The Elmhurst, Tottenham, N17

This massive and magnificent old pub would once have been the Rolls Royce to the nearby Antwerp Arms' mini. It's an Edwardian pub built in 1903 according to the exterior stonework. Inside it still retains some of its original features - the bar counter, bar back, Lincrusta style ceiling, leaded and coloured glazing in the windows, and wooden surrounds plus glazed screening above the wide archway leading between the two largest rooms are all original. The bar back is particularly interesting, being elaborately carved, with wooden pedestals in the upper parts, and with small mirrors behind them. The pub itself is very large. There is a large room on the corner which, judging by the number of unused doors, would originally have been subdivided into two or three rooms, and possibly including a jug and bottle bar. This leads on (via the archway mentioned above) to another large room at the back, plus there's another, relatively small, room on the left reached via a doorway from the large corner room. Both of the larger rooms contain pool tables, and the large corner room also has a large pull down TV screen at the front. This pub evokes a feeling of faded splendour, but it has something of an unloved look about it now. I was the only customer in there on Monday lunchtime, but I suspect it might get busy in the evenings, perhaps with underage drinkers hoping to get served, if the signs all over the place saying that "proof of age is required" is anything to go by. But the young barmaid didn't ask me for proof of age for some reason. There's obviously no real ale, with the two handpumps on the counter apparently being just for show. A half of Guinness rocked in at £2.25. I didn't see any sign of food when I was in, although a sign near the counter suggested that food might be available at some times. The arrival of a customer (me) seemed to induce the barmaid to put on some music, the noise of which she later supplemented with the TV that seemed to be showing some Aussie soap opera. This is a pub of faded grandeur. I probably won't be making a return visit unless it features on a LPG pub crawl due to the surviving original features.

Located not to far from the fitba. Large main room with a separate games room 2 pool tables. Looking a bit tired.

The Elmhurst is a stand alone brick and mock Tudor corner pub situated opposite Bruce Green Castle. Despite the Hotel title, it is geared up as a sports pub rather than a place to book for your holidays. The main bar is of a decent size with an ornate plastered ceiling seemingly propped up by 1 thin column in front of the bar. The rest of the decor is fairly plain although the tiled fireplace, heavy curtains and hanging brass lights give it a slight edge of decadence. It is let down by the number of cheap promo drink posters liberally stuck on the walls. There is a TV, big screen, fruit machines, cash machine and jukebox situated here and beyond is a small ante room with dark paneling, 2 dart boards and its own little serving hatch. The prices are fairly cheap but there are no Real Ales and only the bog standard lager and keg beer selections. Away from the bar is a huge games room with 4 pool tables and enough TV's to satisfy any sports fan. There is a large terrace to the rear for al fresco drinking in the warmer months. The pub gets packed when Spurs are at home and at weekends there is the usual range of tacky pub entertainment. Not a place I would go out of my way for but you could do a lot worse if you in the area.