please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
For the second time in a fortnight I went in for a meal, as the food is very good. The first time my meal was ruined by stupid, trendy parents letting their children run around the pub shrieking. I went in today, beforehand making sure no cretinous parents were there. As soon as my food came so did the twit parents. I left my food and drink at the bar and complained to the manager. He whined it was a family pub. I will not be going back again. If you want a quiet meal, perhaps buy a kebab and eat it on the traffic island outside.
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I have started going to this pub lately and it is the best in the area. Decent beer, good Guinness, busy but helpful staff and quite decent food(for a pub) I prefer the many excellent and cheap restaurants in the area for food, but this is one of the few grand Victorian pubs around and a beautiful place it is.
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Finally got around to visiting the Salisbury on Sunday. It's an architecturally impressive, both inside and out. The interior consists of multiple rooms and quite large. Ales on were Gales Seafarers, Fullers London Pride, Butcombe Rare Breed, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Brains White Out & Sharps Special. Harviestoun Old Engine Oil was amongst the keg offerings and was very nice. Getting here can be fun, as the traffic along Green Lanes is horrendous. One of the few premises that is not a kebab shop.
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Old style pub lots of alcoves, wood and high ceilings with some decent real ales. Visited late Saturday afternoon when it wasn't very busy and would recommend it.
Muzzy - 14 Aug 2013 19:39 |
Message to the afro headed manager, ordered drinks ( the same as drunk all night by pointing to pump with finger ) then bar girl gives me wrong beer..I ask tell curly head Toploader wannabe can he please rectify problem..answer " no, I trust my staff"..game, set and match. I leave drinks at the bar and exit, I'm not into 1AM confrontation. This bloke looks like he doesn't give a toss, I also don't have SKY replay to show what I pointed to..Told me it would cost £9.00 to pay to rectify error. But you could be lucky..
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@joffle I understand the pub management are restricted but it seems to me that the restrictive policy doesn't make a lot of sense and whoever is in charge (not the people at the pub but those at the brewery) need to consider a different policy. I noticed this the other day in High Holborn: Penderel's Oak (Wetherspoon; does excellent business right through the evening); Melton Mowbray (Fuller's; empty when I passed around 10:00 pm). I understand Fuller's want to use their pubs to sell their own beer, but by offering a better choice they might well get more business overall. For example, if I visit one of their pubs and drink three pints, one or two of them might be a Fuller's beer, plus they make some money from the sale of 3rd party beers if I order them. But if I choose to go somewhere else that offers a better selection, Fuller's get nothing from me.
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@beerman It's not a freehold pub like the Southampton arms so they are limited in what they can choose to serve.
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Paid my first visit to the Salisbury for a long time the other day and it struck me it could do with a serious revamp. The people running this place do not appear to have noticed the success of places like the Southampton Arms (Gospel Oak) and Jolly Butchers (Stoke Newington). With such a wonderful interior and the catchment area, if the Salisbury dispensed with the mundane ale selection (all Fuller's beers bar one guest) and utilised the large bar real estate to offer an extensive selection of independent ales and ciders, I reckon their business could double or even triple. This pub, revamped in the right way, could become one of the best in London. Instead it is rather resting on its laurels and past reputation.
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Best pub in Harringay by a country mile. Decent beer, nice food, friendly staff and a cool building. It is quite expensive for outer London though, I pay the same for a pint after work in Central.
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Really surprised to read this last comment, my friends and I are regulars to the pub and have always found the bar staff particularly friendly and welcoming. I was happy to hear Time Out voted them one of the 50 top pubs in London this year, well done guys!
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I dont go in here very often because of two things 1). I don't like the Czech lager. 2) I don't like service. I realise the landlord is governed on the choice of lager but he is not governed by HIS choice of bar staff. Almost all of them have no customer skills what so ever and should all be sent on training courses. They are all dismissive and generally rude. And as for them serving right up to 2am at weekends and then taking your drink away at 2:01 am is outrageous and always causes arguments..otherwise it's ok.
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Look, I'm a local and go here a lot but may stop because many of the bar staff can't pour a pint of ale. They just sit it on the tray and press pour. That's just not good enough and I've been given so many flat pints lately. Landlord please sort your staff out because I'm starting to drift away. Btw I'm in my 30's, not an old barfly.
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The Salisbury is amazing - our fabulous local does ethically sourced beef and desserts home-made by the chef's wife. How many places can say that?? It has links with hollywood and the British film industry having appeared in Chaplin and the long good Friday. Staff are super-friendly, very proud of their food and incredibly knowledgeable on the wide range of beers and ales. The building is stunning and this pub is the reason we bought our house :)
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Lovely building surprisingly short on atmosphere. Never open on a sunny afternoon. Beer top prices, but fairly average choices.
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Hadn't been in for a while until last night. Was in with a big group, including 4 kids having a quick pint or two before going to the excellent Flame Turkish Restaurant across the road. Landlord couldn't have been more accommodating about the kids, but made it clear that they needed to be well behaved and not run about the place - all fair enough. Tried the Discovery and Bengal Lancer, both very good. Service was quick and friendly. May have to start popping in more often.
