please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I was the only person in here on a Sunday at exactly mid day although the landlady was telling the barmaid to make sure the Sunday lunch menus were on the table so I assume they were expecting a few more customers
I always feel sorry for people trying to run a pub in London as it can’t be easy for a variety of reasons,extreme violence and many residents who don’t drink for religious reasons but judging by the attitudes of the staff and management I doubt this place will survive for a great deal longer
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Seems a little more inviting than on past visits. They had some unusual brewery ales on but it didn't look too inspiring and not a soul in the place was drinking it so played safe and had a lager. No vagabonds about on this visit and the beware of pickpockets notices have gone.
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Badly neglected as others have said and a pretty iffy clientele. Bit surprising given the amount of pubs that have shut in the area, including 317, Walkabout and Wetherspoons, that this dump survives.
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Dark and in decay. Tatty tables and a wipe your feet on the way out kind of feel. Not a place you'd be inclined to linger. Dissapointing pub owing to apparent neglect.
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Popped in here last night to watch the Arsenal match ... heavens we walked out after finishing our pints. Rude staff - the manager ignored us when we asked a question ... his manners have not improved since we were last in here 5 years ago.
Glass was dirty, tv was blaring but the sound was distorted. You'd think the pub would have been rammed for this match but it was only half full - not surprising as the atmosphere was not inviting. Only a handful of not friendly locals - I'm surprised that this pub is still in business - we went moved onto the Railway at West Hampstead which was full to the rafters, friendly bar man, great atmosphere - I will never go back into the North Star again ....
Give it a wide berth.
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Not a bad boozer,5 handpumps featured 3 guest ales,1 cider and 1 was blank. My pint of Adnams Bitter (�3.10) was fine. 7/10
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Odd pub....recently decorated and plenty of seating...a dart board and sport on TV...beer (Black sheep) was good...however, it seemed soulless, the sport was not your mainstream stuff and there was music on in the background...seemed trying to be everything for everyone.....would visit again if in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way to be there...
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Popped in yesterday with a mate. We had been in the Swiss Cottage up the road and were waiting for our Train home from Finchley Rd tube when we thought we would pop in. I was driving later and had already had a pint so opted just for a small coke (�2). There were 4 handpumps on at the time. The music was slightly strange in some happy hardcore like dance music playing out quite loud but not to the point that I could not hear my friend speak. There were 4 screens showing the Tour De France and a few people playing darts. I cannot really fault the place. It does exactly as it says on the tin. The staff were fine too. Could probably do with a bit of a refurb though and thats why it gets 5/10
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Popped in last night for a quick pint to get out of the rain. They had Jennings' Cumberland Ale and Adnams on and also Black Sheep although that had gone. �3.05 a pint and the Cumberland tasted fine. The ales seem to rotate regularly as they had a list up of what was coming in the future. The music could be heard but wasn't unbearably loud as the people on the table next to me seemed to be conversing without shouting. Lots of screens so it seems to be a place to go to for watching sport. Think I read somewhere that it is run by an uncle of Norman Cook but maybe that's another place on Finchley Road?
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This pub is beyond hope, beyond redemption
You enter this pub expecting to enjoy a quiet pint of Real Ale, but you find yourself confronted with a noise level that is dangerously above health and safety levels, a noise level likely to damage your hearing. Pop music is blaring out from speakers set all around the pub, people are shouting trying to speak above the ambient noise level in the pub. TV screens screaming at you from all directions. It would be impossible to have proper conversation with a group of frieds in this wretched establishment.
You buy a pint: �3-10p for a pint of Bombardier.
As if that were not enough you look for a price list displayed on the wall or by the bar. There is none. To ascertain how much you have to pay you have to ask the person behind the bar. To me this practice of not displaying a proper price list for beers is wholly unacceptable.
You point out the noise to the person managing the pub, and the lack of a price list. They ask you
"Why do you bother coming to a pub?"
I will now answer that question outright. I will never bother coming to that pub ever again.
This has to be one of the most outrageously unfriendly pubs there are.
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Not as welcoming a pub as it once was, though I suppose the area has gone a bit downhill too. Only a choice of Ringwood and Hobgoblin on the ale front. Went for the Ringwood which wasn't up to much. Service was efficient and diligent. Has notices warning people about thieves operating in the pub and you can well believe them. A place to be a little wary when in these days.
anonymous - 10 Feb 2010 22:15 |
still a bit run down, and still a bit iffy in terms of clientele, but the management do seem to be making an effort and improved on previous management, and the beer is pretty well kept.
mps77 - 16 Oct 2009 12:38 |
in this pub last week to watch the tennis great day sitting in the garden watching it on the outside tv service was good great real ales and good atmosphere. will def b back 2 watch the ashes.
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Love to know what pub you were in mate........have been drinking in there for years and there have not been pool tables in there for atleast 2!!!!!!!!! Think you need your eyes tesed.
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Pretty average pub, seems good for TV sport, covered / heated smoking area outside.
Haven't been upstairs for while, though it's a bit run down, has a couple of pool tables.
Last time I was there a few weeks back, a few unsavoury characters were enjoying squaring up to each other in the back garden. Nothing came of it, quite unnecessary and unpleasant nevertheless.
