My 2 Pints
Tucked away in the middle of North London, in a crater of cloned residential streets and international supermarkets, sits the North Nineteen Pub. I’m not gonna dick around here, making silly little jokes about the clientele, or about whatever shit is on the walls. Put quite simply, N19 is everything a pub should be.
It’s not perfect. No, of course not, but for what it is, and for what it’s trying to be, you can’t fault it. Not matter how hard you try. Therefore, I shall now try.
Erm…
It’s quite small.
It’s… err… I’ve got nothing.
Ok to be fair I don’t imagine it plays sports (when there’s an event on), barring during the World Cup, when every pub owner steals his daughter’s 5 inch, pink, ‘Barbie Workstation’ monitor just for one more screen to fill the place with. This may be positive or negative depending on your attitude towards sports, and their relationship with the traditional pub, but certainly makes it ‘not perfect’. As well as this, come to think of it, I’ve only ever sat outside the actual building. Don’t get me wrong I’ve been inside; I’m still qualified to review the inside. But sat cosy, next to a warm fire, a game of dominoes laid out in front of you on a cold winter’s eve? I couldn’t say.
Apart from this it’s pretty special. There’s a calm, friendly atmosphere to the place. I don’t know any of the staff, and I’ve never walked in to see anyone I knew already there. But somehow they’ve managed to make it feel like coming home for Christmas, the first time you get into the house, and see all your friends and relatives in the familiar place you used to call home (If you can imagine actually liking your old friends and relatives, and the place you used to call home).
It’s not just content to sell the booze either, it’s an eventful pub. The type that puts on quiz, karaoke and open mic nights, that has games anyone can just pick up and play (and people who do play them). You may not enjoy karaoke, but you’re sure to like one of the things they’ve got on. Failing that, there’s still just the usual happy hour. A little bit for everyone means they managed to achieve a round spectrum of happy, friendly punters. If you become a member on their website, you get a little card to get money off drinks too, making you feel an even bigger part of the family. Although this isn’t really necessary as they miraculously serve upscale beers, ales and ciders, at lowscale prices.
If you’re looking for a summer afternoon pub, a quiz pub, or a Sunday Lunch after a hangover pub (£10 for the best tasting hangover cure in the world), then this is the heaven of your world. If you’re looking for a cosy, open-fire winter’s night pub, then watch this space. As it might just be perfect yet.
BEER SELECTION: Great quality beers, and guest ales from small breweries, along with a nice selection of regional ciders. *****
COST OF A ROUND: £7-9 If you sign up for membership online (free), it’s even cheaper. *****
STAFF: Usually one of only two guys, both friendly but not annoyingly chatty. ****
FOOD: Touch more expensive than drinks, but the £10 roasts are so good I almost had two. ****
SKIRT RATIO: Mainly families in the afternoon. Come back at night perhaps. **
Overall: The only let downs are that I’ve only had one thing on the food menu, and that it’s not quite as popular as it clearly should be. ****
North Nineteen - Finsbury Park - Brought to you by James Wormald -