please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not sure why this place is on a Pub site as its strictly not a Pub. Its just an over priced restaurant with a limited selection of mediocre Ales nothing outstanding. It could easy have been an excellent craft Ale pub but no its absolute abysmal how this place has been destroyed. If people want to run a restaurant there's plenty empty in Muswell Hill why not take over one of them instead of wreaking what was a good Pub. The good news is the tide is turning and there are some very good craft ale pubs opening around now so these places will just fad away.
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Ridiculously over priced in every respect. If you are going to pay a fortune for a meal you might at least expect more than mediocre food served after quite a wait while unruly upper middle glass children throw darts at the window by your table.
A sad sign of the times; the old Clissold is much missed. The new overload of Kinks memorabilia is merely an attempt to compensate for the loss of this pub's soul.
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Against my better judgement, I decided to forego my usual Thursday night drinking session in the pubs of Highgate and try the Clissold Arms. I was quite optimistic having popped in briefly on Sunday and noticed an attractive interior and exterior with a selection of real ales. However, the pint was quite clearly off with a putrid, vinegary taste. I respectfully complained; after all, these things do happen even in the finest establishments. However, the gentleman that appeared to be in charge retorted that, yes, the beer was off and, indeed, there had been a previous complaint. There was no apology proffered. Rather, I was simply poured another pint. Quite why they continued to selling the beer when they knew it was no good was beyond me. Further, quite why no apology was forthcoming was similarly perplexing. Matters then took a comical turn when observing the hapless bar manager attempting to make a Bloody Mary. He actually used a tablespoon of Coleman's horseradish sauce! This guy truly was the Inspector Clouseau of bar managers. This is a truly dreadful pub.
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No idea who has posted some of the comments below. Amazing place -nice range of beer, friendly staff and lovely beer garden. The food isnt cheap but high quality and its apcked in nice weather outside. Great place and welll worth a visit for sunday roasts
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just terrible - avoid like the plague!
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As far as I can make out they've disassociated themselves from ale drinkers, and all the rest follows. In fairness, no-one else was apparently willing to buy the pub at the time, and it would probably have been another block of flats by now. At least this way it may eventually resurface, rather like the JB but preferably less Thai'd.
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Sorry to hear this place has gone downhill so much. I always associate it with The Kinks; it was here that they played their first ever gig. Is the old Kinks paraphenalia still there? or have the owners completely disassociated themselves from the pub's past.
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If you want to go to a pub, go to the Alexandra across the road. If you want to go to a restaurant go to the Indian Rasio across the road.
If you want to go to a weird not quite restaurant, definitely not pub hybrid with rude staff, but with a nice garden, by all means go to the Clissold Arms...
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Decided to give this place a 2011 trial. The manager (I presume) continues to be offensive to those seeking to drink, and the prices continue to rise yet further.
A sunny evening in the garden: a large-ish party of people arrive wanting to drink. Offensively-officious manager walks across and tries to act like a retarded sheepdog to organise tables claiming we have "150 in tonight" - poor creatures - and sends out the signal the mildly scruffy group is not welcome. As all this is going on a couple of tables away it's time to move on before it's clear that I too am not willing to pay �50 a head for mass-produced gastro-fare.
I used to think this place was disappointing. It isn't. It's dreadful. It's not a pub, it's not a restaurant, and it's in a place which should be a destination. Steer clear - don't let them take your cash. It's places like this that are destroying the pub trade with pretension, condescension and arrogance. Shame - the garden and space could be good if they were in the right hands.
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I went in here on the way home recently as the Pub I usually go in was closed being as it was early afternoon. So I though I would give give this place another try and see if its improved but no such luck. Since this Pub was taken over Its now just a licenced Restaurant not a Public House in my opinion. For someone too wreak a good Kinks heritage Pub like this was such a shame. As a long term resident of Muswell Hill since the early 1970s this Pub was always a local landmark that I used very regularly until it was changed we used too go play Darts matches watch football Etc now its just been turned it into another a gastro Restaurant offering nothing special. Theres now No bar down in the lower end this has been removed so now and if you want a drink you have to go up the top end which is more of a restaurant plus It seemed too be mainly table service. when I visited. I got the feeling they don't like just drinkers preferring foodies only. I found the Place very bland it felt more like drinking in a hotel Bar it had no atmosphere whatsoever only saving grace I could find is they serve a few good Real Ales.
