please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Gastropub-type place with 3 ales on. These were Ilkley Wit Marie, Redemption Urban Dusk & Fullers London Pride on our visit. The food looked expensive. But this is a fairly well-heeled area and you could most likely afford it if you lived here. Ok, without being anything special.
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What can I say? Fr�li on tap and fantastic food, what more can you ask for? :o) I got to spend new year here with friends a couple of years ago and can honestly say it was one of the best new years I've ever had. No stupid tickets to get in, or grumpy bouncers and the crowd were cheerful and relaxed (and very merry by the end of the night). The Maid of Muswell is a must for anybody living in or visiting the area.
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A lovely little pub with a couple of decent real ales on most of the time. The locals in these parts tend to be a bit poncy - and the pub reflects this - the staff can be a snobby of you turn up in your working gear.
But I've never had a bad (or for that matter a cheap) pint here - just beware the twats who drink Erdinger with a slice of orange!
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NIce pub. Decent interior, alot of good seating areas, eaten here once and the food was really good. One downside would be price of lager, 4pounds for a pint of Stella black is a bit much in my opinion. 3.50 / 3.60 is prob about right
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It looks as though they have a church service here on Sundays. Not unless they are pulling my leg. Serves a good pint of Erdinger in the correct glass. Staff are happy to add a slice of Orange
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Ok...Ive been to this pub only twice now and can honestly say that there are a great bunch of people running it. Sadie the Landlady is fab - such a laugh. Darren & Donna behind the bar are really lovely and always have a smile. The only other person I managed to get the name of was Kevin who was really sweet too. None of the locals looked at us as if we were aliens or to give any impression that we shouldnt be there. On both occassions, I/we have been made to feel extremely welcome. Went there today for Sunday lunch and all I can say is WOW!! You get a good plate full. There is a choice of 2 meats plus you get stuffing, roast potatoes, roast parsnip, 2 yorkshire puddings and 3 different veg (in this case peas, carrots and broccoli) with gravy and the best bit is its only �3!!! If I wanted to be really really fussy (and for those of you who are, should I say, "particular") the pub is, to a degree, slightly worn but you dont really take any notice of that with the warm welcome you get. They also have pool tables and karaoke most friday & Saturday nights although this Saturday they are having a Garage night. You can also watch sports there etc Its a pretty good all rounder if you ask me.
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I used to drink in here all the time (left the Hill last year) and it was grand. Unless it's dramatically gone downhill I don't know where some of the other comments are coming from. Only a couple of ales, but lots of interesting ciders, bottled beers and at one point last year Morgan the barman was trying to make an ale of his own in a corner of the pub (not sure whether that ever got served!)
Standard pub grub, a good Sunday roast when they used to have a guy in playing the piano, nice decor (maybe majors on the wobbly chairs a bit too much), Tuesday quiz that was always packed out, and a really nice outside bit. Sit in front to watch the world go by or out the back for peace and quiet. Lovely, lovely pub which I miss.
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Went in for Saturday lunch for the first time. In the daytime it has quite a nice ambience and has a real mix of customers, from young couples to families, old gents and larger swilling geezers (annoyingly loud and spending more time shouting into their mobile phones).
We tried the menu but was not impressed. Its nice and cheap and has the kind of things you want on an honest pub menu but I gues s you get what you paid for. The lasagne tasted like it was a cheap ready meal and the burger was over-cooked. Not much evidence of home-cooked fayre I'm afraid. You are probably all right if you stick to sandwiches and chips.
A small selection of real ales but poor industrial wine list.
I really wanted to like this pub but the lack of attention to quality has let it down for me I'm afraid.
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Very strange Pub locals look at any outsiders like you've just farted in a quiet Church. Also anyone who's not a regular seems to be made to feel about as welcome as a fart in a space suit. I would not go back in again. As for the best Pub in Muswell Hill this Pub is more in Bounds Green area anyway. Muswell Hill Has The John Baird The Royal Oak The Alexandra Arms All Miles better in My Opinion with a much better Ale choice as well.
