The Bailey, Lower Holloway, N7

This decent sized Victorian corner pub has probably seen better days and certainly feels a bit rough around the edges but it is still preferable to some of the other posey pubs and bars in the area. The interior is a bit tired and can feel rather empty and cavernous when there are only a handful of people inside with lots of bare floor and unused space. The interior wraps itself around a large island bar with half paneled walls and dim lighting, scarcely enhanced by candles on the tables that are now almost a standard pub feature. Just 2 rather mundane ales, London Pride & Greene King IPA, with the former being a fairly reasonably priced (for the area) £3 and surprisingly decent quality for a pub that doesn't initilally promise much. At the rear is a table football game as well as a Big Screen Projecter that projects the image direct onto the bare wall rather than having anything of novelty value like a screen. The food looked quite good although I didn't try any but it is worth noting for future visits and now that the Garage music venue opposite has reopened, I dare say I will be back in the area more than I have for some time. Other than that, there isn't really much else to make a visit essential.

The only other clientele on my recent week night visit were a couple of groups of students. The barmaid was friendly enough and they had Pride and Greene King IPA alongside some standard draught products, although my Pride wasn't the best. There were a few small plasma screens dotted about and there was a table football located in the sparsely decorated rear of the pub. I got the feeling by the lack of much seating that they are mainly interested in taking the money of football fans passing through to the Emirates. I wasn't that impressed and I doubt that I'll return.