please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Pretty poor; what kind of barmaid sits the glass on the drip tray and (tries to) pull a pint at arms length as if deeming it a dirty act. Nuts at �3.50 what's going on (politely declined). Proper con along with poor quality service. Can't comment on the quality of the beer as it was spoilt as it went in to the glass by the amatuer bar maid. Wonder what Adnams might have to say ( if they only knew!) If the rest of the brewers knew they would probably decline to be represented here.
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Put simply, this is pub for people that don't really like pubs.
It has gone down the Gastro pub route and feels more like a wine bar than a pub, everything from the decor to the clientele look like they are here for a meal of a couple of glasses of wine and the beer pumps constitute little more than a token afterthought.
Service was at least pleasant and helpful, but even considering the location �7.10 for a pint of Grasshopper and a pint of Guinness is pricey by any reasonable measure. The beer was in its defence of good quality, but not so impressive that it was worth paying those prices.
If you are looking for a place for a nice relaxing wine after work with some nice food and have more money than sense, you may have found your perfect destination, if however you want an actual pub with good, reasonably priced beer and some sort of atmosphere, it's better to steer clear.
Oh and the incessant jazz funk soundtrack is another mark in the "cons" column too.
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Just moved back to Finchley after a spell over sea's. The Catcher was my old drinking hole, but now am happy to eat there what a great improvement on the food.
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Just moved into the area and pleasantly suprised to find this pub. Well-kept interior and fantastic staff. We didn't have time to eat, but the menu looked fantastic. When we've tried the food, I'll get back to you. At the moment, can't fault the place
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A topsy turvey kind of pub where you go up to the bar area and then down to other parts. Ale was barely drinkable and the music was far too loud for the handful of people in the place (on a sat night) who were having dificulty in talking to each other. Not somewhere to make a special trip to.
anonymous - 4 Oct 2009 10:47 |
This place is a gastro pub with the usual dark gastro d�cor and absence of electric lighting as apparently a candle on each table will suffice. This isn�t 1974 and I�m not on a three day week, so stop being so tight and switch on the lights.
The pub has lots of small little sections making it a good place to go on a first date or if you don�t want to look at the misses all night! The bar is at the front of the pub and I found the barman to be friendly enough. The Lancaster Bomber that I had was very good and Adnams was also available alongside some premium lagers.
If I was a woman or a fan of gastro pubs I�d have probably loved it in here, but I�m neither and I found this place to be lacking any atmosphere during my weekend visit, so I cannot see myself returning in a hurry.
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MWAl kerdine - The word is incessant or uninterupted, idiot.
In the event The once great pub which the catcher was is reduced to a poorly run slum catering to those incapable of nothing beyond myopic and shallow opinion.
Obviously you have a low opinion of how a pub should be run.
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As an old regular of Catcher in the Rye, we are all fully aware who one and the same 'VAT' man & 'Bailiff' is. Unfortunately it is for me to say that we all avoid 'VAT Man/Bailiff' "like the plague", due to his constant bullying of young bar staff & insesently boring waffle, rather than the great pub. Unfortunately for Finchley VAT man seems to haunt all the other great pubs, so it becomes a bar crawl of hide & seek.
Poker night at the Cather is a great night out on Thursdays.
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Awful pub which i will avoid like the plague.
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One or two ponces from the offices across the road apart from that the place is dead.
Not suprising really. The pub is badly run, attricion is a critical factor.
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Most of the lights dont work - Its a dinge hole
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Heard the Catcher was under new managment so went in for the first time in about a year on Tuesday with my girlfriend. Enjoyed a bottle of wine and some good food. Will be re-visiting my old local more often.
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I came here on Tuesday and I thought it looked lovely. Couldn't really fault it. Friendly guy behind the bar and nice food.
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What has happened to this place? The bitter in there is rubbish now, always used to be well kept. And empty!!! Where have all the regulars gone?
