The Brave, N1

This is a mid-19th century pub, originally the Lord Clyde then Kenricks, renamed during Lockdown I as the Englefield on account of it abutting Englefield Road; in December 2024 it was renamed The Brave. The original Charrington’s wood panelling still exists, but the lovely ‘30s?/’50’s heritage interior disappeared during the Englefield reinvention. The place is little changed if at all since the previous Englefield reviews, except that the pool table has disappeared and with a strong smell of lemon grass or lime leaves, the place has gone full-on gastro, with laid tables – some right up against the bar – meaning that if you want to order a drink that’s not part of your meal, you are relegated to ordering from the cramped left-hand side of the bar, where a few token tables are reserved for drinkers. Customers were mainly young, many indulging in drinking Guinness, the new-found fashion courtesy of Kim Karcrashion. There’s still no cask, then pseudo craft, a half of Gamma Ray costing £3.59, served by a friendly barmaid. I’m not sure if this place is less bad or worse than before – certainly not better – but it’s not worth visiting except perhaps for the food; the Alpaca is the only place worthy of some sort of visit when perambulating the length of Essex Road.

Official site of The Brave - www.thebravelondon.co.uk

Official site of The Brave - www.thebravelondon.co.uk

Large room with bar to rear. Additional rooms to left and right and a beer garden to the rear. Three hand pumps with weak ale and one reversed. Rest weak keg. Not a place to which I will return.