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It's a beautiful art nouveau building that serves a wide selection of beers - including all the usual Fullers stuff. During the day you can have a nice quiet pint and some great food - they also do pretty good pizzas. I think the food is served until fairly late. The food will be good but's not cheap, particularly for the ares which has more than it's share of excellent Turkish restauranrs.
last Friday of the month = Salisbury Circus. Live music in the back room (soul/funk/blues), everyone dancing - and it's completely free. If it's not your thing it's a big pub and you can just sit in the main area.
I would say it's worth a trek even if you're not in North London - just get the tube to Manor House and head down Green Lanes!
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One of the finest interiors of any pub in north London. The beer was good if expensive, although I would not go out of my way to consume any more Jack Frost this year.
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Fantastic architectural twin of the Queen's in Crouch End, but bigger, more spacious and more impressive. We had the best pub food we have ever had in here - rib-eye steak and sausage and mash - and the prices were reasonable too. There was also some very odd pear cider on offer with 'blueberry', from the Channel Islands. It was literally lumious turqoise (didn't taste as bad as it looked)! I am a big fan of this place, but it can have a bit of a cold atmosphere with all the uncomfortable seating, spaciousness and hard surfaces. Check out the Beaconsfield down the road (opposite the station and Sainsbury's) for more impressive Victiorian features but a cosier (although grottier) atmosphere (but no food).
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As has been mentioned, this is a good looking pub with some interesting beers and the full Fullers range. The service that I received was woeful, but that seems to be the norm in these big island bar pubs with �hotel� tagged on the end. It is the first time that I have been into a pub and had an alco pop spilt over me by the pot boy, an apology would have been nice.
I wouldn�t go out of my way to drink here again.
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Service has improved thank god, good that alex is back. Now have Aspalls on tap, great stuff, but I do agree with comment about the Sunday Roasts being expensive, I have stopped having them since the price increase.
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First �4 pint I've seen! Pizza chips still good, though...
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An ecellent, beautiful pub. Beware the expensive Chiswick!
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The best pub I have been to in North London and I can�t think of too many ways it could be improved. The interior is magnificent, as shown by its place on the CAMARA�s national inventory, there are several different sections that feel like different pubs, and there are plenty of small nooks and snugs to tuck yourself into.
The beer selection is pretty decent, the standard selection of Fuller�s ales with a guest ale of some variety. They also serve a hold selection of Belgian beers (and even have the glasses for them!), ciders and draught beers. Litovel is a great Czech brew and I am impressed they have both the 10 and 12 degree versions, this beer is tough to find outside of Moravia, so well done to Fullers for sourcing it.
I have enjoyed coming down at many different times, however Sunday is particularly nice, to sit in with a paper and flick through the impressive jukebox.
The food is very good, especially the Banger�s and Mash which lived up to Time Out�s recommendation of being the best in London. My one grip is that the Sunday Roasts are really quite expensive, and seem to have shot up in price recently without any particular change in quality or quantity.
It is out of the way for most people but this is a great pub worth travelling out to, if, like me, you are in the situation to treat this as a local then count yourself lucky as there are few pubs that can match this for character or quality.
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Was in for Sunday lunch with family. Food was excellent as was the sevice. Kids portions were too much for them - all the better for the hoover (Dad). As for the beer - well the Preservation Ale from the Castle Rock brewery was a welcome addition to the always well kept Fullers beers.
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I am now very happy to declare that service here has improved no end and a big thank you to all the hard working and pleasant staff of the Salisbury
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I like this pub a lot. Its beautiful inside, service has always been good enough and lots of different beers to try. However, this pub is a winter pub, it has no garden whatsoever and this REALLY detracts from the place. As its summer now, there'snothing Id like more than to drop in on my way back from work but there is no garden here, or ANYWHERE down Green Lanes. Oh well, helps me save money.
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It's a lovely interior, a diverse jukebox, and I've always found the staff friendly. But on any given Sunday it's a nightmare of free-range urchins, and the "fuller's with token guest" can pall after a while... Still, on Green Lanes it's a gem of a boozer-worth the journey for the pizza chips alone.
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I am a Salisbury regular and visit a couple of times a week. It is one of my favorite places to go for a pint as it has one of the finest examples of a decorative Victorian pub interior that you will find anywhere in Britain.
I can confidentially claim without any objection that it is also the most difficult place in the whole country to be served a drink. Service here is appalling, no matter how busy or quiet. I have no idea who the manager is, but maybe he or she should get their backside into third gear and improve the service. One night recently, a young female customer and I got so exasperated waiting for service that we started jumping up and down at the counter, whilst waving our arms. This provided several minutes of amusement to the assembled clientele, but alas made no impression on the blinkered bar staff.
The other drawback to this pub is the lack of ventilation in the back bar cooking area. Spend even the shortest time in this section of the pub and you will come out with your clothes smelling like one of the local kebab shops.
