Owl & Hitchhiker, Upper Holloway, N7

My first visit to this pub since it changed its name to the Owl & Hithhiker found it much changed. The name is of course a play on the works of Edward Lear and Douglas Adams. They've introduced a table football game, and a vintage (circa 70s I would guess) pinball machine which actually played quite well. Nothing wrong with those additions in my book. There are more than one quite large model cars around the place; presumably a Ford Prefect? But they have distressed the mirrors in the bar back (which are modern replacements so no damage to a heritage feature), as well as the woodwork on the walls at the front of the pub. It all looks quite naff. Even more naff are the cartoons depicted on the bar counter front, presumably again honouring the work of Lear and Adams. On the left hand wall are loads of old TVs, speakers, radios, etc, as decorative features I guess. Also, I thought there was a nice old fireplace at the back of the room on the left, but if so it's gone now to be replaced by a slate wall. Furnishings are cheap and nasty tables and chairs. On the plus side, they did still have three real ales on - a couple from Laine's, plus Hamerton N1, which was in good nick as it happens. This pub is very different to hitherto, and overall I don't think that there's been an improvement.

Official site of Owl & Hitchhiker - www.owlandhitchhiker.pub

Official site of Owl & Hitchhiker - www.owlandhitchhiker.pub

The Edward Lear is a large and decent looking pub situated on the busy Holloway Road. Once inside the bar faces in a single L shaped room,the floor is tiled and there is comfy bench seating and small stools facing the bar,the room extends to the rear on the left side where there are normal tables and chairs,there was a large screen to the right showing the Leeds game. There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Sambrooks Wandle,whch went down well,the other real ales were Sambrooks Junction and Sambrooks Scrumdown. Food was being served and it looked quite nice,background music was playing. I felt very comfy in this very pleasant pub,the best of the day. Pub visited 25/2/2017

This place has clearly changed considerably since previous reviewers' visits. It's no longer an "Irish" pub, although panelling above the vestibule on the right, and in small panels between the windows, mention "whiskies". It's now completely opened up, and is much larger than it appears. The main bar area is at the front as you enter (as is usually the case); to the back on the left is another large seating area; and up a staircase on the left leads you to another seating area. It must have been very grand in its day, but now there's not a lot of heritage value left, perhaps excepting the bar back and the fireplace in the back room. The floor in the bar is either tiled, or tile effect, and the seating is essentially normal tables and chairs. There were, however, four real ales on - Sambrook's Wandle, Adnam's Ghost Ship, GK IPA (which had a clip design that I hadn't seen before, declaring it to be a handcrafted pale ale (!)) and local beer Hamerton No 1. The barman helpfully informed me that the half of Hamerton No 1 that I ordered would be £2+, but that as it was happy hour (3 - 6PM Mon - Fri) if I upgraded to a pint it be would be only £3.25. It was in excellent condition, and certainly worth the price of the upgrade. I saw a small menu advising that toasted sarnies were £4.95 between 12 noon and 6.0 PM Mon - Fri, but perhaps if I was in later then I would seen a more extensive menu. This pub is firmly in the OK camp. It now longer has the grandeur it would once have enjoyed, but it's nice enough in a sort of madeover way. The Hamerton No 1 went down a treat, at the very competetive price of £3.25 a pint. I'm not likely to visit again as I live a fair distance from Holloway, but I reckon that it's certainly worth dropping in for a pint if you're in the area.