The Woodman, Southgate, N13

I quite like this pub with its three seating sections and separate bars front and back. The barman was polite and the drinks on offer were Young's Special, Marston's Pedigree, Marston's Smooth, Banks's Bitter, Stella, Carling, Guinness and Kronenburg. I did find it a little dark inside, but then I had just walked in from blazing sunshine. There is a small grassed area to the side of the pub with a few benches in and a much larger garden to the rear with a children's play area (both of which close at 21:00 by request of the council). Maybe on the wrong day it could turn into a bit of a crèche, but it was fine whilst I was there. To the right of the beer garden there is the ‘Smoker's Inn' which is a covered wooden structure for those rainy days. I really liked it here and would go back if I was passing.

The Woodman is a solid pub in the Southgate / Winchmore Hill area bordering Grovelands Park, which usually serves a decent pint, and was actually quite famous several years ago for being one of the smallest watering holes with a London post code, until commercial forces made them extend the area of the pub quite significantly. The original brick building was built in the early 1800's as a private house before turning into a pub in about 1870. This building still survives as the small front bar, but the total pub is now a larger second bar behind and a decent conservatory on the side for a dining area. There is also a garden out back with a large childrens play area with climbing frame which means, due to the pubs close proximity to the nearby Grovelands park its a good spot for fathers to bring the kids for a quick after park pint, but does mean the garden can be like a creche in the summer months. Although I have had a couple of decent Sunday roasts in the conservatory, that was a quite few years ago, so cannot really give an up to date input. But for me the Woodman will always be at its strongest on a cold Winters evening, when you can tuck yourself into one of the bars with a decent pint of Pedigree or Youngs..