The Stapleton Tavern, Finsbury Park

Strictly speaking this isn't my local but it's one of only 2 pubs that I like within a 10 minute walk & I find it's worth going a little further for .... you can almost always get a table, the food is excellent (especially the enormous roasts. If 2 people order the chicken you get the whole bird to carve at the table, which has impressed all of the friends I've recommended it to) as is the Guinness (very telling), it's not smoky (another bonus), the staff are extremely pleasant (& will attempt to make a mojito!) & it's a great place to watch sports or the live bands when they have them. My only criticisms would be that the calamari in place of the fish cakes on the menu is a rubbish swap & I wish they'd get the broken loo fixed in the ladies' as it's been out of order a while (although there are 4 other usable loos).

18 Jan 2006 12:14