I would not bother returning as I prefer a more traditional Pub like the Alex just opposite
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Paid my first visit recently for many years having heard all the dire warnings but wasn't too disappointed. Timothy Taylor Landlord was on handpump (one of my all time favourites). A bit pricey at �3.40 but also had a very reasonably priced dinner served by efficient, friendly staff. Ended up spending most of the evening in their garden and made sure the TT quality remained consistent!
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Restaurant prices - and not quite the panache to carry it off. The gable end now displays "Gastropub and Bar" which sums up one part of its aspirations but suggests they still welcome casual drinkers.
The refurbished outside space is attractive. The range of drinks is acceptable if you have a deep wallet. However uneven staff quality and the soullessness of this place are major turn-offs.
Many better options. It ought to get its act together as it falls far short of the destination pub it aspires to be and pretends it is.
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What more could I add most has been said. Its a Terrible up its own arse Restaurant now its not a Pub A Public house has too be open too the Public don't it ?.
I walked in with four other Girls last week and we sat down in the empty bottom bit but was quickly approached and rudely informed it was Table service only and we cant sit where we were and we should have waited too be seated (What in a Pub) We Just got up and walked out Never too return. We went over the road too the Alexandra where there was a much Better welcome.
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What the friggin' hell have they done to this place ! I done what what I would imagine most discerning pubgoers would do - walked in, noticed the complete abortion they have made of this place and walked out.
anonymous - 3 Jun 2010 20:37 |
Since this Pub was taken over by a Wonder Boy it is now absolutely dire & a very boring place its now like a Plastic Man Ikea flat pack and now Just a Licenced Restaurant not a Pub. In my opinion For someone too wreak a good Kinks heritage Pub like his they should be ashamed of themselves lets hope they have met there Waterloo Sunset . As a long term resident of Muswell Hill since 1972 this Pub was always a local land mark that I used very regularly until a few years ago now its just been turned it into another a cheap gastro place and that is beyond me. It just surprises me that any local resident would want use it. I would call on all you Muswell Hillbillies too boycott this hell hole and use the Alexandra, John Baird, or The Royal Oak instead and let them take this place down a Dead End Street Maybe it will be The death of a Clown.
Of all the over 150 reviews Ive done this is the first time Ive rated a Pub at 0/10 but my guess is they were just trying to be a Dedicated Follower Of Fashion. If this is so called Modern Pubs Bring back Bass Charringtons.
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I felt the same as most of the reviews below. The menu was too poncey for what we were were after, a general Sunday lunch & the interior catered for diners not drinkers. There was no atmosphere in the large open plan space at all, I'd go to somewhere else in the area & won't be coming back again if I can help it.
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Inexpressibly bad. It took the bar staff ages to serve us our two pints of lager (which tasted rank anyway) even though we were the only people at the bar.
As the interior was particularly noisy - the barren decor doing much to amplify the noises emitted by the dining families who seemed to be the sole occupants of the space - we headed to the outdoor area. As we were about to take a seat, we only to be chased down by a staff member (surprisingly speedy when they want to be, it seems) and informed that we could not sit in the dining-outside-area (even though it was completely empty) and were promptly pointed to the outdoor 'drinking area', which is to say the back of the carpark.
We tried to choke down as much of our (again, very poor) drinks as possible whilst 'enjoying' the view of the numerous SUVs parked in front of the pub before making a hasty escape to somewhere less generally awful.
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It must be said that this is an expensive place for both eating and drinking - the generic gastro-pub theme is clear. The quality of both are fine. It has cleaned up its outside areas compared to the Barracuda days, and that makes it a pleasant experience compared to some other local establishments.
Difficult to see what makes it stand out otherwise.
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Good pub - good food. What more do you want?
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We were so looking forward to Muswell Hill finally getting a gastropub and have been in there several times but am generally disappointed by the place. The interior is bland and characterless (especially the restaurant section). We always struggle to find something on the menu, particularly at lunchtime. They don't do sandwiches or a nice home-made pie which are often the kind of food you want in the middle of the day - the lunch menu can be a bit 'poncey' and overpriced and we often end up walking out.
