please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Fairly imposing building in a residential area. The drinking area is divided into two by the bar. One side features a mural of the Battle of Barnet. It was fairly quiet on our Saturday afternoon visit with only around 4 other customers in. There were 4 ales on - Greene King IPA, St Austell Ruck & Roll, Fullers London Pride & Otter Bitter. That was better than we were expecting.
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We pop into this pub regularly; the food is very good although I endorse the earlier comments about the bar area being a bit "cliquey". That said, friends whom I've taken there have remarked that it's like stepping onto the set of the "Winchester" bar in "Minder"! They often carry Adnams "Broadside" (which I always call "Broadsword" after my favourite film!) and that in itself's a reason for going in!
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I had to wait at the bar for nearly five minutes when I visited here on Saturday evening and I was the only customer at the bar. I thought that the staff must be doing something out the back so I was a little shocked when the landlady/barmaid got off her stool and then served me as she was sitting in plain view of me and I walked past her twice. I have to say that the governor seemed very friendly though so I will gloss over the 'local pub for local people' moment.
The pride was good and Old Hooky, Greene King IPA and Bateman�s Hooker were also available alongside some standard lagers. There were only about six other customers, half of whom were watching the cricket on the two screens at he front of the pub and the other half were around the back where the dartboard is located watching the Comic Relief dancing on the BBC. A couple came in and asked if he was showing the league cup final on Sky the next day and he confirmed that he was and that he was laying on some free sandwiches, which I thought was a nice touch.
There's not that much wrong with this pub and it is hard to judge when hardly any other customers are in, but I think that this place is just far enough off the beaten track for me not to bother making a trip to it again.
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Dog friendly pub which is always a bonus. Indeed staff often go out of their way to make dogs feel welcome with various titbits etc. Regretably there is a hardcore of locals who regurlarly colonise the bar and woe betide the humble patron who tries to get passed them to buy a drink (If looks could kill!!). Anyway overall bar is clean and beer is of good quality.
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Nearest pub to my house so I go quite often. Always disappointed though that it's not as good as it should be. Friendly enough, and the beer's OK, but it's a bit dingy and feels shabby round the edges. Nice mix of people though and I've never been asked to leave at closing time. I wish they wouldn't stack the stools around you though, and then turn the lights out at 11.15 on the dot!
anonymous - 21 Jan 2007 21:30 |
Had many good nights in there in the past - excellent real ales and nice atmosphere. Bill is quite a character too!
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although missing the Beer Garden, you can still drink outside, good tables and chairs/benches supplied and FANTASTIC staff who cater for your every need !
anonymous - 23 Jul 2006 02:54 |
Best salt beef sarnies in north london, very generous portions on the double. Lunchtime staff on a tuesday, very experienced and funny, and good looking !
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The hadley is somewhat of an institution as are Bill and Sheila who run it. The drinks are fairly priced and they do feature real ales - this is a free house after Bill and Sheila bought the pub a few years ago and who live next door (in the house where the beer garden used to be).
Alas the food is not anything to speak of (except for sheilas free roast potatoes on a sunday), but the atmosphere is good and the crowd mature.
anonymous - 27 Aug 2005 18:14 |
A proper pub with proper beer in the otherwise beer-free urban sprawl between High Barnet and New Barnet. Used to have a nice beer garden too but they've built a house on it!
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