in the backroom was for the billiards table. So much more attractive than an array of low hanging electric lamps, waiting to by struck by a drunken fool whom is somehow allowed to be using a cue. *Shuffles off, after never having done this*
I don't find the association between skylights and billiards entirely obvious either. Clearly like any cue sport being able to see what you're doing is quite important, and I suppose in the 1890s when most of these pubs were built they'd be relying on either natural light from the outside or gas lamps... Would the latter have been inadequate for billiards? Does that mean they only played in the daytime? I have an image from period dramas of the gentlemen in stately homes retiring to the billiards room after supper, presumably they must have somehow managed with artificial light...?
@@TweedyPubs Indeed, I also imagine billiards to have mostly been played in a cigar smoke filled room under hazy gaslight during the late evening (by well dressed gentlemen). I just found an excuse for a cheap gag. In reality, it was probably multi-functional, and often in a room used for daytime dining?...
@@AnyoneForToast They often seem to be converted into dining rooms today, so that would make sense. Perhaps while the billiards table was still in place it could be covered over to make a buffet counter or a gruel servery or whatever format made sense for Victorian era dining...?
@@TweedyPubs I think we have solved it. There was a correlation between the skylight and the billiards table. But the skylight was not "for" the billiards table... *Tweedy Sleuthing Available Online*
@@TweedyPubs I had to look up that word. I got the impression you lean left, no? so I wouldn't hold anything against you. Regardless, you're a cracking bloke.
@@fifteen8 I make a point of trying to not discuss politics on RUclips! Thanks for the kind words though! I'm just here talking about the stuff that interests me, if other people also find that interesting and don't find my presentation style objectionable that's great. I'm sure there are plenty of people who aren't interested in this subject, or they can't get on with the way I present it, or the way I look, or the sound of my voice... or whatever. That's fine too, there's plenty of other videos to watch on RUclips and I'm not forcing anyone to watch mine.
Just when I thought I had a rudimentary knowledge of London neighborhoods, you introduce me to Crouch End. I can’t thank you enough for braving the elements to share these wonderful pubs which are now on my list of “future adventures.” Truly appreciate your time and efforts…CHEERS!!! 🍻
@@eddavis1832 Near Archway. Easy if Highgate.
Thanks Ed! Yes it's a bit off the beaten track in terms of pubs but I thought there were a few gems here, and most of these were new to me, so I'm guessing they'll be new to many people watching as well.
@@eddavis1832 Near Archway, East of Highgate.
I’m feeling increasingly privileged to visit these hostilities via this channel as well as virtually drunk😂Chizz🍺🍻pal you’re my best mate ever etc
Another great sampling of pubs. Crouch End is, as others have stated below, something new to me. I did buy an old cottage from a lady in Higher Bebington, Wirral whose forwarding address was Crouch End. First time that I had heard of it. Brunning and Price have revived some lovely old pubs. One The Dinorben Arms in Bodfari, near Denbigh, Wales, was my mother's favourite for a family meal. Sat next to an ancient church and with a well exposed inside the bar, it was extremely popular. Sadly the business went down and fifteen years or so ago it was empty and falling to bits. They saved it. The Grange country club, a former mansion in Thornton Hough, Wirral had degenerated into a low class late night knocking shop and was looking to follow many similar former glory 1930s 'country clubs' by being demolished. Brunning and Price reinvented it as The Red Fox, a very popular pub now. Well worth Googling some of the pubs that they own. I do think that you would particularly like The Dinorben Arms. Thanks again for your videos which are the highlight of many a person's day!
Diamonds in the rough actually also apply to your videos, Sir !
Many thanks for that as ever excellent virtual pub crawl! Cheers!
Thank you! RUclips is a very mixed bag isn't it? Sometimes I am delighted, sometimes I am very disappointed. I suppose one man's rubbish is another man's treasure though!
Good to see my recommendation on screen. I was at home nearby staying out of the rain.
I generally drink at the pub in Crouch End that’s a former shop, Small Beer. It’s serves THE best quality ales. But I frequently make the trip over the hill to The Robin. Knowing that they always have a stout/porter and a mild on cask is a draw for me.
Ah yes, thank you, I think an earlier comment from you did give me a nudge to come to Crouch End.
Would it be reasonable to call Small Beer a micropub? I had thought about doing a video on micropubs at some point, so perhaps that could be a good excuse to return.
Fascinating stuff. I went to school in Hornsey and worked at the library briefly. Even now, I love hanging out in Crouch End -- it has a proper fishmonger, butcher and greengrocers and the pubs are an integral part of that. The Railway was my pub of choice as a teenager, but I recently tried the King's Head, which was nice but a tad soulless. My only time in the Queen's was as a sixth former and it did not end well as, not surprisingly, I could not take my drink as well back then, particularly when others were buying!
