Brook Gate, Highbury, N4

Official site of Brook Gate - www.craftunionpubs.com

Official site of Brook Gate - www.craftunionpubs.com

This was built in the mid-19th century as the New Sluice House, but had acquired the current name by 1944. This is a two-room pub, with a pool table in the room to the rear, which also has a bar hatch, the bar itself being simple, with shiny white tiles. It’s really quite a stark place, with a completely new yet largely traditional interior, which is only a couple of months old. The floor is modern boarded, with patches of carpet to the periphery, where seating is conventional or banquette, cloth upholstered, with material that only Mildred Roper would appreciate, likewise the patterned swag curtains; tables too look cheap. The walls feature either patterned wallpaper or blue/green paint; furniture to the centre is tall and chunky. Lighting is Victorian in style, with further illumination coming from recessed downlighters; décor amounts to the odd knickknack, framed prints, some being of the area from yesteryear and unsurprisingly given the name and location, quite a few framed and signed Arsenal shirts to the walls. Soft music played, though the main entertainment came in the shape of many sports’ TVs with a megavision screen to the left, watched by one sole viewer, not that there were many customers in, locals overwhelmingly preferring the other hostelries in the immediate vicinity: the Prince of Wales, Woodbine and especially the Bank of Friendship, all doing fine trade. Amazingly there were two real ales, Pride and Landlord at a very reasonable £4.40 a pint and on good form, served by a very friendly barmaid. This pub is ok for a pint if passing, but it offers no competition for the ale and pub aficionado, who’ll be heading straight for the Bank of Friendship 100 yards up the road.

Early opener - Google says 10am but landlord confirmed this is only on match days. Not that Arsenal like playing football in Jan 22. It was open at 11:20am on a Sat and I was the first to ask for a TT Landlord. Delighted that one was poured off first and it what was served was in very good condition. Large open plan place - setup for the sports. £4.40 the keenest pricing of the three I went to in the area.

A large open plan interior(quite soulless). 3 real ales served.