Someone mentioned that it is under new management, well if that is true then brting back the old ones.
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It has emerged that the kitchen is only partially functioning due to the faulty equipment which includes the fridge door hanging off, only one fryer working a faulty microwave oven etc.
The incumbent manager has now left and there is immediately an improvement to the service within this pub.
Faucett Inns needs to rectify the faults here if they are as passionate about pubs as they claim.
David
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Went to the pub with my family a couple of weeks ago for Sunday lunch as it was always very good before. What a surprise at how bad the food was. Service was good considering only 2 staff members to run the place but wont be eating there ever again.
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Yes, i must concur with the previous post relating to the unacceptable behaviour of the staff at this pub which i can only surmise has rubbed of from the current manager who's behaviour in my humble opinion is beneath contempt.
David
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Visually the pub is appealing, but appalling staff and atmosphere. Went there at the weekend, kitchen was closed at 2pm, ran out of several beers and no beer could be served for at least 15 minutes while they were cleaning the taps. This was all on Saturday afternoon where you'd expect some food and beer to be available....Went to get our own sandwiches and some chips while we were drinking due to kitchen closure, 1/2 hour later, bar staff storm over very rudely to tell us to take our rubbish with us. We were still drinking and as if we were going to leave without clearing our own stuff up...
Completely dead atmosphere and with obviously no idea how to treat customers, it's not surprising to see why it's empty - hop over to The Dignity instead just up the road, much much better
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Boy has this pub gone downhill.
Even the present incumbent has now taken to abusing his customers, what there are of them.
David
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Its always great to find a watering hole that is well run. The landlord obviously knows what he's doing. The staff are well trained and the food is excellent. Definatley recomended
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First time here and certainly won't be my last. Popped in after work for a bite to eat and stayed much longer than I should. Stunning decor and very clean. Excellent food and extensive wine list. Definatley reccomended
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Nice pub, as to the food, only ever had sandwiches here [Sausage and Red Onion] which were delicious.
Not expensive, but certainly not a Spoons!
Staff are good, last time I went there, lovely bloke served me, very friendly and approachable.
Toilets are nice and clean.
Good mix of clientele, Finchley's well heeled set, along with us more normal types.
Recommended.
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this pub was very stylish and tastful with nice clientle and good prices. the best pub in finchley. pity it is now a 21s only and i cant enjoy it anymore.
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Great news guys, The Catcher is doing a quiz night every Monday night, starts at 7.30pm and lasts a couple of hours. Its great fun and well organised.
Winner takes all
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Really nice local pub, well kept beer. A good place to find real men.
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Just moved into the area, and have dicovered this great place.
The staff and managment are so friendly and helpful,
A great atmosphere all round.
Would recomend this to all ages
Have found my new local
Keep up the good work
anonymous - 13 Sep 2007 21:51 |
Probably Biased, since I'm a regular. Craig and Becks run a lovely Pub. Excellent food (Thai Fish cakes a must !!).
Not a vast selection of Real Ale, but they do have Thwaites Lancaster Bomber, which is my personal favourite and the best tipple in the area. Others are Directors and Adnams. Dont' drink the Lager but they have quite a variety on tap, including San Miguel, which seems to be popular. They also have a cocktail list and a nice selection of wines.
The bar staff are always friendly and good fun. The atmosphere is cosy and a great place to read the Sunday papers (if, like me, you don't want to buy your own !!).
Definitely recommended if your in the area. No Juke box or Gaming machines is a bonus. Nice place to take a Young lady for a drink !!
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love the pub, music is good, fresh simple food, but it is the staff & managemant that make the place.
So much better than the other pubs in Finchley
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Nice enough pub, with good enough beer. Not sure about the TV screen showing a film of a log fire though...
Terrible music.
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The best pub/bar in this part of Finchley. Staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is much better than the chav infested holes further up the road.
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had a great n.y.e party at the catcher, doctors and nurses was a great theme. So many people got into the sprit and got dressed up.