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Brilliant boozer, great music on jukebox and good atmosphere. Never had any problems with the staff and always have a good time when i go. If this pub were in a better area it would clean up and even though it is not in such a good area people should make the effort because you wont regret it.
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I'm surprised to hear such a bad review of my loverlee local; perhaps the regular chief was off that day - I've never had a crap meal there or found the staff inattentive - quite the opposite infact. As for the Garden Ladder, yes they do nice food for Omnivores, but not very good for veggies. I had a pasta bake there once and the edges were all crispy where they'd nuked it for too long in a microwave. Cold and souless place with crap music.
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Went on for Sunday lunch a couple of weeks back. Last time we came here it was really nice - if a little expensive. Not so this time!
It took ages to get served despite the fact it was not busy - the bar staff just did not seem interested. Had a pint then ordered food. It took ages to turn up, and was virtually thrown onto the table - we were also only provided with one set of cutlery, until we asked. They gave us the wrong dinners - which had to be changed. Fair play they did it without any issue. However, the food was not good - with the roast potatoes being inedible - burnt and too hard to get a knife through - only a small quantity of vegetables, all over-cooked, and tough meat. The previously inattentive staff started clearling the table while one of us was still eating, but it still took ages to attract attention at the bar.
Seriously not worth the money - the Garden Ladder over the road does a lot better value roast dinner with attentive bar service too.
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This IS the best pub in North London! I am there most weekends as the Dukebox is BRILLIANT! Never mind The Cure, The Clash etc - what about the Nuggets and Ethopiques compliations - how many pubs in London have that on their DB's? As for the food - BEST Veggie burger I have EVER had - although they could use wholemeal baps to make it just that tiny bit better. Yes, the service can be a little slow, but look at the amount of people they have to serve! Surely that alone shows how popular and well loved this pub is. Dave and his wonderful staff are a bunch of shiny stars and I won't hear a bad word against them! xXx
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i'm intrigued to learn that my local is a tourist trap! do tourists really find themselves in the general turnpike lane ares when sightseeing? hmmm. anyway, i've had the best nights ever in this pub, it's unpretentious, the cure are frequently on the jukebox :-), and there's about a million fantastic places to get drunken food at 2am nearby. oh and i've seen some pretty cool bands here too.
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Great pub and staff. The beer's always top notch, which is a boon considering that in such a tourist trap of a location they wouldn't have to try hard due to constant tourist trade. Best pub within a ten minute walk in any direction, and the only gripe is that it can be quite hard to get a seat.
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Great pub and staff. The beer's always top notch, which is a boon considering that in such a tourist trap of a location they wouldn't have to try hard due to constant tourist trade. Best pub within a ten minute walk in any direction, and the only gripe is that it can be quite hard to get a seat.
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Cracking food, the 'Fish & Chips' is one of the best i've tasted and the feta used in the 'Greek Salad' is top notch. But please could you install a baby changing unit so when I bring my daughter in I don't need to change her on the floor or benches, it puts people off their food!!!
By the way 'Pablos13', I know exactly what John Bonser was saying, he emailed me and told me, so well done for trying to stick up for him, but I think your efforts were misguided!
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Always think of the Salisbury as a late night drinking hole due to their extended hours
Always busy and quite lively although find the food bit overpriced and service slow-it seems bit impersonal though a lot of the time,probably as its so big
Do some good entertainment in form of bands etc-if you can get word of it in advance
tigha - 10 Sep 2008 21:15 |
Great pub, 6 good ales and a good variety of food. Had a very relaxing sunday. Would of been a higher score if the food was a little more value for money like. Lovely building mind.
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In defence of John Bonser, he wasn't actually saying that the pub being in an area with a lot of Cypriots/Turks was a bad thing per se... just that the pub's business would probably be more profitable/busier in an area made up largely of people who tick the 'white british' box on the census as, by and large, they tend to drink more than Turks (who are mostly muslims and not meant to drink, therefore not very frequent pub customers).
As it happens, I like the fact that the Salisbury serves a wide array of people (like it or not, there are still pubs where non-whites get funny looks or worse, and it's a good thing that the Salisbury isn't one of them), and think it a fairly good pub, though a slightly wider ale selection would be nice.
Oh, and architecturally it's beautiful.
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I visit often. Beer good and staff relaxed re. clientele getting blootered. Clean the bloody toilets, though - they stink continuously. Too many braying turds also.
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The Salisbury is one of my local boozers, and believe it or not was the deciding factor for buying our place just down the road! Three years later and we're still pretty happy with our choice.
My only gripe? A chunky mortgage means we've not managed to frequent this top draw pub as much as we've wanted to! Can't really comment about the staff; they are no better or worse than I've experienced anywhere else. But as the bar is big and pretty much wraps around the centre of the pub, I too have been waiting a while to get served on previous occasions. My tip is to go to the main part of the bar where the staff can see you better.
The beer is fine and there is a good enough choice of ales and E. European lagers. Haven't eaten here for a while so can't comment on the grub. However, the decor is fantastic and makes this place a real gem IMHO.
