please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Am absolutely shocked to see the Mother is temporarily closed.I bet two mates one night this will be the last pub in Britain (I won’t say Great because it’s a dump now) to close down.I hope they don’t find out it’s shut and expect they’re winnings.It was always busy,most of the drinkers used to go outside at kicking out time and stand by the door until opening time the next morning,go in and drink another day of their lives away,some I believe are still stood outside.
Apparently bad management and retirement led to our Mother closing and it’s future is in the balance.Maybe it will re emerge as of old or become a posh hoity toity establishment or be converted to flats.One day we will find out.
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I love this boozer and it's always on my list when I'm in London
Every post on here is true, it's what you see is what you get.I popped in during the Republic of Ireland match and the clientele consisted of three friendly barmaids,three old time Londoners,a couple of passers by stopping to watch the football, a dozen hardcore Irish drinkers, a couple getting drunk while they're poor son begged for his tea, a nutty woman arguing with herself and another lunatic who stuck his head round the door to inform us all Paul Mcgrath was the best centre back Northern Ireland ever had.He was politely thanked by most of the customers and reminded Mr Mcgrath played for the Republic.
A great pub which always leaves you reluctant to leave and wanting to return.
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An Irish navvy pub frequented by guys who look like villians from an episode of Minder. No ale, just lager and Guinness as would be expected. Lovely tiles and Victorian decor though. Friendly long suffering barmaid.
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Rough round the edges pub frequented during the day by heavy drinking Irish pensioners watching the Horse racing. Busy at the weekends when a monumental piss up takes place to the sound of the Pogues. You will always find oddballs in these kinds of pubs too but they are mainly harmless.
Fine to pop in to watch the footie or pass the time of day with the regulars over a cheap pint
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I prejudged this place about six years ago and decided impose a lifetime veto; however, I had a bit of time to kill while in the area, so went in for a quick pint. Sometimes it's best to go with one's hunches; zero atmosphere, poor selection of drinks, some weirdo tried to talk to me at the bar and it wasn't even cheap.
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I'm not sure why some of the other reviews have written obvious racist remarks about the Irish, I have never had a problem as a very proud Englishman in this pub.
However, I want to leave a comment on how this pub has changed over the last couple of years for the worse. The family who run this pub have done so for the whole time that I have been drinking there for the past 6 years. They are really nice people all off them and they have always run a really tight ship so to speak but over the last few years the pub has gone down hill rapidly and none of the family seem to care.
The mens toilets are a disgrace and I'm not really sure how Health and Safety have not closed the pub down because of the state of them; the cistern looks like it is alive and in the summer time there are hundreds of flies to be found in there. The windows in the toilets look like they have never been washed in years, I don't know who does there cleaning but I would sack them instantly if it was my pub and scrub the place from top to toe before it is closed down for real.
More importantly, the beer used to be the best in the area bar none but in the past number of years this has also suffered to such an extent that I now only drink bottled beer when I go in.
Recently, people seem to bring their own alcohol into the pub as I have seen empty vodka bottles in the toilets but again there never seems to be any of the family around to deal with the problem and the staff probably just turn a blind eye for a quiet life.
I wish that this family would sort this pub out as it really was one of the best in the area. There is nothing that I would like more than to be able to go in and have a pint of Guinness that resembles a pint that you would get in Dublin. Having said all of that I still enjoy going in for the atmosphere but it has been noticable how many of the old Irish men no longer drink there and they are the best judge of beer than anyone I know.
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MRC is ok - mixed clientle Irish working class / Irish retired / London Working class/ Art students / middle class professionals popping in for a pint after work. It reflects the area and it is a good boozer. 2nd to St John's in the vicinity as a place to go and is open all day. 1 thing though, if aliens land, Christ returns, a meteorite is 50/50 to hit the earth don't expect to see it on any of the 3 screens. It'll still be the racing from Drummacree or Hexham.
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Not really my kind of place but it was busy on the couple of occassions I have popped in to watch a Liverpool game on the big screen. As is to be expected the clientele is mostly male and comprised of the Irish labouring fraternity so I suppose if that describes you you'll love it, but I couldn't help feeling that with my Home Counties accent I stuck out like a sore thumb when ordering a drink.
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I can't go into this pub again, because if I did I'd never leave.
Close to the jobcentre, the bookies and on top of all that it's hardcore Irish. All of which I adore.