We were looked after so well, will look forward to coming to more events you put on.
Many thanks again to Rebecca and Craig Happy new year.
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Sunday lunch is excellent. At �8.95 its great value for money, I could not eat it all. Better than my mums, but I would not be brave enough to tell her that!
Recommend to all for drinks or food.
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if you are sick of the chavvy element of finchley (tally ho and surrounding pubs) its worth trying out the catcher.
its a bit more on the expensive side than other pubs but its worth paying for.
the decor is nice (although i thought the pics of john lennon on the wall was kind of trying too hard to be "trendy").
the beer is ok as far as i know, although ive only had the lager and the guinness.
food is good, a bit on the expensive side when compared to elsewhere in finchley, but you get what you pay for.
the crowd is mid 20's upwards but a wide age range. not really an old persons pub and not really a young persons pub. ive only been there at the weekend and people are generally well dressed but some were in jeans and t shirt and didnt look out of place.
the music was a little bit loud as its not the kind of place you go to dance but to enjoy a few drinks and a chat but its funky house/ dance mix works well.
its got absolutely freezing in there when i was in but i asked the barmaid if she could turn down the air con and she said no problem.
staff are good. polite and efficient.
its open to 1 at the weekends, i dont know about weekdays though.
overall a decent pub.
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Agreed, best pub in Finchley. I don't agree that the food is overly expensive though, my steak burger with blues and salad, coleslaw and fries was 6.95 which I thought was fine. Must admit I've not tried anything else yet.
This pub has a lot of little separate nooks and crannies to sit in, with very cosy sofas in the low-lit area to the side of the main bar.
Agree, the staff and landlady are always pleasant.
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The best pub in Finchley, A great atmosphere and the landlady is a delight, I do not know where else you can go and to be made to feel at home.
The food is fresh and tasty and the lines are well kept. A great place to meet with friends and enjoy the day away.
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Went into the Catcher the other day and was greeted by a chaming young lady behind the bar, had a nice refreshing pint of Grolsch and my better other half indulged in a large glass of Pinot grigio. The place it's self is warm and frendly, there are lots of great comfy seats, music is not to loud so you can hear the person next to you.
We both ate, I had the Rump steak, cooked to perfection and my wife had the House pasta, She commented how amazing food was.
We will be back (hope they do a good christmas menu)
anonymous - 5 Sep 2006 18:53 |
Nice enough pub, if a touch on the gastro side of things. The style is comfortably old fashioned, big leather seats, lots of wood, pictures of John Lennon adorn a wall. Neither spectular nor offensive.
The selection of beverages available is fair, nothing more exotic on tap than Kronenberg Blanc (which is foul). The booze is a touch pricey but not overly so, although the food is exhorbitant.
It's the staff that make and break this pub. The barmaids are nice, friendly and easy on the eye. The Landlady however, is an altogether different beast. The last thing you need when supping a pint and chowing down on a burger you've paid eight quid for is a shrieking harridan running around the pub annoying patrons. Everying smacks of "I went to Landlady school, so I don't actually need people skills". If you can put up with that, The Catcher in the Rye is a nice place for a drink, and if you've got deep pockets the food is good. I doubt you'd want to be a regular though.
anonymous - 23 Aug 2006 15:16 |
Nicest pub in Finchley Central - gone a bit trendy in recent years, but still has a night atmosphere and a couple of decent beers on tap.
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Came here yesterday for the first time and was fairly impressed no pretence to the place unlike certain other pubs/bars in the area
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Well, well, well... what can I say about the Catcher? A few years ago I spent New Year's Eve here and it was all very jolly. Used to spend a lot of time in there and it was a nice proper little boozer.