Note to management: one thing that may go well with the regulars and passing trade down here is a good old fashioned piano and pianist (for maybe one night per week?). The jukebox is fair enough, but it would be great to hear someone tinkling the ivories down there once in a while. Would be a definite USP in this day and age and may help bring back a little soul to this great pub and give it a bit of a talking point.
I like it!
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Note to JohnBonser....actually, the majority of people who drink in The Salisbury are not Turkish or Cypriots. That is the beauty of the place - it is a mish-mash of all ethnic communities and backgrounds.
You really should try to broaden your mind a little, and if you don't like the location or clientele, you should do as dalglish suggests and go drink in a pub somewhere within an "English Community".
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Usually a good night out at the weekend if there is a band or DJ on, but otherwise can lack atmosphere. The jukebox is great and the bar staff are friendly enough, if somewhat slow to serve.
The food is okay, from what I've tried, and not badly priced.
All-in-all, not a bad place, but as I mentioned before, can be a bit lifeless.
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The Salisbury is my local. The beer (Litovel etc) is good, the atmosphere's ok but the food isn't what it should be. A few years back, after the re-fit, it was great and I took a large party of European colleagues for dinner there one night which was sublime. The entertainment could be better, too - they need a consistent programme catering for a variety of tastes - but the building is fab. I echo the previous comments about slow and sometimes reluctant service from the bar staff.
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Great pub,pitty the governor is a Chelsea supporter!!, and a great safe friendly place for children, especially the back dining room (don't tell Social Services!!) But could I please request that the management consider fitting a baby changing unit somewere, would be really appreciated by the parents who use the place.
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Where is this English Community that JohnBonser talks about? And why is he so sad about living in an area with cypriots and turks? Maybe he should drink in Beckton or Canvey Island!
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Splendid North London drinking emporium - the description of Verbanofacta on 14 /12/07 is a good sum up. Note also the splendid skylight in the lounge room, which is where the kitchen area is situated. I understand that this used to be a billiards room.
Yesterday early afternoon, the only real ales on were from Fullers - but this is not really a real ale pub - go to admire the splendid interior, principally.
Worth visiting, this pub would probably do much better in an English community, rather than in an area dominated by Turks and Cypriots.
This is not a racist comment - just a sad matter of fact.
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whenever i've been here i've had great fun. Agree about the staff, it's just a case of observing and maybe cracking a smile! great function room. one of the nicest buildings along this stretch of green lanes, has potential.
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Generally most people I know like or love this place, but their main gripe is the unattentive service, which is a shame because the bar staff are a nice bunch. The back room is great if you have kids, they can run around and the staff are relaxed about it all.
Also, the pizzas are bloody great and I like the Litovel!!!
What does rampantwurzel mean by "otherwise dreadful area of North london", doesn't he get out much???
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I have lived near the Salisbury for 3 years now, and it is a great pub to have as a local. The decor of the vast interior is gloriously OTT - faded grandeur with huge windows, old church pews, black/white chessboard floor, mosaics, marble statues and a variety of stuffed animals.
Primarily a Fullers pub, they always have London Pride, Discovery, Chiswick and ESB on. Recently, also Honey Dew. Czech lagers - Litovel Classic and Premium, Leffe on tap, plus Paulaner Weissbier. In addition to this, a selection of bottles.
Food used to be good but gastro; now is upscale pub-grub, but very nicely done, with fat chips and burgers that you won't be able to fit in your mouth. There's an open kitchen in the chessboard-floor room.
Live music is also a forte - in recent years have seen some fantastic jazz/soul/funk bands here, and the jukebox has an interestingly quirky selection of tunes. It's open late at the weekends. Quiz night on Monday is also good (one day we'll win!)
Don't agree with the previous reviewer about the area - Green Lanes is well worth a visit for its Turkish/Greek culture and fantastic Meze/Baklava/Kebabs - but agree that the staff here could be a bit friendlier for the most part. Worth a visit.
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Well, good to know owners past and present are here to post on this.
For those critics around, I took my date to here for our first proper night out after someones leaving do. Yes before anyone says it: I am that classy, and yes there are no flies on me either.
It's a lovely pub in an otherwise dreadful area of North London. The decor and layout is exceptional, and the high ceilings and brad bar areas make me instantly smile.
Beer selection was limited to Czech/Polish (help?) beers which were all pleasant, if not ale in the strictest sense. I cannot remember or pronounce the names, but they seemed well kept and the surroundings made the beer go down with some aplomb.
The reason people come here is for music. The juke-box is just great. Really, I cannot fault the mix of music on here - we listened to Madness, The Smiths, The Clash etc. all int he space of three hours and left feeling remarkably nostalgic for our efforts. They even appaered to be having a live band setting up which is not a terrible thing: shame I lived in South West London and was getting concerned at the time. Or was it my date being concerned where I felt I'd be sleeping that night???
Only one criticism. Staff. Please please please spend m,ore time negaging with your customers. We like your beer, but we don't know what it is so please spend that little extra time promoting the place and the beer as it's lovely. I know you're very attractive but looking in a mirror four times in an hour will only confirm you look identical to an hour ago!