Thank you Tweedy 👌
I loved those pubs...and their histories 👍
Thanks Christine!
Some gorgeous pubs there, the stained glass in the Queens is stunning.
I quite agree Garry - in a way I appreciated it even more in this grim weather.
Hi John, some wonderful pubs there, they all looked great, my favourite was the Queen's without doubt. But all the others had some lovely details especially the wrought iron over doors.
I think the man in the Shaftesbury was Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy, not that I've met him, but the Hop back brewery have a carved cornerstone over their brewery in Salisbury, pretty sure he's on their beer bottle labels (I have a Summer Lightning bottle somewhere, I'll check!!).
I could see your brolly hanging off the bar at the start and thought you'd left it behind again but it miraculously reappeared later. Thanks for braving the rain for us and for including the old Crouch End railway station.
Very enjoyable, well done. All the best!!
Thanks David! Dionysus would make more sense than the green man in the context of a pub. Unless of course the pub is called the Green Man, which this one isn't, and as far as I can tell never was.
It's Tweedy Pub time again! Happy days!
Thanks Alistair! I don't seem to be much good at sticking to a regular schedule for publishing videos but hopefully it's a nice surprise when I do get my act together.
Very enjoyable, this one. I (kind of) remember a couple of those pubs quite well. I also remember (c1980s), apropos of nothing much, lending my CZ 125 motorbike to a friend, Jim, who was 6ft 4" tall and uninsured. He crashed it, drunk, right outside the police station not far from the clock tower.
Hi Tweedy. You certainly found some gems whilst experiencing such awful weather. Kudos to you. Such a wonderful collection with fabulous exteriors and interiors. Keep up the great work. 👏👏👍😀🍺
This is the kind of channel where the videos are great, but the comments are also worth looking at. You're building a community, M. Tweedy. 🙂
Thank you! Yes many years of collective pub (and other) knowledge represented in the comment section here!
learnt something new now from my local pubs! thank you
Glad to hear that! Apologies in advance if your very handsome local pubs get busier as a result of the video!
Don't know if you've done some of my favourites The Flask closer to Highgate, The Spaniards Inn, (would love to join if you go there) and visit the The Scarsdale Tavern near Holland Park in Kensington. Hidden little gem.
Tweedy, another excellent review with great attention to the history and architectural details of each pub. It must have taken some research and/or local knowledge to find these gems.
The nearest I have go to Crouch End in recent time is Finsbury Park, but it has to be worth a detour to visit a couple of these.
Thanks Ken! I leant heavily on CAMRA's excellent Pub Heritage list for choosing the pubs for this video. I only live 2 or 3 miles from Crouch End but I hardly ever go there, largely because it's not on the tube/rail network. That's a bit silly really as it is quite well served by buses. I think one of those bus routes connects it to Finsbury Park, or you could take a leisurely stroll along the Parkland Walk!
I dont know that part of London at all so its always great to get some insights. A few great looking boozers up that way. Not sure i will get over that way but if i do, i will know where to stop for a pint or two. Always love the history as well. Thanks
I can see why Crouch End is so popular with some of my friends.
Excellent review as always Mr Tweed. Thanks for braving the rain.
I believe last year the Sunday Times declared Crouch End to be the best place to live in London! I did like some of these pubs, and it has some other nice shops and businesses but I think I'd probably go a bit mad without any tube/rail links!
@@TweedyPubs It uses to be cheaper to live there so attracted more artist and musician's making it trendy. Stock Newington was the same and speaking of it , that area has some interesting pubs , like the Coach and Horses, once owned by Charlie Kray.and was a very nice pub. Situated on the High Street ant the park end.. Always brightens my day to see you pop up on my screen.
Cheers from Southen on Sea
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Averaging five pounds a pint? *Thud*. I do love pressed metal ceilings, something about them charms me. I enjoyed your pub travels vid Mr Tweedy, as ever, a joy.
Thanks Phil! I'd say the average price of a pint in central London is now somewhere around £6.50, but it does seem cheaper in less central areas, like here in Crouch End.
£4.88 at the Robin (for something I actually enjoyed drinking) seemed like a bargain to me in 2024. That half at the Kings Head - £3.70 for something out of the keg taps - was a bit surprising. It's often the case that keg beers are actually more expensive than cask beers, which makes no sense whatsoever to me.
Fascinating and entertaining, as always!
