The Three Compasses, Hornsey, N8

Visited 18/11/24 Cask was a single pump of Hophead from a set of two hand pumps. Keg choices were Murphy's stout, Moretti Sale di Mare, Moretti, Cruz, Neck Oil, Gamma Ray, Brixton Coldharbour & Reliance Pale ale, Guinness, Orchard Thieves cider and Heineken AF. Front part of venue has bar counter against back wall, bare boarded apart from a tiled section around the bar counter. Attractive windows on two sides looking out onto an uneventful outside. Regular seating and a ledge mid venue opposite bar counter with some stools. Some nice wingback leather armchairs in the front window near a fire grate that hasn't seen a fire in years. Large space behind the right end of the bar area unused on my visit, but which did see the presence of a pool table. Subdued lighting and very low-level music soundtrack which made for a pleasant ambiance dominated only by low level chatter. Would notch up a point with a better cask offering.

This is an externally attractive pub dating from at least the start of the 18th century, rebuilt in 1896. I photographed this just over 10 years ago and then it was a rather uninviting proposition, with some rather unsavoury characters lurking about the entrance; this area has been gentrified a fair bit in the last decade. The interior is the product of a makeover from last November, with a modern boarded floor, shades of grey paint and bare brick, along with much white ceramic tiling and not just to the bar area; photos can be seen on the pub’s website. Conventional furniture is accompanied by a central divider with tall stools and lighting from fluted glass shaded hanging lamps. There’s was a Blues band playing and loudly too, to an appreciative crowd of old rockers and younger trendy types. Cask amounted to an unused pump, then Landlord, £2.40 a half, served by a barman who really didn’t know how to pull a pint; I put up with the short measure. This place is average I suppose, but the pull of the Great Northern is stronger, but it’s heaven compared to the Hornsey Arms next door.

Official site of The Three Compasses - www.threecompasseshornsey.com

Official site of The Three Compasses - www.threecompasseshornsey.com

Corner pub still very much as described by BF below. Unfortunately I didn’t read his review first and only looked at the three hand pumps that greet you as you walk in. Of these only one in use with Timothy Taylor landlord, the other two were actually hidden by a large cardboard sign advertising a wild boar and apple sauce hotdog. There may have been other ales on the second set but I would have been very surprised. Fortunately my half of Landlord was very passable and there some outside bench seats to the side of the pub which caught the sun, but also the traffic noise. I didn’t think this was a bad pub but with the Great Northern Railway Tavern just up the road I can’t see myself troubling this one again.

The Three Compasses is a large looking corner pub with a tower on its upper corner. Once inside there is a decent sized single L shaped room with the bar facing,the room is bare boarded,the seating normal tables and chairs and leather settees. There was a good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Bath Ales Summer Hare which went done very well,the other beers noted were Alchemy Five Sisters,Brains Reverand james,Taylor Landlord,Adnams Broadside and St Austell Tribute. Food was being served and the background music was crap. I thought this was a smart and decent pub to have a drink in. Pub visited 4/8/2016

Substantial two-bar pub, partly opened out to leave a 'L'-shaped layout. Airy feel in the front room, with high ceilings, large windows and a sensible mix of furniture. Darker in rear part, with pool table but more basic furniture and decor. Three handpumps in each bar, with the regular Redemption Pale (£3.50), Pride and Landlord on the back counter and Doom Bar and Marston's EPA as guests at the front. Real ales served in oversized lined pint glasses. You can see why it has been a local Camra award-winner, so worth a visit if in the area.

This is a big old Victorian pub, which claims to be Hornsey's oldest. It certainly looks as if it could be. The main bar area at the front has tall stools at ledges by the large plain glass windows, as well as at the bar of course. There are the inevitable sofas, but furnishings here are mainly normal tables and chairs. One of the walls is plastered with pub awards, including two from CAMRA for being (presumably N London branch) POTY finalists in 2010/11 and 2011/12. Around to the right and rear of the bar counter is another very lage room with a skylight in the centre of the roof, and which must surely have been a billiards room in years past. It now houses a pool table, a dartboard and more standard tables and chairs. Some pop music was being played, but thankfully not too loudly. A sign on one of the walls advises that wi-fi, newspapers, and board games (from behind the bar) are available. Live entertainment also seems to be available - an Elvis night was advertised. As you enter, the main bar counter is facing you, and on my visit on Wednesday afternoon the three handpumps on it had on Keltek Lance, Cottage Brewing Christmas Porter, and Lancaster Mr Trotter's Chestnut Ale. I had a pint of the latter which was in top notch condition. A small notice propped up by these handpumps helpfully advises customers that there are three more ales available just around the corner in the back room. When I was in the other three pumps had on London Pride, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Redemption Pale Ale. Six ales on, not all from the ranks of the usual suspects, is good going. An important thing to note is that they use lined glasses here - my glass had so much empty space above the beerline that I suspected this to be case before asking for a top up. According to another notice on the wall, food seems to be available from Fri -Mon at various times. I didn't see a menu - presumably because they don't do food on Wednesdays. Although it's been modernised and opened up to some extent, including gilt-framed mirrors as wall decor, and the provision of wine lists, this remains a pub well worth a visit. The ale selection alone sets it apart from the run-of-mill, but I liked it as a pub in any case. Not that I get up to Harringay very often, but if was up here again I would be delighted to pay this one a return visit.