Apart from that minor grip[e, would recommend it unless you like fights and sports in which case the sports bar is down the road, or the Finsbury is also close by.
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ace pub, always fun, great juke box, beer etc.
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Used to be landlord here until feb 06, would be really chuffed to here from the old regulars. Food operation always hard to run here and what the hell difference does 20p a pint make? had my wedding and great times here! where are you guys?!!!!
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A good, spacious boozer. Relaxed, eclectic mix of punters. Good beer, average London prices.
Don't get your knickers in a twist. This probably isn't the best pub in North London, but you could do a lot worse. Don't like the food? Don't eat it. Plenty of good, cheap restaurants nearby anyway.
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Plaything, that sounds more like an advert than an objective recommendation! You don't seem to have commented on any other pubs
You saying it's the best pub in London going too far. It would be better if you (we know you're the manager or owner) were to improve the not very appealing food, maintain the "wonderful interior", buy some decent lager and train the below-average staff, rather than pretend that your pub isn't anything other than second rate.
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Personally i think this is the best pub in North London. A beautifully preserved Victorian interior frequented by a very friendly and interesting crowd. Quiz night mondays, Bands and Dj's in the back room, great food, open till 2am at weekends.....what more do you want. In response to some of the reviews complaining about the prices and the service, well this is london and less than �3 for a pint is not expensive in my book, especially when you consider the wonderful interior. Ok the service can be slow at times but this is just down to the popularity of the place. If you want a fun packed night with friendly unpretentious locals then this is the place to go.
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This is a great pub badly spiolt by terrible service. For my money a walk over the road to the Green Ladder, the Old Ale Emporium and a bit further to the Oakdale are increasingly the better options. That's a shame by the way because this should be every bit as good as them.
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So the pints have gone down in price at The Salisbury? Funny, they seem to have risen at least ten pence at The Shakespeare and The Prince George. Apparently custom is down on Green Lanes, so drinkers in Stokey and Hackney get to subsidise the non-performer. Two pounds ninety five for a pint of London Pride in N16 is a bit of a premium for pubs that haven't seen any real maintenance for quite some time.
Time to consider some other options?
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The prices have come down on the beer, but the menu has changed again (burgers and pizza)'not very appealing.Good eclectic jukebox. The bar staff are a nice lot when you get to know them but the service is still awful,prancing aroung preening themselves when the punters are waiting to be served, i've given up on a number of occassions.
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the most abysmal service I have ever experienced. Got there at 10pm and there were at least 20 people all waiting to be served. Three of four bar staff running around like headless chickens not knowing what to do and steadfastly refusing to acknowledge the customers. After 15 minutes finally gave up and decided to go to a pub where the management actually seem to give a shit about serving people.
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Hmmm, The Shakespeare, The Prince George, The Salisbury...all similar comments:
Positive: Great jukeboxes and pub grub.
Negative: Beer too expensive, not great...lager cheap n czech, yet sold at West End prices.
Lack of maintenance and/or cleanliness
In short, pubs past their prime....what could the link be, Holmes?
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I have to admit to having spent a lot of time and money in this pub and am something of a regular - however I've noticed that the prices on certain beers have increased in the past few months. This was already an expensive pub for the area - but now it's definitely getting out of control.
With a new bar (which is fab) just opened across the street the Sals needs to up its game on food and lower its prices on drink!
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Great pub serving consistently good - but expensive - Fullers range of beers plus a few Belgian and European ones. Beautiful old building inside and out. Attractive bar staff possibly could be friendlier. Also great rocking jukebox, very loud in the evenings. Only downside is you need to see an independent financial advisor if you get a big round in...........
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A beautiful building and a pub that continues to disappoint. A recent visit left me marvelling at the interior and fuming at the ability of the barman to ignore me while talking to his mate at the end of the bar. Never seems to be open when you expect it to be and if you're wanting to eat make sure they're doing food before you order your drinks as the board outside can mislead.The beer is expensive for the area. Could be great but at the moment it appears to be a pub waiting for the great leap forward.
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I've been going here since before the gentrification four years ago. A couple of years ago it had some shaky times with the availability of food, but it's been on an even keel for a while now. I'll be there tomorrow night for Christmas Eve celebrations. Regarding filming there, it was also used for Cronenburg's Spider before it was tarted up.
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I have been going here for drinks after work for a while and haven't been for a while prior to this visit. Went on Friday 1st December with some friends. DJ's in back room were superb, really good night, hopefully have another but think it was a one off (Bangers N Mash). Drinks are quite pricey but like someone else said before you don't get any scummers and the environment is proper old school. They also have live bands on Fridays and Saturdays and serve some pretty tasty nosh, which is well worth the extra dollar. Blinding!
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Old school London pub indeed. Has often been used for filming for its period feel, in particular in "Chaplin". It was also the "Belfast" pub seen in the opening scenes of "The Long Good Friday".
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Good pub, though over priced.An old school London pub, that was given a refurb.i had thought it would be the usual gastro affair,but credit where credit is due,they got it spot on.retained all thats good about a london boozer,but has moved with the times.Juke box is good, though they have bands as well.