Another wonderful tour. I live vicariously through your videos. My wife and I are also vegetarian. I checked the menu for the Queens, and they have an appealing vegan burger. Maybe we'll get over to the UK from NYC to do an extended tour using your vids as a reference! Thanks, Tweedy.
Thank you! Very glad to hear the videos are providing travel inspiration. I think the vegan burger at the Queens is made by Moving Mountains - that might be a UK only brand, but it's fairly similar in style to Beyond Meat.
There are also quite a few good vegan/veg restaurants in Crouch End, so even if you choose to only drink at the Queens (it is lovely), you can find a meal here easily.
@@theukyankee Thanks for the info! ❤
Another fantastic video! Always look forward to them :)
'Came in at under £5' I love it 😂😂
We are very fortunate in this area to have such great historic pubs as well as fabulous restaurants, bars and have more in Muswell Hill, Hornsey and Stroud Green/Finsbury Park, all around the corner. (another fabulous pub just on the edge of Crouch End/Hornsey is the Victoria Stakes, which is worth a visit).
Ah Amazing. Suggested our little corner of London a while ago and so so happy you came to show everyone around some of its pubs. Amazing video as always, and cant wait for the next.
Thank you! I hope I did your home turf justice!
Just rewatched. Great little cluster of pubs. I like the look of the robin! 😎
Thanks Elvis! Notting Hill video currently uploading - I think another of the areas you suggested at some point. Should be going live within the next hour.
@@TweedyPubs ah mate awesome!! Yes I did but didn’t want to keep badgering you as I thought you would get around to it!! Ur a gent. Can’t wait to watch, I’m currently rewatching the Belgravia revisited pubs as back there next week so will be popping into the gems that are the grenadier, nags head and the star. Thanks again mate I genuinely look forward to your videos and get a lot of pleasure watching them and learning about the history behind them and appreciate all your research, filming and editing. 👍🍺😎
Some great looking pubs there!
Great video, it was great to meet you today in my pub in Talbot Court (The Ship) looking forward to seeing my pub in your next video
Nice to meet you yesterday and what a nice pub the Ship is! I'm uploading the video now, hopefully it'll be available within the next hour...
I have no idea whether you have ever tried your hand at brewing? I really think you should.
Never mind ESB and IPA your first release has to be Tweedys QSB Quaffing Session Bitter. Love it, lovely video again.
I have tried a couple of times but I was put off by all the cleaning involved! My Dad is quite an accomplished brewer, although he focuses more on cider these days. I would love to see a "Tweedy's QSB" on the hand pumps though!
@@TweedyPubs Really nice that your Dad is a Cider man. My Father'-in-law is an organic farmer based in West Cork. He has produced an Oak barrel slow ferment (7 months) ABV 8% very balanced Cider for the last 40 odd years.
He buys the seasoned barrels from Middleton the malt Whiskey distillery of Jameson which imparts really a second to none flavour. If you are ever in that part of the world let me hook you up.
Great stuff as usual 👍
Thanks so much for visiting Crouch End pubs!! My partner and I were there for a visit five months ago and went to the Railway Tavern almost - it was so nice to see it again, and the neighbourhood, of course. We also went to a few of the Maida Vale pubs Tweedy had covered and we loved it! Awesome channel!
Bit late to the party - tied up in the editing “studio” - I know you’ll be able to relate!
Whilst I’m sure many will favour the Great Northern Railway Tavern and The Queens - and justifiably so - I did really like the Railway Tavern. These 1930s pubs just take me back to the world of The Famous Five. And apparently that’s something I like!
The inclusion of a disused railway will be much appreciated by David B and how wonderful there are pubs named in connection to the railway, even though it’s gone.
I use a pub up here run by that pub chain you mentioned. Very much a food pub, but it’s good and they always have proper bitter.
As well as getting wistful about that Famous Five pub, I also mourned the passing of that ironworks company. We used to have so many companies like that - making things. But at least there’s still a London Brick company - I didn’t know that.
I’m sure the rain was a pain, but I liked the shots with it slating down. What a misery I am.
Excellent video. Thanks!
Thanks Mr WC21 - and yes I entirely understand how all-consuming it can be when you're in the midst of a big edit!
I recall you are a fan of those inter-war pub interiors. Aside from the slightly questionable paint on some of the walls I did think the Railway was quite charming, and I particularly loved the fact they had table skittles. I was pleased with that "action shot" at 18:28 - I made a rare break with filming protocol and used the GoPro for that, which normally is reserved for exterior shots, as it tends to be unhappy with low/artificial light conditions. I actually think that looked a bit nicer than the phone footage in the end! I think the trick is with the GoPro that if the lighting is a bit dim it has to be absolutely static, or the footage ends up jerky and awful. I propped it up on its little tripod on the corner of the table which was at a perfect distance from the skittles to capture the action. Very satisfying!