The beer is ok but the wine list is small and never seems to change. I also find that the food is overpriced for what you get as you have to order side dishes at �3 a pop to fill up the plate.
Maybe I'm a bit old fashioned but to have a pub full of screaming kids at lunchtime is not what I'd expect. We go to a pub to avoid the yummy mummy brigade that you get on the Broadway but I guess they need all the business they can get.
I would suggest that the Clissold revisit the menu, offer something simpler and more reasonably priced at lunchtime and have a changing wine list.
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If a Gastropub chain started and they made them all the same, this would be the model. It seems to take every bland part of a gastropub and and place it here. The food is good and the ales are kept well, if a little expensive. It does not inspire or feel homely. A shame really as the potential is there.
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Quiet Sunday evening, bar staff got simple order wrong which is forgiveable. Ordered whisky and ginger ale, got a whisky drowned in cola. Then she suggested ginger beer, as they didn't have ginger ale. It's just the same, right?
Wouldn't like to see it when it's busy at the bar...
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I have too agree with past comments I think this Place has missed out on a golden opportunity to be something different Like a Traditional Real Ale Pub but instead its ended up the same as any other Restaurant Pub in Muswell Hill. I really can�t see it lasting long without drastic change and vastly improving the wet trade as other near by Pubs like The John Baird are so much better for the choice of Ales & Food. As the Food trade side is getting squeezed into smaller & smaller margins by increases in raw ingredients of food and as retail prices of meals are pushed down by so much completion from the ever increasing restaurants in Muswell Hill things will get very difficult.
anonymous - 15 Aug 2008 20:48 |
The Clissold has been nominated for Time Out's gastropub of the year award!
Is this dull place really the best Time Out could dredge up?
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SERVICE THIS WEEKEND WAS AS POOR AS I HAVE EVER HAD.SATURDAY NIGHT ,NO FLEXIBILITY OF MENU AND CHARGED �8.00 FOR 4 PLAIN SPEARS OF ASPARAGUS.WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS ESTABLISHMENT.
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All Bar One look-a-like, with aspirations...
Boring - go over the road instead for a much better pub.
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Thought I would Pop in here on way home from work for a change as The Well was closed first time Ive been in since it reopened. Its now just a shadow of its former self totally wrecked in my opinion for what should have been made Into a Kinks Heritage Ale house its now just another glorified restaurant. I think thats a Big mistake & missed opportunity because now its like every other Pub in Muswell Hill and has nothing unique to attract the customers. It had about as much Pub atmosphere as a Wacky Warehouse when I went in. There was just 3 other customers in here I cannot see this lasting without drastic change. Only good point was theres a few Real Ales on Tap but nothing good enough to make me return thought.
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Friday afternoon was my first time in the Clissold and as I walked in I thought that I could have just entered any Slug and Lettuce in the country.
A few premium lagers were on offer along with Landlord, Ruddles County, Pride and a Sussex ale. The barmaid was very friendly and thankfully my change was put straight into my hand rather than onto a silver tray. The inside is quite large and split level with the bar up a few steps to the rear just before the doors leading to the covered patio area. There are plenty of dining tables and a few sofas scattered around the pub.
If you�re ever in the mood for a little chocolate with pistachio mousse this is the place to go, but I think I�ll stick to the Royal Oak!
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Oh dear. It's EXACTLY what you'd expect from a gastro-pub. Wooden flooring throughout, inoffensive colourings and bland bland music. It has all the charm and atmosphere of an aircraft hanger.
Good selection of beers and the menu looked ok, but it's like 1001 other soulless bars in London.
Unless you love pints that cost an arm and a leg with a soundtrack of David Gray and the Stereophonics steer well clear.
Another traditional, lovely boozer bites the dust.
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I Was Passing here A few days ago and the front doors were Open as the builders were working just inside so I had a look inside the door it appears to be finished just the snagging work to be done according to the builders. There were a Few Flash Lager pumps Fitted on the bar but I could not see any hand pumps Fitted yet. It looks more restaurant styled then traditional Pub styling. Sadly it looks like its going to be another one of those terrible gastro restaurants I would prefer to avoid. The type that only sells gassy expensive Lagers to attract the kid crowds.
anonymous - 23 Feb 2008 11:48 |
Any news on the re-opening? It's been shut for a long long time now.