Booze seems mainly well kept, pub has traditional feel to it. Close to Finchley Road tube.
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Now my preferred place for watching the Rs when they're on the box. Pleasant and bidable behind the bar, �3 for Carling. Never seems to be overly busy (especially when the Rs are on, ho ho) but seems to have a steady turnover of customers.
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This pub does not display its pricelist for beers. I consider that poor. I asked the Czech barmaid whether that was the practice in her country. She said that in Czech Republic all bars had to display their price list. That was the law. why is our country so negligent?
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Food was decent and filling, good selection of real ales and has Sky
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This is not the best pub. It gets packed for any football matches, but 2 minutes after the game it is empty again.
There is a pretty good smoking area with tables and benches out the back of the pub.
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Good real ales, friendly staff, and generally a decent place to drink. Nothing spectacular, but better for it.
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Only been in here once but I thought it looked much better than the below reviews suggest - in particular a good number of real ales were in evidence (although I only had a diet coke as it was lunchtime). Has a quiz machine as well...
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DIRE!
anonymous - 27 Jul 2006 16:01 |
I hadn't been to this place in a few years, and remembered it vaguely as a slightly quiet, sprawling place with plenty of room and a nice selection of beer.
Wow. It's really fallen off the edge since then. I don't really know what the managers think they're about, but my experience of too-loud music, too-hastily-poured beer and indifferent service means I won't be spending money there again soon.
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What has happened to what was once a good pub. The new managment have know idea of how to run a pub. This place was a nice place to relax now is full of crap other places dont want. Im so sorry please bring back the old manager its just not the same without him.
anonymous - 4 Sep 2005 00:54 |
Was in this pub recently - dreadful staff, music blaring and utterly filthy. My boyfriend and I ordered a food - a huge mistake - the sandwich was made with stale bread and was accompanied by brown lettuce which was clearly bad. Do not even bother complaining to the staff - they look at you with disbelief and their response is surly.
It is a huge shame that the old manager has gone - the new manageress sits and stares at customers making them feel uncomfortable.
The brewery must be making a huge loss on this venue as many of our friends refuse to go in their now - the lamentable couple who run this establsihment should be replaced as soon as possible.
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Pub has gone into the gutter since new manager has joined. Staff are rude and don't even know their products. Music from the jukebox blares out alongside sport coverage from the tv screens. Staff look at you as though you are an idiot when you ask them to lower it.
I would give this pub a wide berth until it gets a new manager - go the Swiss Cottage or Wetherspoons in the 02 centre. The service might be slower but at least you won't have to put up with the frightful people who run this establishment
anonymous - 23 Aug 2005 16:20 |
Nice one, anon (9th July)....So, you're sticking up for a boozer which you say yourself, is frequented by "rude horible people everyday." You're obviously a very discerning character! Also, your inference that I was rude and "horible" and that I actually like the O2 centre shows your comprehension of the english language to be questionable at best. I'm not surprised you are "not sure where kmcs is comeing from". I for one, am sure where i am coming from and indeed what pubs i shan't be going to. Maybe you wanna stay out of the rough shitholes with "rude horible" clientele, and instead maybe attend some kind of night class,...just maybe you "sould"
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Shame the old manager left, this pub has lost its way not nearly as good. I wont be going there any more.
anonymous - 10 Jul 2005 10:07 |
Im not sure were kmcs is comeing from, ive always found the staff at the North Star nothing but frendly and helpful,disite been subjected to rude horible people every day. Perhaps he sould stay at he O2 centre.
anonymous - 9 Jul 2005 13:25 |
The quality of the beer has taken a nosedive recently and so has the clientel since the Brittania closed down.
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I found this lot pretty obliging, beer's ok and they will put on any football match you want, if it's being broadcast (may have to help some bar staff with the controls).
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Good one in here yesterday,.
"excuse me,..do you do a sunday roast?"
"Wait your turn!"
"No, im not ordering,..just carry on serving,..but do you serve a roast?"
"i'm serving someone else!"
"wtf?!"
I was laughing with the geezers at the bar about it as i walked out....one of em followed my out onto the street and goes,..."Dire as it sounds mate,..you're better off going to the O2 centre!"
Thats what we're talking about here.
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Usually fairly quiet daytime, except for the lunch "rush". Many regulars, a few suits after 5pm, not nearly enough girls!! Staff mostly nice, but change often. Manager nice guy, but leaving soon!
anonymous - 17 May 2005 13:03 |
Showing La Liga when visited, not particularly busy. Broadside was spot on though.
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Great pub for sport, always 2 or 3 real ales on and good. Great staff and atmosphere. Spanish football shown as well as any football thats on. Freindly funny Manager to.
Steve - 5 Nov 2004 10:01 |
Not the greatest pub but then there is no competition in this part of Finchley Road. Normally has at least one real ale on but can be a bit dissapointing. Shows football matches and anything is better than The Walkabout in the 02 centre.
Gareth - 15 Oct 2004 13:13 |
The first English pub I ever drank in. Gets a lot of Uni students but the crowd and the staff are pretty friendly.
Aaron - 14 May 2004 03:54 |
Never that busy when I've been there. One of those places that just doesn't have much atmosphere despite it being around for years and well known.
anonymous - 11 May 2004 19:32 |