Yes I too liked the fact that a pub called the Railway has long outlived the actual railway. I suppose that's a testament to the fact that pubs just develop a life of their own. Reading some of the comments here it seems the Queens has been through some, um, "interesting" phases in its more recent history. I wonder what John Cathles Hill would have made of all of that.
You know me, I love the rain! Although it did make me slightly regret that I had chosen to spend the afternoon doing a pub tour, rather than sitting under a tarp with a bottle of wine in the woods.
Thanks as always for watching and your commentary - always a highlight for me!
I grew up in Crouch End, and my first pub was the King's Head more than 40 years ago. Drank regularly in most of these pubs. A trip down memory lane. Cheers!
How about a video of the once Irish pubs of Kilburn? There's some interesting contemporary history there, especially at Biddy's (Biddy Mulligan's). You were almost there when you went to Maida Vale, which is next on my watch list. Great video of Crouch End by the way.
Great selection of pubs, each one unique and beautiful in its own way! Perhaps it's a good thing that this area is out of the way for tourists - I for one haven't even heard of Crouch End. A couple of days ago, I read in the Guardian that each month of the first half of this year, 50 pubs closed down in England and Wales. The number is a bit lower than in the first half of 2023, but it is feared to go up next year because of inflation and higher taxes. So it's even more important to make people appreciate traditional pubs.
Thanks Kathi! Yes I really didn't get the sense any of the other customers in these pubs were tourists! I was definitely the only person being a nuisance and taking photos of everything!
I completely agree that the rate of pub closures is a worrying trend. I suppose that is part of the motivation for this channel, to hopefully encourage people to appreciate and take advantage of what we still have, but also in a slightly more pessimistic way to document these pubs before they've gone. I think I've featured over 300 pubs on this channel since I started it just over a year ago, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of those pubs have actually closed for good.
Fun fact, Queens is featured in S2E02 of Slow Horses. Lamb goes to meet the Russian defector there. There's an exterior shot of him approaching with the clock tower in the background, then I believe they seat themselves tucked next to one of the panels.
Pros: Fascinating, heartwarming, illuminating, generous in tone, considered, humorous, loves his real ale and is a regular at The Southhampton Arms. Cons: I live in Saudi, so can't drink and he never wears a tie. Conclusion: Keep it up, do the pubs near Jermyn St. and go to Harvie and Hudson.
Thanks Alexander! I have done a video on St. James's pubs but alas I wasn't wearing a tie in that either! ruclips.net/video/twdwNO6oZrI/видео.html
I may have explained before - it's not that I don't like the idea of ties, it's just unfortunately I have a disproportionately fat neck, and with a tie on I look as though I have a head directly connected to my shoulders, with nothing between. It also makes it harder to find shirts which fit properly, off the rail at least, given that they tend to work backwards from neck size. Even with the "extra slim fit" etc versions if I bought a shirt for which I could comfortably fasten the collar button, then it would be baggy to an unsightly degree around the chest. So I end up buying shirts for a slightly smaller size than my actual neck size, because the bulk of the shirt is a better fit, but I would struggle then to fasten the collar button.
Back in the days when I actually had a proper job I did dabble in made to measure shirts from Harvie and Hudson, Turnbull and Asser and the like. Somehow I was still never really happy with the fit, and the overall quality in terms of durability etc really didn't seem notably superior to the significantly cheaper off-the-rail shirts I wold otherwise have bought. In the unlikely event this channel becomes wildly successful I might revisit the issue, perhaps even try fully bespoke shirts one day, but for now, I fear, you're all going to have to put up with my rather dishevelled appearance!
Crouch End was good for scoring high quality Puff & 'Purple Haze' back in late 60's early 70's - especially in the 'Queens' .
I'm just going to assume those are quirky names for real ales.
@@TweedyPubs Lol !
It was quite rough then, very studenty and 'countercultural' (Hornsey School of Art). Crouch End is now solidly gentrified, and the house prices are ridiculous.
Another cracking video. Can we expect Halloween and Christmas themed videos? Just a suggestion
Thank you! I'm not sure about Halloween, as I'm probably a bit out of touch with that side of pub culture these days... but I think there's a reasonable chance of a Christmas special. Last year I did a festive "pubs to escape Christmas shopping video" and a (very short lived, now unlisted) "Twelve Pubs of Christmas" video - all in song - which as you might imagine met with very mixed reactions.