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Good pub, though over priced.An old school London pub, that was given a refurb.i had thought it would be the usual gastro affair,but credit where credit is due,they got it spot on.retained all thats good about a london boozer,but has moved with the times.Juke box is good, though they have bands as well.
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I'm currently looking for a new house and one of the key criteria in my search is how far the it is from the Salisbury. That's how much we love this pub... Fantastic on a Sunday afternoon with a pile of newspapers or great on a weekday evening for a pint in a nice atmosphere - the Salisbury is an oasis in the pub desert that is Harringay. They do a fantastic pint of Pride (a pity they only do Fuller's, but luckily I'm a fan), and the range of continental beers is top notch too, without a Stella or Kronenburg in site. It really is worth paying that extra 20p a pint to avoid the Weatherspoons crowd (have you been to the Tollgate??). Can't say I've ever had a problem with the bar staff - compared to other pubs where you tend to get ignored in favour of locals, the service has always been tip-top (although I guess I'm a local, so maybe someone else is being ignored in favour of me). The food is over priced though, and hasn't always been up to scratch - although it's now more consistent since they got a chef to stay more than a couple of weeks... Did I say how much I love this pub?
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Fantastic building, a good range of beers but a shame about the mardy bar staff. They play good music and it's generally a nice atmosphere. I didn't eat there but it did look overpriced. Will go again and hope the bar staff are having a better day!
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The meal I had last night (Irish stew �9) was disgusting. The bar staff weren't interested in my complaint, telling me to go and see the chef (even though you pay the bar staff for the meal prior to eating!)as the "restaurant" is separate from the pub. Such a shame as the pub itself is fine and they have a good selection of beers & wine. But.....avoid the food!!
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Music is good and has a late license, but food was very expensive for the quality. Bar staff only grudgingly serve because you are stoping them having a chat.
anonymous - 30 Mar 2006 18:31 |
Fantastic interior, just like stepping in to a time machine.All those interesting foreign beers too.
Live music, and great stuff o the jukebox as well.
It is open really late, which is also rather wonderfull.
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I have lived on Harringay Ladder for eight years I haven't got a clue where Harringay village is? Is it near Harringay Heights or Harringay or Harringay Hills?
Snobbery Kurd are you an Estate Agent by any chance. Last time I looked, it was Harringay in the borough of Haringey.
Salisbury is a class bozzer though apart from some snobs in there and the bar staff can be miserable as hell.
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I took some visitors in for the Sunday roast a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the best I have had in ages.
I have never had any bad experience with the staff so I wouldn't nbecessarily take some of the previous comments on the service too much to heart.
A good selection of beers and a fantastic, traditional building.
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Have used this pub in the past, but has gone downhill recently
anonymous - 15 Feb 2006 01:55 |
This pub is the jewel in the crown of Harringay Village.
The landlord should be knighted for services to humanity for taking what was a haven for rogues and cutthroats, boarding it up for a year and restoring this magnificent beer palace to its one hundred-year-old former glory.
The setting is awe-inspiring, a muscular, six-story Victorian edifice imperiously surveying Green Lanes. The cavernous interior, adorned with classical busts and stuffed gamebirds, is so large it actually comprises four distinct zones, from the intimate booths in the South corridor, through the cheerful, smoky Green Lanes-facing front to the old billiards room in the back, now a rather self-conscious stab at a gastropub kitchen.
The beers are good (make that knighthood a Baronetcy for resisting stocking Stella, Fosters or any other big brewery filth) and who cares about the food - for pity's sake go and eat at Bingol across the road, you're in the Shish capital of Western Europe.
And of course it's expensive, that's how they stop the scum coming in. If you want cheap beer and a fractured skull, go drink in Wood Green.
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I was very disapointed with this highly recommeded pub, I found the staff rude and the food average, I would avoid if possible
anonymous - 15 Jan 2006 04:05 |
This is my local as it is at the end of my road.
This is very much a "Crouch End" pub where people trek from Muswell Hill and the likes to frequent it. This pub before it was restored was a massive dump with no reason to go at all. Since it's restoration it gas taken a while to get going but it now is a great place to drink, eat and listen to live music.
The offer classical, jazz, rock and some of that dj muck and also comedy nights.
The sauce is perfect with fine ales from Fullers and if you insist in drinking that fizzy stuff at least it is the proper stuff from Belgium and the Czech Republic.
The food is a little overpriced for what it is. Prices a little steep as well, but on the whole a pretty fine boozer.
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I really like this pub. The building is stunning, the beer really good, the atmosphere great and the bar staff friendly, but I'm afraid that the food here has gone badly downhill.
I've not been for a few weeks so it may have improved - but the last couple of times I went there the people doing the food didn't seem to know whether they want to be a poncey overpriced gastro pub or purveyors of standard pub fare and this confusion is reflected in the food. The burger i had was deliscious - but completely ruined by the bap - which was one of those lightweight, iceland-style horrors that disintegrates as soon as you pick it up (no excuse with one of thebest bakeries in North London opposite). My girlfriend had the "home-made" fischcake - which really took the piss. It cost around �9 and was a perfectly triangular factory-produced mcdonald's style fish burger.
