Butchers Arms, Barnet

This one had five ales on - the St Austell pair of Tribute and Trelawny; Gale's Seafarers, Fuller's ESB; and Courage Best. This used to be a 'spoons, and it looks it. It has the look and character of a Stonegate pub, but it's not one of theirs. It's a shop conversion by the look of it, and it stretches back a long way, making it a long and stringy sort of pub. Right at the back is an area with three dartboards. Bucket armchairs were included among the furnishings. I have to say that although the ESB was in good shape, I found this a characterless pub although there's nothing wrong with it per se. It's certainly not worth going out of your way to visit, but OK for a swift one if you're wandering down Barnet High Street for any reason.

Sadly this place has gone down hill big time since it was a spoons. We walked in last night on a Pub crawl of High Barnet There was no Real Ales on tap at all just around eight empty pumps ans around eight customers. Tvs blasting away to themselfs as no one was looking at them so we decided not to bother and left to find a better Pub.

I was pretty impressed with The Misty Moon when I visited last Saturday afternoon. I found the staff to be very friendly and the beer cheap. I had a bite to eat and it was of the standard that you would expect in a pub and it didn't break the bank. I was very surprised that it wasn't busier because it is excellent for watching football, well worth a visit.