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Probably the best pub around the Muswell Hill area, but admittedly there's not too much competition. It usually has at least one real ale on as well, and interesting lager-type things as well, for people who don't like the taste of beer.
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Not a bad pub really. You must consider what else is on offer before being too harsh! I know it's costly and a bit unusual inside, but the staff have always been pleasant enough to me. It is my local so I do tend to go because it's closest to the house! Good selection of beers and wines, clean interior and plenty of outside seating; covered and heated for smokers if wet or cold. Food isn't that great but it seems popular enough. Overall I suppose it's pretty average... but I�ve had some good nights there. The Famous Royal Oak is far superior mind.
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Boring , Bland , middle class Hellhole.
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I�ve been into the Maid a few times and I have to agree with the last few reviews about the attitude of the staff and the evil eye given by the regulars.
On my last visit I ordered a pint of Star, which was served in a regular pint glass with an inch head on it. I asked for it to be topped up and it was with no face pulling or comment, but she still new that it was a short pint and she was trying to rip me off. I would have thought that it is expensive enough without trying to squeeze every last penny out of the punters.
There are a few benches outside and although they are partitioned off from the main road you still feel like you are sitting next to a main road. There�s also a big plastic Cow outside, but I�ve never seen the elusive maid.
Drinks on offer are Okell�s Bitter, Pride, Fruli, Sunchaser, Leffe, Hoegarden and Staropramen, among others.
This is not really the sort of pub I like as I felt that the mere mention of football or darts would be sneered at � if you catch my drift. However, if you like live piano playing on a Sunday afternoon whilst you eat your roast dinner this is your place.
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Very strange Pub more like a wine Bar than Pub. The Staff seem ok but the other customers seemed very strange there was no one talking to each other all of them were just sitting there one at each table looking at each other.?? Dont feel like a drinkers Pub should.
anonymous - 18 Mar 2008 19:52 |
Good selection of lagers, shame they all cost about a fiver a pint
swizz - 14 Feb 2008 10:58 |
Rubbish. Popped in for a pint to unwind after a late night at work and was refused a half pint top up by the surly bar staff at 10:55pm because they "called time at 10:45". The cleaners that were wiping down the tables around everyone, in the fairly busy pub, 10 minutes beforehand should have been a clue I guess...
I knew I should have stopped in Muswell Hill instead.
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There was some Nice Ales on tap when ever Ive been in but it seems to have a horrible atmosphere everyone looks shifty looking away from you when you turn round like People do when your on the tube. Also the staff seem to look at you like your a alcoholic if you drink a Pint of Beer quick or drink more than a pint it seems to be more of a foodies Pub run like a restaurant than a real drinkers Pub. It was all full of half Pint Merchants and Shandy drinkers with the odd cocktail drinker when ever I have been in there.
Its OK for a stop off for the odd Pint on the way somewhere else but its defiantly not a drinkers Pub you could have a all night session in.
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Don't get all the criticism of this place, which is a nice little gastropub with some very decent beers and a pleasant atmosphere whenever I have been there. Not the cheapest but you won't generally find the burberry chavs in here - from what I have seen you will find a pretty mixed crowd of all ages and no aggro.
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This pub is satan's ring piece. Richard Littlejohn used to drink here, which sums it up really.
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Agree with PaddyKrypto (below) about the atmosphere. Its nice, and friendly, with good & rotating choice of beers, food looks nice, never seen any trouble............but yet it has the atmosphere of a airport waiting room, a nothingness thats a bit unsettling & hence I never stay for more than 1 or 2 beers max before climbing up the Hill.
anonymous - 4 Jul 2007 09:10 |
Not bad - late on Friday night, it was busy but not rammed, and the service was very good. Wide range of clientele, and the menu looked good. I'd happily go back
paper - 28 Apr 2007 10:12 |
If its got a soul, I can't find it . . . but compared to every other Muswell Hill pub/bar it's not too awfully bad I suppose. The tanning salon and the betting shop across the road probably have a better atmosphere though
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NB: Quiz night on Tuesday's!