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First time I went in I found it pretty intense, but then that is partly because it is quite friendly, which is always a surprise in London. It's certainly not a looker, in fact it makes my top ten list of shabby looking pubs, however the bar staff are attentive, the back little garden is full of conversation, and whilst this pub isn't for me, I can recommend it to social types passing through, perhaps on a crawl.
anonymous - 17 Jun 2010 14:31 |
Not the worst local in the world, but spoiled a bit by the tempremental barstaff and ever strong Irish contingent.
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I visited this establishment recently for the firs time in several years(Having lived in the area previously) and I have to say as an Irishman in London for 27 years I found this place to be one of the reasons I left Ireland in the first place. Full of sad, morose, bitter idiots wishing for the past. (Yet, in the past they emigrated?) The beer was terrible. the staff rude and the all round experience distinctly unpleasant.
I certainly won't hurry back!
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As you'd expect this place is full of Irishman with terrible drink problems. My pint was ruined by one of them lecturing me about what a good footballer Thierry Henry is, I mean, nobody else thinks that, do they?
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This pub is great! It gets soo busy and on Paddy's day it was heaving! Home made stew was dished out (free might I add) to anyone who wanted it. Great atmosphere, great beer, great staff!
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I didn�t spot any real ale, but there was plenty of lager and Guinness � This is Archway after all!
The sign on the wall outside the pub says that this place has �the friendliest welcome on Holloway Road�. I know that this is hardly a massive feat, but I thought I would test this out and I have to admit that the landlady was very friendly.
There is a pool table around one side of the pub and 2 well placed plasma screens which were showing Sky Sports.
The major let down I found with this pub were the locals who were not very accommodating and loitering in the wrong century. I ended up leaving just before the band started.
I�m still to find a decent boozer in Archway � The search continues.
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Totally ruined....Everything that made this boozer great has been skipped....and for five years in a row we used to go there for Xmas eve for a cosy drink/piss-up. Used to have nice little alcoves, fitted red velvet sofas and drapes, loads of beautiful dark wood and a great atmosphere. Out the back to the toilets was oak panelled, now looks like McDonalds. The walls have been stripped down to bare brick, so it's like a building site. Upholstery is tacky like a Wetherspoons. Another great pub destroyed....congratulations.
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Great that they give out free sandwiches and forgot to charge me for a round I ordered. Besides that, not a good bar. Too intimidating, if you're not one of the Irish locals.
Heard it's just been refurbished and is re-opening this week. Don't think I'll be going back again, though.
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Me and a mate have watched the Grand National in here for the last five years, one of the worst things about her moving to Edinburgh is that we can't do it anymore ... it's a fantastic pub and a great crowd. Evenings are smoky crowded but fun - what pubs used to be like.
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Was in this pub on a sunday night.....Lucky I'm not paranoid.....There were 5 traditional players sat in a circle facing inwards on the stage-playing away....
whilst the punters were all huddled round facing the bar.I sat at a table in the middle...-WERE THEY ALL TALKING ABOUT ME???WAS I SITTING OVER A TRAPDOOR THAT COULD HURTLE ME TO MY DEATH ON THE JAGGED ROCKS BELOW-IF I TAPPED MY FEET AT THE WRONG TIME...err no!! -just that noone had noticed me...so I eventually shuffled out -still,the trad session was very good.
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Was in here on a sun lunchtime and had the sandwiches - they sorted my hangover! Been in here on a few evenings - friendly place nice meeting spot
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This is a great Irish pub. There is a great crowd going in there and all are freindly. I understand that it is a family run pub and the Landlady does some mean sandwiches on a Sunday. Have been there a few times to watch various football matches and also when there is live music on Fri and Sat nights. It has a fantastic atmosphere especially at the weekends.
It has become a regular for me. Go on the Phelans!!!
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Great pub with lots of beautiful Victorian tiling, mirrors and woodwork that has been ripped out of most other pubs. Good Guinness and great music on a Saturday night - get there early if you want a seat.
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good character full pub good atmosphere at w.ends but very smoky
anonymous - 8 Apr 2005 11:07 |
good old irish pub
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It's like stepping into a time machine and being transported back to Dublin. Nice boozer, good price for the beer. Will go again.
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Great pub and a great local crowd
and the pint of guinness in town
at the right price .
jb - 25 Sep 2004 19:42 |