Good afternoon 🍺having had no cause to visit Crouch End ?after seeing your video Tweedy I wish I had because it looks a great place on a wet afternoon ☔️👍😁well done thanks 👏👍😁
Really glad to hear that - I hope I have painted these pubs in a favourable light despite the miserable weather!
@@TweedyPubs yes 👍 I would never have Guessed Crouch End had such nice establishments but now I do thanks too your Glowing commentary and camera work 😁👍
I do like a good porter tbh! Queens and The Robin looked great!
Me too - porter is great - and often a life saver in the sort of pubs which have a heavy focus on "craft" beer, and therefore pretty much everything else is some kind of grapefruitey IPA.
@@TweedyPubs Cronx brewery do a very nice one called Entire if you get the chance.
Crouch End has beautiful pubs, i remember having the BEST chocolate cake i’ve ever had in one of those.
Brilliant video as ever tweedy! Love this as they are all pubs I have never visited and never ventured up to Crouch End but they are on my list to visit now! Thanks again mate great video. 😎👍🍺
Thanks Elvis! Yes Crouch End is a bit out of the way, and despite only being 2 or 3 miles from my bit of London, I hardly ever venture there either. I do think it makes for an interesting pub tour though!
Very enjoyable, great seeing some old haunts too
Thanks Peter!
Aha! Brolly is back. Not so great news for you, though Tweedy. These videos are encouraging us to drag ourselves down to London to retrace some of your steps. I'm looking forward to maybe a Christmassy edition? Keep cheering us up in these dodgy times Tweedy.
Yes the brolly was very much required on this trip! Very glad to hear the videos are a source of encouragement to do some of your own pub exploration. You're the second person who has commented about a Christmas special! I had better start giving it some serious thought!
Another excellent video. Was going to add this area to my short list for our next london pub appreciation tour. Unfortunately it's a trek on public transport from Waterloo...
Thank you! Yes it isn't the easiest part of London to get to, but on the plus side you won't be competing with tourists to find a table at any of these pubs!
Another excellent video. Approaching 10 000 subscribers. Will we see a special edition? Some in-depth revisits?
Thank you! I was looking forward to getting to 10,000 subscribers because I remember hearing in the past that gave you access to the "RUclips Creator Lounge" in London, and I was looking forward to doing a pub review of it and complaining about the decor and the lack of real ale. Unfortunately when I checked again recently it seems that no longer exists!
😄
I was born on Inderwick road but my family moved back to Ireland in '71. Interesting to see what would have been my " manor ".
The entire district used to be called Hornsey. The old Hornsey Town Hall was in the centre of modern day Crouch End and has since been turned into apartments.
First, thanks for braving the elements! Enjoyed all the pubs, but Great Northern appears most interesting.
Thanks L&J! To be honest I quite like this kind of weather, and as I mentioned in the video it really made me appreciate the stained glass in the first two pubs.
Thanks - I'm quite surprised that I want to go to Crouch End now ! . looks like an interesting cluster of pubs, Thanks for casting some light on an area of London unkown (and to be honest, unconsidered) by me.
Thanks Michael, and this is such a gratifying bit of feedback to receive! I feel like my work here is done.
Another interesting delve into London pub history - some attractive gems in an area that i seldom visit (perhaps i should put that right?!) 👍🏻
Not somewhere I go to often either - I can't help but think the residents of Crouch End probably like it that way!
I had heard of Crouch End, but had no idea where it was. I grew up in the Old Kent Road, and I realize now, after post video research, it is a long way away; but what a discovery! Some beautiful pubs.
You're not alone! I live in North London now, but a decade ago I used to live in Pimlico, and back then I probably wouldn't have been able to point to Crouch End on a map.
I used to live in Muswell Hill (up the road from Crouch End) and date a girl who lived off Old Kent Rd in the Aylesbury estate. It quite far, maybe too far for a pint, but not for love.
I lived and worked in the Railway Tavern in i think 2001. My best friends mum was the land lady and i worked there before going to University. Minty from EastEnders was a regular! I think it was a Mitchell and Butler back then, could be wrong though.
Cheers Tweedy
Cheers!
I lived there in the 90's and went to these pubs. It's interesting to see a comparison of the pubs now and when they first existed while knowing that as little as a couple of decades ago they had a different feel from either.
They look the same in terms of everything specified but the interior of the Queen's for example had a much rougher vibe.. not rough, rougher.. it wasn't a plush place at all, it looked stunning but not tarted up and a slightly edgy vibe. It also had a pool table.
I'm just about to look up the robin because it's quite near where I lived and I don't remember it, even with a previous name but as it is now I definitely would have gone often.