We walked in to deathly silence apart from the 'quiz master' so backed quietly out the same door again...
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Excellent place. Enjoy many an evening here when staying up the road. Also, although being well designed, its not as over the top as many I have seen. Also a fan of the beer range.
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Great pub. The service was fantastic and the menu looked good. A really friendly pub with a great mix of customers.
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I've just started going to this pub and it's great, I always like the staff at the bar. It's food, although not very original, is nice and well served and the drinks range is great. I don't think you can ask for much more in a small pub like this.
anonymous - 2 Nov 2006 12:37 |
Good food and good new decor - small and very busy tho, so get there early if you want a nice evening with a seat.
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The busiest pub in the world, frequented by Muswell Hillbillies who cant be bothered to walk up the hill.
Decor is great,beer better than most, I just wish it wasn't so busy all the time.
If you live more towards Bounds Green try The Ranelegh as well.
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Nice enough bohemian chic place (love the sari-style drape over the tv!). The curved window seat isn't as comfy as it looks.
When I was there the background music was extremely eclectic; it seemed to match the atmosphere of the area and the punters. I had a quiet afternoon pint in there, and the beer was served in old man style glasses with handles. Slightly out of place, and slightly worrying ... I'm not that old and wrinkled yet!
This style of pub is becoming increasingly common: others like it that come to mind being the Garden Gate in Hampstead, The White Hart in Crystal Palace. Ostensibly individual, but suspiciously chain-like with similar beer ranges. I like the style, but I suspect we'll be seeing more pubs looking like this and it'll get tiresome quickly.
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Good range of european beers and real ales but you pay that little extra for it - and it's worth it! Nice outdoor area to the back when it's sunny and the food is really nice. Always enjoy drinking here as the atomosphere is really relaxed and the bar staff are friendly and helpful too.
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Not a bad pub considering it's been refitted to attract the more up-market customer. A lot of the furniture is crap with about half of the tables being too low to eat from. They sell 2 or 3 real ales and have a good range of German and Belgian beers including Kuppers Kolsch, Paulaner and Frulli.
Ther food here is very good. It seems mostly to be sausage and mash, but they also do very good Sunday lunch which, although a little more expensive than is most pubs (between �8 & �9) is well worth paying as it's always very good and generous in size. Well worth a visit.
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Decent beer but you pay for it... Pretty much sums it up. Real ales in decent nick plus some good German and Belgian beers available, on tap too. Good food as well.
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The Maid appears to have changed her clothes since my last visit there in Jan 04. Then it was a straight forward, no nonsense, 5 pints of lager, footie on screen boozer. 18 months on and the ugly duckling is not so ugly anymore and is now a bit more fitting for such a �well to do� area. The patio outside now looks very smart with a wicker fence and potted plants. Inside has been transformed with a more up-market customer base in mind. It still retains some of the original stripped back features and bare floorboards but these now blend in with a mix of seating styles, potted plants and subtle lighting. The bar staff were very welcoming and the well kept beers include London Pride and Marstons Pedigree. Unfortunately, it would appear that the change has come at a price - �2.90 for a pint of Addlestones Cider compares badly to the �2.70 a pint I pay in Central London but, if this is your local, then you can probably afford it. The Maid won't be everyone's cup of tea but there is little competition in the area. Handy for Alexandra Palace, 5 minutes walk up the hill.
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This used to be our local, and it's the one thing I really miss about our old flat. The food was good, the drink nice -- and yes, I'm the kind of girl who likes a nice glass of wine -- and the people-watching excellent. Sigh.
anonymous - 19 Oct 2005 19:25 |
I stumbled (literally !) across the Maid a couple of months back and have been a regular visitor ever since. It's a lovely pub which is clean and tidy, has a good range of beers available (including strawberry beer - a favourite of my housemate !) and the staff are always friendly. A good wine list and menu - the food is good - and a BBQ in the summer. Little bit pricey but it's Muswell Hill - what do you expect ?
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