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I'm getting worried that this pub still hasn't reopened.
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Signs of activity, but no more information. Looks promising, albeit gastro-driven. Let's hope that there is at least a commitment to real ale and a menu that gives a reasonable range of options and prices.
anonymous - 28 Nov 2007 17:57 |
Before the new owners open I would strongly recommend they read the reviews for the Wenlock Arms in Wenlock Road Hoxtox. Then they and think about making it into traditional Ale house. Don't make it into another glorified restaurant theres too many round here in Muswell Hill already thats why I have to go all the way to the Wenlock Arms in Hoxtox.
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Any idea when they are due to reopen? I'm getting thirsty!
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Why the hell don't these Idiots make it into a good traditional Ale Pub like the Wenlock Arms in Wenlock Rd Hoxton. Theirs far too many of these foodies Pubs around here now as others have said.
Theirs not a good traditional Ale house/pub left around here at all The Old White Lion The Bald Face Stag The Alexandra The Clisold Arms The John Baird the Green Man and All the pubs In Muswell Hill Broadway have all been turned into glorified restaurants. There seems to be too much competition it will go broke in months.
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So pleased to hear the addition of a much needed gastro-pub to the local scene.
What with the Victoria Stakes, the Maid of Muswell, The Queens and St Johns nearby there'll soon be no traditional pubs left at all!
Viva la revolution!
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If they are reopening as a gastropub in summer 2007, they better get a move on - I looked through the window the other day and its exactly the same as it was! And there didn't seem to be any workmen about.
Personally, I think they should leave the bar area as it was/is. Nothing wrong with it... was a nice cosy pub.
anonymous - 18 May 2007 17:03 |
Visited Muswell Hill on 7 March 2007 and alas The Clissold was NOT open ( time approx 2030 hrs)Any news? Is the pub open or closed please ?
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Is there any chance of bumping into Ray or Dave Davies in these parts still? I thought I read that Ray still lives nearby.......
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It is indeed closed - the owners went bankrupt apparently. However it is getting refurbished at the moment and should be re-opening January...
anonymous - 5 Jan 2007 13:11 |
This place appears to be mildly closed - the pub sign is lit but the bar isn't. Does anyone have any further information ?
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Moved to Muswell Hill recently and as part of my initiation into the area gave this pub a try. Big inside, staff fine, beer good.
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good inside,..but if you get coersed outside in the summer,..you may as well have taken a rug and hamper down your nearest multistorey.......pay and display pints
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Used to go here back in 2002, there'd always be someone off the telly in there but we could never remember what they were off, let alone their names. Good beer, nice staff. Car park tells a tale of surburbia though.
Dan - 6 Sep 2004 12:25 |
Under new management .
beer is excellent. usually room to sit. food has suddenly improved - just make sure terri is chef of the day!
no pool table. poker machine. no insanely loud pop music. tiny garden. car park.
andrew - 9 Jun 2004 00:50 |
its great - chat up the barmaids the roasts are better now and they serve good guiness - MC toons
anonymous - 17 Mar 2004 13:51 |
Had hi hopes of a Sunday Roast at �7.50 in a North London suburb... then it arrived. Instant mash, deep fried roasties, and a chunk of beef that was almost impossible to tear appart because of the fat through-out (One old dear next to me gave up; her less than gym toned wrists not able to cope!) and topped of with some chemical enfused straight from a tin gravy!! Can truely say it was the worst pub roast I have ever had. Bar staff were friendly though - evidence they dont eat in house! Word of warning do not sit in the food area if screaming babies will not assist a hang over!
Davie - 10 Feb 2004 12:01 |
Pretty good pub-love the Kink-y memorabilia. Good for a quick drink but don't know if I could stay there all evening..
anonymous - 14 Jan 2004 18:53 |
OK friendly pub with garden, and Kinks memorabilia. Sunday lunches pretty awful
Corin - 22 Aug 2003 14:29 |
