Bank, New Southgate, N11

I’d like to echo the sentiments of Alesonly below when he says that this place has improved as it is now back on my radar again. As mentioned there is now a pool table and I will add that a dartboard is also present to the right hand side of the bar. It’s still a Barracuda pub so the décor hasn’t changed, in fact it could do with a paint job and the furniture could do with being reupholstered, but the atmosphere is much friendlier and the young lady behind the bar would be a gem in any highly regarded pub in the country. Ruddles was the only ale available as the other two pumps were unused, but the Guinness was very good and great value rocking in at £2.55 a pint. Basic pub food is served at very low prices and the ‘Scores on the Doors’ hygiene rating team have given this place four stars which is very good and on a par with pubs that pride themselves on gastronomy. I’d avoid here on weekend nights as the plasmas and pool table can attract a younger less thoughtful crowd and the advertised live entertainment every Friday night from 21:00 is likely to be karaoke which I detest, but for a midweek pint in the afternoon or evening one could do a lot worse.

Ex Wetherspoons Pub near to Arnos Grove & New Southgate stations. Very cheap & cheerful and OK for a few pints. At least its better than the Harvester at Arnos. Directors was in good condition when I went in recently and at £2:30 A pint I cant complain. It also seems too have Improved since I last went in here now has A Pool Table shows Sky Sports Etc.

As this pub is opposite New Southgate station I've popped in a couple of times on the way home from work. Unfortunately There seems to be a dark undercurrent in there that I cannot quite put my finger on. The staff are pleasant enough and the clientele are a little rough round the edges, but not in your face and offensive. I just couldn't help thinking that it could all kick off at the drop of a hat, so I found it difficult to get properly settled. This is a Barracuda Pub, so there is cheap booze and BOGOF on selection house spirits. The standard lager selection is very cheap and I don't remember spotting any hand pumps for real ale. There are some flat screen TVs throughout the pub that show the football on Sky Sports, but they also insist on streaming inane chart dance music through the speakers. This place is handy for a quick pint if going using New Southgate Station, but that is only because it is the only pub close by.