Very interesting to hear that - others have also commented that the Queens recent history was quite different from how it presents itself today. I actually visited a week ago, before I did the filming for this video and it all seemed very civilised and relatively up-market. Apart, that is, from my former colleague who I met there for lunch, who, bless her, after half a pint starts swearing like a sailor.
Cheers - used to live opposite the Old Dairy and the Stapleton Tavern in Finsbury Park so know this area well and spent many a happy hour in all of these pubs other than the Robin (which was the Tap I think when I lived there - or possibly the Greyhound??) Anyway, the second photo of the Kings Head is likely early 1900s as the sign on the shop on the left refers 'HM the King'. You did go an odd route too - over Crouch Hill and then back to the Railway then back up and over to the Shaftsbury (which is definitely in the less celebrated part of London!).
Well spotted there that the route didn't make sense! The reason is the opening times of these pubs, and the fact I always want to get to the pubs during daylight hours so I can get clearer exterior shots - not that conditions for those were particularly good on this occasion! It was a Tuesday and the Railway didn't open until 4, then the Shafestbury didn't open until 5.
The Arthurian themed mural was well done. Some inspiration from Maxfield Parrish's "Old King Cole" mural at the legendary St. Regis Hotel Bar in New York City perhaps? Merlin looks hilarious. Queen Guinenivere and Sir Lancelot, with their initial medallions, look like ballers and Sir Galahad with the head of a foe.
Thanks RRD, I'm really glad to hear you liked the mural too. I wasn't aware of Maxfield Parrish's work but yes I can see the similarities! Nick the landlord says he spends lots of time looking at the mural when the pub is quiet and is constantly finding new details in it.
Marcel Duchamp stayed at the Queens pub. When i go to the mens urinals i allways think 'R Mutt'. also Laurel and Hardy who were performing at the hippodrome opera house, now a fitness business. I live in crouch end.
Can't beat a nice pint of porter 👍🍻
It was a particularly good one! I might have actually gone for the mild instead but if I recall correctly it was off.
Beautiful pubs. Even better for not being packed full of tourists. Just the kind of quiet pubs I like to sit in and complete a crossword with a pint of bitter.
That's definitely one thing Crouch End has going for it - no tourists!
The first pub is neo Jacobean because of the Dutch style shape of the gable, queens pub is not Jacobean because it’s gable is a different shape, I’d just call it Edwardian although I’m sure someone with more knowledge can correct me.
FASCINATING video love love LOVE the knowledge about where the iron railings were made etc - very special details like that make your videos absolutely superb as I have often wondered “where was that made?” And you answered 😂😂😂 thank you 🎉🎉🎉 bravo
Thanks Jack - that's a really useful nuance and I've learned something there! Superficially to me both gables looked similar because they're both crowned with a semi-circular pediment. However, the one at the second pub (the Queens) is mostly triangular - the sides of it are roughly straight lines. Whereas at the first pub (the Great Northern Railway Tavern) the sides of the gable are curved lines - so that makes it Dutch, right...?
cakebread and robey was enfield based think they have packed up now
The Great North Railway has been through myriad changes of appearence over the past 40 years. You could produce a book on this one subject.
The Sir Robin and the Shaftesbury are NOT in Crouch End. I'm surprised that you left out The Maynard Arms in Park Road, built in 1850. This is Crouch End's oldest extant pub building, and, again, has been through many iterations in our 33 years living here. Park Road was formerly called Maynard Street, which dates back to the medieval period.
A bit out of the way probably, but you missed a trick not going to the Salisbury on Green Lanes. Also nearby, The Famous Royal Oak in Muswell Hill is a gem.
Yes I did consider the Salisbury, and it would have been nice to include that in the same video as the Queens to compare, but it was just a bit too far out of the way and also made difficult by its opening hours in the week. Perhaps a future video!
You did well to miss The Harringay Arms!!!!
Been drinking round Crouch End with my brother in my alcy incarnation, years ago. It's probably right up his street but not mine. It's not that I particularly take exception to poncey bistros - it's some of the poncey vendors who irk me. I do, however, commend the small, independent second hand vinyl record emporium which sported a sing-along LP by 'On the Buses' actor Reg Varney as its 'record of the week' in the window display. I distinctly recall the handwritten testimonial, "LET'S ROCK!" Unfortunately they were closed on the day we saw it.
I'd rate Cheltenham or Peterborough better for poncey bistros. Although in Peterborough's case, I have to say it wouldn't be fair to attribute 'poncey.' Clean, welcoming, not extortionate and the local people are alright. Apart from the melee of shoppers, none of whom would give me the time of day to furnish my request for directions.