The sunday roast was a big disappointment too. Stingey and overpriced.
It's a shame, because the last people to do the food here - a fiery Italian couple - did a great job. It was unpretentious but interesting , and reasonably priced. - and the Sunday roast was great.
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Very very very nice pub.
We headed in on a cold night after a long long day and received a warm welcome in this warm comfortable environment. The pub itself could easily veer toward the ostentatious on account of the impressive ironwork over the door and roomy wooden rooms. But friendly staff (made all the more obvious by how many regulars they knew the names and regular drinks of) certainly produce an excellent pub.
Food was very good (it can be hard to find good mussels in London pubs).
Good point about the chill below though; it�s pretty spacious so it really doesn�t heat up at all.
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Grandiose looking but not at all stuck up boozer in an area where good pubs are thin on the ground. Excellent spacious interior with nice tiled floor, stylish big windows and a huge bar. Plenty of seats if you are prepared to scout around in the nooks and crannies for them. Range of beers is inspiring and well kept. Bar staff are unfailingly friendly but can be a little bit too relaxed. Only downside is that it's a little steep for this neck of the woods in the way that Mount Everest is a little steep. All in all though a fantastic pub worthy of making the trip to Green Lanes for. Wrap up warm if you are going here in the winter though as it gets very chilly.
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Fantastic. A friend and i went their in our lunch break. The food was great (especially loved the chunky chips!) The service was great. Excellent choice of food. I find it really hard to believe reading through these comments that anyone could have anything bad to say. Has anonymous posted their message incorrectly, ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT SALISBURY PUB? because everything was top notch!!
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I've just got to say that this is my local and I have never had a problem with either the bar staff or the great food! Its very laid back and casual which is why I love it here. Unusual for the kitchen to be closed though for anonymous 5th sept?
Better luck next time mate.
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Last week I booked a table for 8 people for a 3pm Sunday lunch (yesterday) but when I arrived at the Salisbury pub I saw a sign which said that the kitchen was closed. I asked the lady behind the bar why I was not contacted (they had taken my phone number when I made the booking) and though she apologised she did not seem overly concerned. I was bitterly disappointed and obviously embarrassed as my guests had travelled from all over London on my recommendation. As people who live in this area know, there is not that much choice and we had to traipse to Finsbury Park to find an alternative. An oversight like this is clearly disastrous for customer relations. I am considering whether to write a letter of complaint to the manager and wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar.
anonymous - 5 Sep 2005 13:12 |
I have got to say that besides my own mothers cooking this pub really is up there with the best of them! Surprising I know considering the area it is placed in. The Sunday Roast was amazing - I mean what place do you go to and get roast parsnips! They had a good deal on as well. Me and boyfriend had a starter each and a roast dinner and the lot came to about �20! The staff were really friendly and welcoming as well. Have been back there several times in the week just to see if the food was still as good - trust me it was! Must be as I'm holding my birthday party there. (Let you know what the buffet menu was like) Hoorah for The Salisbury at harringay! Give this one a try!
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Now don�t get me wrong, I do like this pub. The staff are friendly, the beer�s good and the d�cor is amazing, especially considering the hell hole it was in a previous life. My only gripe is the food. Ok, I have only tried it once, but it was the worst Sunday lunch I have ever had. I wanted to know what a 9 quid vegetarian Sunday lunch looked like, but if it is always burnt veggie sausages covered in what seemed to be the juice from canned tomatoes, par-boiled then deep-fried potatoes (that isn�t roast!), with cold over cooked cabbage, peas and parsnip & a Yorkshire pudding which disintegrated into dust, then I may head back to meat�although my friend ordered the lamb (received the pork) so maybe not. It is the only time I have ever taken food back & asked for a refund � actually the refund for 4 meals which, to be fair, I got. I think I�ll look elsewhere next Sunday�
anonymous - 3 Aug 2005 14:10 |
Brilliant pub, can't recommend it highly enough. Don't visit that often but I'm proud to call it my local. Fantastic Victorian architecture, top grub, a good range of proper bitters and Czech lager - and it attracts a good mixed civilised crowd.
An amazing turnaround from the hovel that it used be a few years ago, when you used to go in and worry if you'd still have your teeth in your mouth by the time you left.
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Spacious and pleasant interior. Nice place for an afternoon drink or two (no more or you'll end up living on the streets at these prices). Fullers pub with remarkably well kept beers (better than any other fullers pub i have been in). Overall not bad at all, though not the sort of place i would really want to visit on a busy evening.
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Very pleasant surroundings and very spacious. Theres a good range of beers available. I liked one of the Czech lagers on tap quite a lot. Perhaps slightly overpriced especially the food but overall this is one of the best places in the local area. Up there with the Oakdale Arms which MUST NOT BE DEMOLISHED...
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Lovely looking pub, glad they have got rid of vile Ridleys beers. Bit pricey, but the bitters are always in very good condition.
