The St Johns Tavern, Archway

@ mydeaddad

I'm not asking anyone to kiss ass just not to look down their noses at me when they're serving me.

15 May 2011 23:15

The Dartmouth Arms, Dartmouth Park

puppyfeat you're spot on.

I watch the football in this pub as it's the best place in the area for that and it's actually a nice pub too. Have been coming here for about 5 years.

A couple of weeks ago I was charged �4 for a pint of Becks Vier. I said to the barman that this was extremely expensive and he agreed but gave me the old "I don't set the prices" spiel......today I was charged �4.70 (!!!) for a pint of Estrella....

I watched the 1st half of the match and then decamped to Kentish town where I paid �3.35 for a pint.

I refuse to drink in this pub anymore. They are going to drive out a lot of local, working class people with their prices and it'll become another one of those pubs that only the toffs drink in. (Maybe that's the idea?) Either way I'm out!

Management and Landlord take note!

15 May 2011 22:55

The St Johns Tavern, Archway

I have lived in the area for some years now and St. John's has been my local for about 3 years. This is a review of the pub only, not the restaurant, but I can honestly say that I have never had a bad pint or bad plate of food in this establishment.

The Guinness is consistently very good and there is always a decent selection of real ale (usually at least 3 choices) . I don't drink it that much but the last time few times I've been in they had Summer Lightning & Old Hooky and both were in good nick. The lagers are always cold and very lively (as they should be) and unless you're very unlucky drinks are served in their correct glasses.

The food, although not cheap is worth it for the quality and in my opinion better than any of the other gastro pubs in Tufnell Park / Highgate (and I've been to them all.) The wine list is very good also. Sadly they changed their house red a few months ago, the previous was better than some of the more expensive wines above it on the menu.

Now for the bad bits:

It can get pretty busy on Fridays and at weekends and although the pub is not particularly child-friendly, lots of young families have started using it on the weekend. Which , depending on the behaviour of the kids can be a bit of a ball-ache at times, not to mention noisy.

The bar snacks are nice but they are overpriced. I find this typical of Gastro pubs where things are made freshly on the premises. (St. John's bakes its own bread.)

Finally, the staff definitely vary in their friendliness. There are a couple of gems: Chris (one of the managers) and a relatively new French recruit with mad curly hair. Most of the female staff are fine but there are a couple of bar-tenders who have a strange / poncy / pretentious attitude. For anyone who frequents the place I'm talking about the small thin chap with a beard and the guy known on this site as "The Pirate". But even he has now taken to greeting me in a friendly way because I use the place so much. (However having read owen_b2 & shand83's reviews I won't be ordering food from him any time soon.)

People have commented that it's not a particularly warm atmosphere but I disagree with this and think it can give this impression because of the large and open nature of the pub, high ceilings and the lack of soft furnishings / booths etc. On the plus side it's very light and airy during the day and not at all dingy. I guess it all depends what you prefer...

So there you go my 1st review on this site and I thought it best to start with my local. I hope people find it useful.

18 Aug 2010 14:43