The New Crown (JD Wetherspoon), Southgate, N14

Having arrived here after visiting two Spoons that were origina; pubs, this place was a good reminder as to why shop conversions can be such awful buildings. The only natural light is from the glass door frontage making it quite a dark place. However, you don't generally go to a Spoons to admire the decor, but to get a well kept beer at a reasonable price and possibly some cheap grub. The Mauldon's Blackadder was if fine form and was priced at £2.59. Also on offer were London Pride (2.79) and ESB (£2.99), neither of which are on the current guest list. Things are getting really bad when a Spoons is charging three quid a pint, only 50p a pint less than a Fullers tied house in E5. I recently saw 4 bottles of ESB or 1845 in Tesco for six quid, albeit 500ml bottles but these amount to a typical pub "short measure". Despite the dark building and the Fuller's beers the Blackadder was the best pint of the day.

Randomness Guide to London - New Crown entry

Randomness Guide to London - New Crown entry

It's a Wetherspoons pub so the usual old men are dotted about this huge open plan pub staring into space with their cheap pint of bitter. There is a plasma screen in a little alcove which was showing sky news, but I don't think that they have sky sports. It is not the greatest place to position a TV for lots of people to watch so I'd imagine it is there for people who like to watch the news whilst they get drunk. The barman was very friendly, but had to be encouraged by his co-worker to stop counting stock and serve one of the four people waiting. When he did serve me he was very polite and friendly. The usual lagers that you would find in a Spoons pub were on offer with Bombardier, Roaring Meg, Titanic Nautical Mild, Exmoor Gold and Mordue Workie Ticket. Loads of old clips were pinned up on the walls so you could see that they usually have a varied range of bitters. This isn't that bad a pub except for the fact that it has absolutely no atmosphere, like most wetherspoon pubs.

I ofter pop in here for a few Pints of Ale and its a good Wetherspoons During the day time and weekday evenings. Its also in this years Good Beer Guide And I must say on my last few visits the Ale quality has been very good. Me and several CAMRA members were in here just a few days ago on a Tuesday night and we spent most the evening sampling all the Guest Beers as well as most the regular Beers and every Pint was in good condition normally at least five Guest Beers on Tap. Just try too avoid Friday & Saturday Evenings if your over 25 as it usually gets rammed with Students & the younger crowed after around 20:00 hrs on Fri & Sat nights.

Its a Harvester

This Wetherspoon's seems to buck the trend of the usual JD pub as the management seems to be very keen on real ales. There was an Oakham Beer festival on my visit and all of the beers were served in excellent condition. (That is what I can remember after several pints of the award winning "Attila")The pub itself is a large and spacious single bar. Lets hope the manager's good work continues and spreads to all other "Spoon's".