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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th March 2026) with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by David Walton
Submitted on Monday, 5th January 2026
With picture contributions to 1863 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (11 more images)
Detail Pages
The Blackstock, Finsbury Park, N4
N4
N4 2HY
Served areas
Reviews of The Blackstock (Average Rating: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Blackstock
Visited 05/01/26. Visited previously 09/10/21
No cask. Keg offering of Guinness, Madri, Asahi, Brixton Reliance Pale Ale & Coldharbour lager, the Gamma Ray, Neck Oil & Lunar Haze hazy IPA from Beavertown on a trio tap, Inch's, Amstel and Heineken.
Bare boarded corner venue opposite the Twelve Pins so also by Finsbury Park station. Island bar in the centre of the floor space. Mish mash of tables and chairs plus a few sofas, including one on a raised platform in the rear right-hand corner. Large colourful mural on the rear wall, right-hand wall is bare bricked with an unused fire grate, two of the studded leather sofas in front thereof facing each other, with a crimson banquette along the front part. Chandeliers hang off the dark ceiling and a solitary TV above one of the front entrances was showing some tennis with commentary but that was drowned out by the funky soundtrack played at a medium volume. No food but Yard Sale pizza advertised for order.
On 8th February 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1340 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Blackstock
Dating from the mid-19th century, this was originally the Blackstock Park Hotel. As mentioned, this was an extremely basic boozer, home to old men who appeared to have lost the will to live.
Now the place has had a substantial makeover. The floor’s boarded with walls that are bare brick, though the rear is papered with black wallpaper featuring oversized roses; the ceiling is black. Although most furniture is fairly conventional, some tables look like they belong in a grand dining room. Décor comprises illuminated stained glass box lamps over the bar, then amateur oil portraits to give a stately home feel. This is augmented by grand gilded rococo mirrors and crystal and Victorian-style candle chandeliers, but the strangest of all shades I’ve ever seen are towards the fireplace, looking like three inflated condoms (see photo). Part of the rear is garden themed, with a trellis covered with fake ivy; the whole looks like it was designed by Vivian Westwood.
The island bar is grey field panelled, with a leaded glass divider by way of a bar back. Dominated by a phalanx of illuminated chromium Guinness harp founts, there’s real ale up to a point, with a pump sporting a reversed Doom clip, then another unused. I plumped for a half of Gamma Ray at £3.50, served by a perfunctory barmaid.
Despite the great improvements, this isn’t a great place but it’s a joy to behold compared to the Twelve Pins opposite; a better choice of real ale would get the score up.
On 4th February 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2307 recommendations about 2251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Blackstock
ORIGINAL REVIEW Dec 2014
A street corner boozer with a very plain and souless open plan interior and an island bar.A pool table had been pushed to one side to make room for the pre match crowd going to the Emirates,while the five flatscreens were all showing the Arsenal match which had kicked off at 5.30pm.There are fitted benches painted brown around the perimeter of the building and lots of room for vertical drinking.Children are allowed in but must be gone by 7pm.The barmaid was the very picture of indifference,and the punters just stared at the flatscreens.Only the usual keg suspects were on offer and £2 for a half of Stella felt like daylight robbery.My visit was due to a half hour delay following a cancelled train ,and on this form I can see no reason to darken their door again.
UPDATE
All change here ,but not necessarily for the better.A victim of the "doors close 30 seconds before departure time" policy having hared up the steps from the Victoria line,I had 30 minutes to kill and a need to compose myself so decided to revisit after hearing about the refurb.It's been totally stripped out with much exposed brickwork and now two hipster chandeliers.There is dark wooden floor and distinct lack of furniture,with a few bar stools around the island bar.The back is dark and houses a mixing desk so maybe later it becomes hectic ,while the huge pull down screen was unused ,so not sure if the sports pub of old has given way to a modern vibe.It was very quite at 5.30pm on a Saturday but I did spy two handpumps offering London Pride and Adnams Ghostship at a ludicrous £2.40 the half, and badly out of condition to boot.The muzak was loud and crap,so this is yet another poor pub in Finsbury Park.Try hard not to miss your train.
On 6th January 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
View more reviews of The Blackstock (6)
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- Official site of The Blackstock - blackstockpub.com
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- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Blackstock - whatpub.com
Crouch Hill, 0.76 miles, 14 min walk (show)
Drayton Park, 0.99 miles, 19 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Car Park : No last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Child Friendly : No - Children out by 7pm - last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Darts : No last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Dog Friendly : No - Pub cat ! - last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Function Room : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No - Third party pizza. - last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes - Sky Sports - last updated 13 December 2014 by Bucking Fastard
- Micropub : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 06 January 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Quiz Night : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- Real Ale : No last updated 31 March 2024 by Rex Rattus
- Real Cider : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
- WiFi : No last updated 04 February 2022 by Tris C