Mind you, an Irish bloke approached me and tried to bum a cigarette, looked up at my face and immediately backed off, saying he'd got the wrong person. Maybe they're not accustomed to single-headed, two-eyed Earthlings in Peterborough shopping precinct.
A young skinhead lad sorted me out, though, so - big up the Peterborough skins.
7:21 that extraction fan 😢
Not too far down Hornsey Road towards Holloway there's more lovely pub ironwork on what was once Hanley Arms but is now Masjid-e-Yusuf.
You can get 4 pints for about £5 in the supermarket so I tend to get tanked up at home and have a couple more at the pub after. That way the pub still gets some revenue and I don't go bankrupt
I want a pint now. That's the problem with watching these videos.
🍺
Yep, Queen Anne. Go to Edam in Holland you'll see it's a Dutch import.
The cover photo of the Kinks Muswell Hillbillies album shows the band standing in a pub with drinks in hand. Do you know the name of the pub where the picture was taken? Could it have been the Queens?
Never mind! I just found out it was taken in the Archway Tavern in Archway.
One of my favourite albums.
You're surely an architect, right? If not then you're unusually knowledgeable about the subject.
Something I'd find interesting in future videos is more discussion of good pub food, especially traditional food.
Thank you, but my interest in architecture is purely amateur! Although it does run in the family a bit - one of my uncles (now retired) was an architect who worked in conservation of historic buildings, another uncle more of an art historian but also very knowledgeable about architecture, and my Dad was very involved in the early days of CAMRA, which to me has always been as much about preserving pubs as it has been about real ale. I'm learning as I go with these videos and I find it fascinating.
I'm actually a vegetarian believe it or not - I know it's a bit at odds with the tweed! So I probably wouldn't be a very good candidate for reviewing pub food. In London at least I would say the bulk of pub food isn't in a particularly great state. So many pubs are owned/ran by the big chains now, so it's often the same menus over and over again, and I get the sense a lot of the food on those menus is at least partly pre-prepared off site. Not many pubs in London seem to do a good job of walking the fine line between actually serving decent food cooked from scratch on the premises without just turning into a full blown gastropub (and therefore not really being a pub any more). Country pubs have always seemed to do a better job of that in my opinion.
Crouch End is near Archway.
ish. it's a bloody long walk between them so not that near.
@@aethellstanAt least 20 minutes…
@@dirtywaterpj_dj must be more than twenty minutes, it took me that long to get to the top of the hill!
i used to pop over crouch hill to a pub that was near suicide bridge, i think it's shut down now.
Thanks - I probably should have mentioned in the video whereabouts Crouch End actually is! I can imagine even some people living in London aren't too sure...
@@dirtywaterpj_dj 20 mins walk is less than a mile.
I love old pubs. I am genuinely scared that’s we are going to lose them. The government is doing nothing to protect pubs and just forcing prices up to the point people can’t spend there.
i used to live in two different places off the broadway, felix avenue and weston park.
when i lived there, the queens was a well known ira sympathisers pub and people would visit frequently shaking their tins and "asking" for money towards "the cause". everyone without fail had to put money in.
In the sixties it was the “bohemian” pub, the place for the art students and musicians.
I had no idea! I don't often research the recent history of the pubs I feature in these videos, I tend to focus more on 100+ years ago.
@@dirtywaterpj_dj That's more or less how I imagined Crouch End to be - for some reason I thought of it as a part of town filled with actors, writers and most of all comedians.
@@TweedyPubs no worries, i wouldn't expect you to know, only locals over a "certain age" would know this sort of thing.
love your videos btw, i often use your videos in order to plan pub visits, so well done!
@@aethellstan Thank you!
Excellent as always, just keep of the over hop beers just like you I don't like them, give me a traditional best bitter, unfortunately bitter seems to be out of fashion at the moment,my local pub is Sam Smith and I enjoy old brewery bitter on cask , but many drinkers are turning to keg or Lager, shepherds nyme have recently said it's cask beers are not selling
I agree, it does seem traditional bitters are in decline. It's encouraging to see that the sort of places which have more "trendy" modern beer lineups there's quite often something like a porter at least, and that can be a lifesaver in pubs where everything else on the hand pumps looks oppressively grapefruity.
That is what I call research, knowing where the metalwork was made..😂
Thanks Clark! I have the CAMRA Pub Heritage listing to thank for that nugget of wisdom.
Watching from Australia, tour beer is pretty cheap in comparison. I always thought it was dearer than over here.
