The Old White Lion, East Finchley, N2

The exterior looks appealing with black timbers and attractive floral displays, but the modern minimalist style pub sign gives a strong hint as to what may lie inside. The interior is yet another of those stripped out, bare boarded floor places with an emphasis on food. The wood panelling is painted white but the upper walls and ceiling are a dark purple colour which together with the subdued lighting from the Habitat inspired lampshades makes for a pretty gloomy interior. There is also some exposed brickwork. The pub is essentially one long and fairly narrow space running left to right. The bar is directly opposite the main entrance where there are a few tables served by sofas, pouffes and some stools at the high version. A food servery is behind the bar and to the left. To the left, a separate area seemingly purely for those eating as all the tables were set. To the right of the bar is a carpeted area with another range of mixed seating and for some reason a statement over the fireplace saying TUMBLEWEED CO-ED-. Whether some form of the TV show Countdown had been disturbed and abruptly abandoned I have no idea. French doors off the dining area lead to a large well appointed garden area. As stated food is of importance, there were Saturday brunch menus on every table, with the traditional breakfast sounding good at £7. Several mains were advertised, it's not bangers and mash here, it's Gloucester Old Spot sausages with pea mash and red onion gravy (£8.75). Sunday roasts come in between £10-£12.75 including a veggie option. Despite all the above, the beer range was pretty good. There are six handpumps, one was reverse clipped and the London Pride was "returning soon" but there was a choice of Harvey's Sussex Best, Doom Bar, Adnams Bitter and Freeminer Speculation which was a decent drop (£3.75). They have a quiz, board games are available to borrow but a £10 deposit is required. Certainly not my idea of a traditional pub and sadly to me anyway, lots of places seem to be taking this route, but I've been in many downmarket pubs near to stations and at least it isn't one of those. Probably good for a meal but just ok for a quick pint.

Randomness Guide to London - Old White Lion entry

Randomness Guide to London - Old White Lion entry

Official site of the Old White Lion, contains menus - www.theoldwhitelionfinchley.co.uk

Official site of the Old White Lion, contains menus - www.theoldwhitelionfinchley.co.uk

I can see why some people would like this pub, but I'm afraid it did not take my fancy. It may have had something to do with the 20 year old hooray henrys sitting next to me that were bellowing so loudly that I couldn't hear myself think. Maybe I'm being a little harsh on the pub as they cannot help this particular gripe, but I did find it sterile even if the Amstell and Star were very good. I did like the weekly Roasting Times printed on the back of the food menu which listed all the current guest ales and times/entry fee/rules of the quiz and some other general info about the pub – great idea. I would probably only go back if I was going to eat something as everyone else around me seemed to have gone for that reason.