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Jeez! I've been about 40 times and never noticed anyone being rude at all. It's worth a visit just to soak up the achitechture (surpassed only by the Queens in Crouch End) and the warmth from two or three fireplaces. The beer isn't cheap but there's a good selection, some of them unusual and excellent.
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Lovable place with good local people. Good range of beers but very over priced.
I would have given a highly rating but witnessed the manager being extremely rude to a group of people sitting opposite us
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I didnt like this pub at all!!! Hence the rating of zero! I found the drinks over priced, food was bland and again over priced and the manager was very conceited!
anonymous - 5 Mar 2005 20:23 |
Great pub, beautiful interior, good atmosphere. They really make an effort here. If I had to criticise, one particular newish girl who serves behind the bar is continually incredibly very rude. Get rid of her! All other staff are great. Sunday lunch also disappointing.
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Nice pub. Always somewhere to sit even when it's busy. Pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.
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i remember that night you were a git to the member of staff who served you and the boss was very pacient under the circumstances you deserved a good slap for your behaviour
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Although this is a very nice pub and highly recommended, I had one of the most shocking experiences of my drinking life today. A polite complaint about the quality of a vodka and red ball led to the manager of the pub telling me to f##k off twice. (He admitted to being totally unreasonalble but it "was his pub so he didn't care")
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Plays a lot of Nick Cave and is quite stunning example of Victorian grandeur. Very atmospheric. 9/10
CK - 14 Nov 2004 20:26 |
Great pub, nice and big, good selection of foreign lagers and a few real ales etc.
Quiz night is great and cheap, with a reasonably large prize. People are friendly in there too. Great!
Jimmy Almond - 11 Oct 2004 17:38 |
Great pub, nice and friendly atmosphere, big enough to accomodate big partys yet partitioned enough not to feel crowded.
Some nice czech lagers, nice beers, nice and friendly barstaff, a great quiz night (mondays) with big prizes. Friendly drinkers as well :)
Worth a trip!
Edd Almond - 5 Oct 2004 16:40 |
This is a fantastic pub - good music, good events (quiz on Monday, 'Hospital Radio' club on Thursday) and tremendous beers make it one of the best drinking experiences in London. Atmosphere always good and the locals (like me)don't bite...
Will C - 22 Sep 2004 11:31 |
This pub is huge, full of character, possibly the best afternoon drinking spot in North London.
Tom Radford - 1 Jul 2004 13:47 |
Some of the best tasting beer around and a really nice relaxing pub to spend some time in
Bleach - 23 Jun 2004 21:20 |
Currently up for nomination in the Time Out Eating and Drinking Awards 2004 (Best Pub)-go vote!
anonymous - 22 May 2004 09:23 |
Harringey still needs a place that serves good breakfasts and a good Sunday dinner. If the Salisbury could get this right, I would be a regular customer. Sadly it falls short. Beer okay though.
David - 16 Apr 2004 17:16 |
Defintely stands out amongst the array of smelly local pubs for local people. The jukebox brings a new meaning to the word Eclectic. Beer's awesome. Not sure yet what the 'theme' of the pub is - Roman busts and taxidermy run amok... Can someone get Fleming another Premium?
BOV - 1 Apr 2004 17:08 |
My mother born 1908, and now 95, recalls that this pub was owned (more likely managed) by her grandfather Charles Sheen who,in the the U.K. census at the was described as a "Licenced Victualler".
Is there any way I can verify this information?
Chris Beames
Montreal Canada.
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my my. How this pub has changed. Before refurbishment, there was a good 3 hour �4 all you could drink for free deal. But then there was the worry if you would get out of there alive (not through excessive drinking but escaping violent clientel). However, a completely different world now (appart from the bouncer). Great pub now.
anonymous - 1 Oct 2003 20:19 |
Excellent in every way. Top refurbishment!
dabido - 25 Sep 2003 13:08 |
Great pub, do a wicked Guinness. Bouncer is a top lad (Arsenal fan though), and a very pretty young lady behind the bar most nights - Dom.
Ian - 19 Sep 2003 15:53 |
This pub is on the �historic pub interiors� section of the CAMRA website and it is easy to see why as soon as you enter the place. There are three separate areas around a large central ornate bar, a bright and airy bar fronts onto the main road, a nice wooden floored area which seems the most popular and a quieter, more intimate area with a wonderful mosaic floor. If that wasn�t enough there is also a comfortably furnished lounge at the back. Ridleys Old Bob and IPA were on plus London Pride and Czech beer Litovel. The pub has a nice friendly laid back feel to it and deserves a visit if only for the d�cor.
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Great Pub. Great job of decor inside, clean, friendly and modest selection of ales. Vast contrast of what it used to be. 8/10
Nigel - 16 Jul 2003 02:01 |
the best pun in london!
gutis - 11 Jul 2003 10:24 |
Recently refurbished listed building with open fires and lots of period features. Serves a fine range of unusual beers as well as food. Open until late on weekends. Worlds friendliest bouncer. Eclectic juke box by pub standards.
Andy - 1 Apr 2003 21:21 |
