please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
they don't seem to know what to do with this place. used to drink here when i lived locally and it was the bull & butcher. since then it's had lots of different names but nothing seems to work. inside is very trendy now, lots of white and leather, but this doesn't really fit whetstone's drinkers. if it was turned back into a proper pub i would return but can't see that happening. also they need to stick with one thing with the food. they've had everything from thai to a crepe van and now pub grub, it's just confusing. whetstone doesn't need a nightclub, appeal to the real drinkers please.
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Sadly for Melas the restaurant was not supported by us locals enough and the menus slipped to more banal pub grub.
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Another change of name as this place is now called the I-Bar.
I�m pretty sure that the pool table has now gone and the room that was closed for a while for renovation is now an in house Thai restaurant.
The staff still seem nice enough and there is still usually some sort of music playing, but unfortunately the same old confrontational regulars still drink here putting this place off my Whetstone radar.
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It's now re-opened as the 'Real Music Club' and a lot of money has obviously been spent on the refurb. It's unrecognisable as the old Bull & Butcher from the inside. The front bar is bright and modern. The large room at the back has been turned into a live music venue that puts most in Camden to shame - it has a big stage and a new PA and lighting rig. Very good sound, and they are now getting some well known cover and tribute bands in, as well as new up and coming bands.
It's piss poor for the real ale fan though. A single hand pump has recently been installed for Green King IPA. I thought things were looking up when I noticed this a few weeks ago, but it's never been working since it was installed and when I asked a barmaid she said they were still waiting for some beer to be delivered for it....
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This is an OK pub, but there are a few crazies that drink here and they put me off a little. The staff are friendly enough and the bouncer� Well he�s a bouncer!
There are 2 separate bars, one of which has been closed for a while for renovation, along with a big room at the back that has a pool table in it and is where the bands play. There is also some covered seating and a crepe van at the front of the pub on the high road.
The dart board and Sky Sports top off what would be a great pub if it wasn�t for the care in the community crew.
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Great new venue for live music with recent gigs including Wishbone Ash and the tribute band Fleetwoood Bac.
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Having lived in Whetstone/Totteridge since I was a child and never visiting this pub, my mum and I had lunch here today and were pleasantly surprised.
It has been taken over in the last six months by new owners and the food is very good. Everything is home cooked, is well priced and the food is good quality with an interesting menu.
It is really lovely to see that they do proper homemade chips not the frozen packet rubbish you get everywhere!
They are trying to turn this pub around and will succeed if all the locals go and try it! They also have live music every weekend.
We shall defintely be going back!!!
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interesting to note that my previous comments were removed at the same time two bad ones were placed about the Griffin
Looks like a little tit for tat
anonymous - 26 May 2007 17:25 |
The death of The Bull and Butcher has been exagerated.
May be reopening under new ownership/management as soon as Friday 13th April - confirmation of veracity and longer term changes awaited with interest.
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So many memories, some good!
The pub closes on Thursday 12th April, possibly not to reopen as a pub after 143 years on this site. So for prosterity a few words:
Lisa
Julie
Lizzie
Lucy
Michelle
Katherine
Zaide
Sarah
Amiee.
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Not great but slightly better than the below reviews suggest. Full of sports fans when I visited watching on the many televisions. A cavernous place with loads of pool tables, games machines etc. - but no real ale as far as I could see, which was disappointing. I also noted the sign explicitly saying they don't accept Scottish notes - why on earth not, as they are legal tender in England?!
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I posted one of the comments few years ago. Pub has now gone to the dogs, See the police there alot for trouble. Hasn't been the same since Kevin (The Land Lord) went. All the regulars have gone. It's full of kids. Kevin is now in the Fish Mongers Armies in Southgate. Andy G
anonymous - 12 Jul 2006 19:47 |
The people at the beginning of this list now drink in The Griffin. Matt, Alex, Ashley and even Yatesy went to work in The Griffin. Need I say more.
anonymous - 8 Jun 2006 01:02 |
Was laughing reading last comments! Couldnt agree more bout chavness. Just been on a Barnet to Finchley pub crawl and included Bull and Butcher. Felt very much like we were not welcome by locals on a sat aft who had uniform of burberry baseball caps and scowling blonde girlfriends. Shame cos nice big pub otherwise and staff were quite friendly.
anonymous - 28 Feb 2006 17:07 |
Been to this pub quite a few lunch times although I haven't eaten there. The blonde barmaid (or she may be the landlady - she always seems to be there) is very nice and welcoming and the Stella is usually OK.
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This sed to be one of the greattraditional pubs in Whetstone.
Unfortunately the vast numbers of pool tables attract too many chavs.
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Alright pub - glad they got rid of the flies! New bouncers are a couple of pricks though!
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Used to live and work there meself round 2002. Was one of the kiwis around the time of Swampy, me brother Jeff and Robbie. Seemed to have two environments. One for the older regulars round the side, then the 'geezers' and young 'uns in dit other side. Good value though. Nice people.
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yeah it is a bit of a geezers pub (alot of skinheads, hackett shirts and soverign rings).
its had become quite run down last time i was there but i hear that its undergoing so referbishment.
anthony - 20 May 2004 22:40 |
its a great place to have a laugh but why have they made it over 21s!?!
Kate - 18 Mar 2004 21:40 |
good meals: �4.95 for two meals. lasange, fish/chips, steak&ale pie and chz/bcn burger to choose from. plus huge range of side dishes.
also, cheaper pool during lunch hours. they have 8 pool tables, not 6 as stated in facts.
richie - 18 Feb 2004 01:39 |
No longer 21's. Some nice 'young' skirt on the weekend. Don't be put off by the 'geezers pub' we're quite friendly, especially to the women.
Ashley F - 10 Jul 2003 17:24 |
Top Pub on a Friday,best in Whetstone, as another person commented, a bit of a geezers pub.
Andy G - 9 Jul 2003 20:29 |
It used to be wicked when it had a Dj instead of the pool tables, but now its over 21's so i cant go anymore!!
Michaella - 17 Mar 2003 18:01 |
Bit of a geezers pub. But at least it's a boozer and not a stupid inerior designer like The Black Bull up the road.
Henry - 9 Feb 2003 18:08 |
Good cold pint glasses but the gash is a little ropey!
Sammy C - 18 Nov 2002 15:11 |
The toilets smell the beers flat - but apart from that it's superb.Particulay Friday night.
Alex Bush - 18 Nov 2002 13:46 |
I live there and it's great !!!!
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