I think this area is cheaper than typical for London, because it's a bit out of the centre. It seemed like the average was somewhere around £5.50 a pint here, but I think the average for central London is more like £6.50 these days.
Pity you pointed out the piano, I forsee a visit from Terry Miles !
I've only just about heard of him - I did a quick search and see he did a video at the Southampton Arms!
I subscribed quite a while ago but never get a notice
Sorry to hear that Don! I have heard that from other people's RUclips channels - the notifications aren't always very reliable.I don't tend to use them much myself, I go to the RUclips home screen regularly anyway, and usually find new videos for channels I'm subscribed to show up there.
Shaftesbury and the Robin not really regarded as Crouch End pubs. You forgot the Maynard Arms
Agreed, I was stretching the definition a bit there - the Great Northern Railway Tavern is also Hornsey really. I did take a quick look at the Maynard Arms in the planning stages but on Google Maps it looked a bit too gastropubby for my tastes - pretty much all of the photos were of the food! Perhaps I got the wrong impression?
@@TweedyPubsHope you didn’t think I was being negative as your video was excellent and I look forward to looking at your other videos. I worked for Haringey council in the late 70’s and the Maynard was the pub everyone went to but it is totally different today
Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin.
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin!
He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,
Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken,
To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin!
His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged
And his nostrils r_ped and his bottom burned off
Brave Sir Robin ran away,
Bravely ran away, away.
When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly, he chickened out. Bravely taking to his feet,
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin.
He is packing it in and packing it up
And sneaking away and buggering up
And chickening out and pissing off home,
Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge.
Prior to Nick taking over it was called the Brave Sir Robin, and very much meant as a Monty Python reference. He wanted to keep the name as is, but apparently the previous owners said they "owned" the name and wanted some extra money to use it. As it happens one of the regulars is friends with Michael Palin, and pointed out that if anyone owned the rights to "Brave Sir Robin" as a name it would not be the former owners of the pub. Nick however is a nice bloke and didn't want to cause a fuss so just renamed it to the Robin.
O it’s so historic & magical the history of drinking poison 🥴
It is a funny old business isn't it? All this effort put into creating these grand and imposing buildings with their intricate interiors which ultimately are just there for people to get drunk in!
@@TweedyPubs the tables are turning
*Rusty grinding noises as the cogs of my mind struggle to catch up*
Oh, the big skylight in the backroom was for the billiards table.
So much more attractive than an array of low hanging electric lamps, waiting to by struck by a drunken fool whom is somehow allowed to be using a cue.
*Shuffles off, after never having done this*
I don't find the association between skylights and billiards entirely obvious either. Clearly like any cue sport being able to see what you're doing is quite important, and I suppose in the 1890s when most of these pubs were built they'd be relying on either natural light from the outside or gas lamps... Would the latter have been inadequate for billiards? Does that mean they only played in the daytime? I have an image from period dramas of the gentlemen in stately homes retiring to the billiards room after supper, presumably they must have somehow managed with artificial light...?
@@TweedyPubs Indeed, I also imagine billiards to have mostly been played in a cigar smoke filled room under hazy gaslight during the late evening (by well dressed gentlemen).
I just found an excuse for a cheap gag.
In reality, it was probably multi-functional, and often in a room used for daytime dining?...
@@AnyoneForToast They often seem to be converted into dining rooms today, so that would make sense. Perhaps while the billiards table was still in place it could be covered over to make a buffet counter or a gruel servery or whatever format made sense for Victorian era dining...?
@@TweedyPubs I think we have solved it.
There was a correlation between the skylight and the billiards table.
But the skylight was not "for" the billiards table...
*Tweedy Sleuthing Available Online*
They say dublin pubs are good but honestly they aren't a patch on London
Its hardly a mystery..half of journos live there...too many nü boozers...that cannot pour a pint..
Toff
Other channels about pubs with different presenters are available on RUclips.
@@TweedyPubs I had to look up that word. I got the impression you lean left, no? so I wouldn't hold anything against you. Regardless, you're a cracking bloke.
@@fifteen8 I make a point of trying to not discuss politics on RUclips! Thanks for the kind words though! I'm just here talking about the stuff that interests me, if other people also find that interesting and don't find my presentation style objectionable that's great. I'm sure there are plenty of people who aren't interested in this subject, or they can't get on with the way I present it, or the way I look, or the sound of my voice... or whatever. That's fine too, there's plenty of other videos to watch on RUclips and I'm not forcing anyone to watch mine.
@@TweedyPubs I'm a big fan. 'Nuff said.
Would you head over seas like Ireland would be interesting to see
I'd love to at some point - just a case of finding the right time.