The ubiquitous "trendy" makeover has occured now and the standard pub atmosphere has been replaced with something cleaner and that comes a more sterile atmosphere. It would be perfect if I was new to London, and thought that slowly drinking a bottle of chardonnay / coffee / water was preferably to drinking pints as God intended. Lot of people in there who think they�re beautiful people but sadly aren�t. This is not Hoxton, it�s Finchley, so that trendy atmostphere doesn�t really work, although the publicans clearly think it does.
When I ate in there last (and believe me it will be the last time!) � I had undercooked lamb cutlets with salad which was okay (but undercooked). The landlady did her best to make light of it, but it was too little too late.
�Smoking is not permitted at the bar� I was informed last time I went there one night not so long ago (and believe me this will be the last time while the current custodians are there), which seemed reasonable as a lot of places do this. What wasn�t reasonable was the anger as the landlady said it over and over to me as my girlfriend lit up � I don�t smoke. Moreover, the reason she had lit up was there was an ashtray on the bar. She didn�t give me the benefit of the doubt and I don�t feel inclined to give her it back. A poor show overall.
If you live in Finchley you could do worse I suppose but with really good pubs in surrounding areas it's hardly worth a special visit. Maybe it�s a great place to drink � and maybe you�ll enjoy it. I didn�t.
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If "The Craig" is to be believed this is obviously an ideal "wife Swapping" pub!
The picture above makes the place look like an undertakers waiting room LOL with the ashtray in the middle to chuck the keys into.
Setting this aside "The Catcher" is a lovely pub and a pleasure to visit
anonymous - 4 Apr 2006 14:17 |
well run gastro pub kitted out with customary fireplaces, comfy leather sofas, real cask ale, flying duck wall art - the lot. some distinguishing details i noticed are the all time immaculate bar top [i prefer my shirt sleeves dry after getting a drink], friendly, well groomed staff and a short but spot-on 'modern british' menu. popular for all the right reasons.
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One of the nicest pubs in central Finchley. Leather sofas and candlelight along with an open fire generate a cosy atmosphere. Not surprisingly therefore, the clientele when we visited were mostly couples and small groups.
The beer selection is reasonable - all the usual suspects plus a couple of cask ales (John Smiths and Courage Best when we were there). The wine list looked satisfactory too. We didn't eat, though the food did look inviting, and there were some very tempting bar nibbles on display.
For sporting fans, football is shown on the plasma screen in the rear section of the pub.
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Wow what a place, We love it.
Great lunch menu, staff are really nice & friendly.
They have a wonderful fire place with couches around it. Have found my new local...
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My local. Too trendy and no cider. But the food is tasty and it is empty when you want a quiet hideout for lunch.
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Beware of the Catcher Trap! Once in it is imposible to leave. The sofas are deep and comfy and they have a big fire on in the Winter. The management and staff are welcoming if sometimes slightly over enthusiatic. Friday nights they give out free shots of flavoured Samboka perfect after a day at the office. The food is over priced and not that great but if you want great food go to a restaurant.. At least it soaks up the booze! Open till 1 now on weekends which is even better.
anonymous - 5 Jan 2006 14:08 |
New Years Eve,
Serious sign outside saying
"FULL UP"
Over 21's Only
Looking through the window suggested otherwise!!!!!
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Started off great with friendly bar staff and good selection of bears and great food etc.
However,cracks are starting to appear such as the licencee opening the pub when he feels like it such as Boxing Night. We were turned away at ten past eight in the evening - Madness and proffesional suicide.
anonymous - 28 Dec 2005 06:05 |
Pleasant pub. Good meeting place....
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the mcguire hasnt had the pleasure of visiting since its been done up. but he assures me he will make a concerted effort to pop in for a pint.
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used to like this place on a weekday, about 10 yrs ago.McGuire - whats ya verdict now if it has been done up??
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Lunched there yesterday, thoroughly enjoyable with welcoming management, nice comfortable surroundings lovely food and good beer.
A must for all with good taste.
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Place certainly looks better - the beer however is not well kept so far. Camra social there on 10th March, will report more fully then.
