In an area replete with fine pubs, the Harringay Arms sets itself apart simply by being charming. The warm, wooden interior — revamped in 2017 — is timeless and immediately inviting.
This cosy little boozer feels like a real community hub, where the rules of life are relaxed. For example, not only are dogs allowed into the pub, they're also celebrated on a polaroid canine 'wall of fame' beside the bar.
Elsewhere, small plaques record episodes from Crouch End's past. We struggle to think of any other pub that would pin a treatise on the history of social housing to its walls. Upstairs, a fragment of the original wallpaper, uncovered during electrical work, is preserved in a frame.
The beer choice is good, too, with five hand pumps offering lesser-spotted beers, and a fine selection of cans. The house speciality is gin, with a number of creative cocktails to sample. Food — also available on Deliveroo — is in the never-unpopular shape of pizza.
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Last updated May 2018.