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unbelievable transformation - this is how a proper 'gastropub' should look, the seating areas are split between warm comfortable leather couches in elegant colours in front of the two fireplaces and bistro-style tables on the raised areas. new wooden floors, cool rockstar photography and an industrial-style bar make this a very attractive place to go out in finchley
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The Catcher in the Rye in Finchley Central is closed for a revamp and will open on the 9th February as a "food led pub with real ale" according to the managing director of Faucet Inns, who I interrogated on the matter when I saw it closing.
I'll reserve judgement until I call in once it's open, but anything would be an improvement on the grotty hole it had become.
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currently being done up. looks like its gonna be nice. hope it doesnt lose the "proper pub" feel in favor of a wine bar type thing.
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the catcher is a great local with friendly staff and great food.fantastic selection of bitters hwich are well kept
John - 15 Nov 2004 15:22 |
Great pub, good food and friendly staff. Big up for catcher
TP - 8 Sep 2004 12:21 |
Not a bad pub, just woefully short on decent service staff. Trying to get lunch there during the week is almost a mission impossible. Nice atmosphere, just need to spend more money on staff training, and having more staff there in peak periods.
Simon - 7 Sep 2004 16:03 |
The catcher is a great place to chill in the afternoon, yes it may be in need of a lick of paint but it has just character, the best sunady roast in finchley and 5 cask ales what more could you ask for in a pub?
Peter - 22 Jun 2004 16:03 |
This pub was so dire a few months ago that I complained to the pubco that runs it. They sent me a voucher for two free meals, which I've not yet used. thinks look as if they have improved slightly since then. The cask ale range has gone from 1 to nearer five, but it is not kept AT ALL well. Place has the feel of a pub waiting for a decision to be made about it (I believe the pubco is thinking of selling it).
mym - 22 Jun 2004 09:32 |
The Catcher is a proper english pub with a fanatstic range of good quality cask ales. Both staff and customers help to make it a great local. Has changed alot over the past few months possibly due to the change of management
O.P. - 24 May 2004 15:24 |
best pub in finchley... possibly in the world
finchley forever!!
J.L - 18 Mar 2004 01:30 |
I work at the Catcher in the Rye and am travelling from Australia. I beleive that it is the best pub in Finchley Central and the reason for this isn't just the layout of the pub or the quality cask ales, or exceptionally high standard of service provided - along with a laugh - it's the regulars and other customers who frequent the place that provide atmosphere, character and a great laugh. As a new comer to finchley i have made and cemented some of the best friendships a girl could ever hope for. Angie Boxall.
Angie Boxall - 21 Jan 2004 14:44 |
The nearest thing to a traditional pub in Finchley. Gets packed out when there's a big match on the large screen tele. I like it.
gareth amblin - 9 Dec 2003 17:42 |
Quite simply the best pub in Finchley Central.
Phil Curley - 20 Oct 2003 14:20 |
All I can do is echo the comments below. The only "Real Pub", with all that means, in this area. Characters both sides of the bar, and different levels between rooms. When you can't make it back to your seat from the loo, leave! Saw Tim Leffman play there last Sunday, really suits the place, another nice bloke.
mikem - 30 Sep 2003 10:20 |
home sweet home good guv'nor and good beer. witty signs on the door to the gentlemens' relief area. happy happy untied house.
Patrick Gray - 7 Sep 2003 19:34 |
Nice little pub with a bit of everything. Big screen TV and sky for the sport events, a great quiz night, nice food, some nice drinks offers (2 for 1 on reef etc.), some good real ale and lots or other stuff too. Add to that a nice big fire for the winter months and it's definatley worth a visit if you're in the area.
Edd Almond - 2 Sep 2003 11:33 |
Best pub in finchley, not a chain and not pretencious
warren - 20 Jun 2003 22:02 |
This is the best pub in the Finchley Church End area. It has a good range of real ales, friendly staff and comfy seats.
John - 16 Apr 2003 13:09 |
