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The Chandos Arms, Colindale, NW9
NW9
NW9 5DS
Pub Type
Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Chandos Arms
Visited 22/04/25
No cask, three unused handpumps. Basic keg offering of Bones Lager, Neck Oil and Gamma Ray from Beavertown, Heineken, Moretti, Amstel, Cruz, K1664, Guinness and Inch's cider.
Bar counter is against the back wall in the front area of this venue. The venue is (tartan) carpeted apart from a tiled area along the bar counter and small boarded square in front of the gents! Seating in this area is via some tall tables, some semi-circular booth tables and a sofa and some bucket chairs in front of the firegrate to the left of the entrance. In the front corner to the right of the entrance is a corner fabric banquette and more regular tables on the tartan carpet, with a large mirror with a sign above proudly declaring that "Nobody gets out sober". With the pumping music totally out of place here and especially for the time of the day I 100% I will leave here sober! There is an interesting skylight above the central part of the floor space on the way to the outside seating to the right of this side of the pub, which was quite small and picnic benches on wooden decking. The area beyond the front part of the pub was a similarly bare boarded area with the tiling in front of the extension of the front bar counter. Mish mash of seating, small stage area, upright piano against the far wall, pool table, dart board, modern art on the walls and you get the clear idea this is a maelstrom of a pub experience. Indeed, the original fire grate against the back wall in this area to the left of the small stage is about as aesthetically pleasing as you get here. Other than type my notes and sup my half of Neck Oil, I was really looking forward to a humdrum North London Spoons experience after this mindfcuk experience. I would need to be heavily induced to make a return visit here.
On 19th July 2025
- rating: 3
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 774 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Chandos Arms
In a restrained brewers’ Tudor style, this pub would seem to date back to only 1937, probably built to serve the period housing. It has been under the stewardship of the Dallas Pub Company (who?) since April 2023 when the previous licensees – including Emily Ovenden? – departed after nine years.
There’s a two-room format, the left-hand side being largely made over to a pool table and dartboard; trendy prints adorn the walls. The main room is carpeted, the bar back simple, the front possibly original but there’s really nothing in the way of heritage. Walls are painted in contemporary pastel shades. Furniture is mixed, with some semicircular booths, décor taking the form of trendy prints then some black and white photos of the area from yesteryear; there’s a grandfather clock too. Two TVs showed silent sport, one above an extensive short order menu. There was a deafeningly loud – though in the main very good – live band playing at the time of my Saturday 9.30pm visit, with numbers from the likes of Hendrix or Black Sabbath, then Donna Summer’s I Feel Love somewhat incongruously belted out by a bloke in a T-shirt, sans Moroder backing track. Customers were mixed-age locals, many foot tapping to the music, though with a sizeable conclave in the pool room, perhaps either uninterested in live music or tinnitus sufferers.
Now with three unused pumps, it was a half of Gamma Ray, £3.30 served by a charming barmaid, communication effected via mime due to the deafening music.
This is an ok pub that would get an improved score with a decent cask beer. With the live music and proximity to the tube, it’s easily the best of the three remaining ‘real’ pubs in NW9, especially when compared to the Green Man.
On 4th March 2025
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2266 recommendations about 2218 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Chandos Arms
I can't quite sum up Emily Ovenden's enthusiasm for this place, but the refurb has certainly made it a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. This is a high-ceilinged L-shape inside and was likely more than one room originally. There's a 'front room'-type area entered into via the Colindale Avenue entrance which houses a single pool table to the rear and is served by the short portion of the crook-shaped bar. The main area contains a variety of seating from comfy sofa to crescent booth to standard tables and chairs. There's an open kitchen hatch at the rear left of this area and a small corridor at the end leads to a small 'beer patio'. A DJ booth is located in front of the sofa and flatscreen TV hung against the rear wall showing BBC's Final Score on silent. Food on offer included pizzas, burgers and open sandwiches and clipboarded menus also had a separate, smaller 'drinks' menu including cocktails. Three ales were at the jump and included Fuller's London Pride, Caledonian Golden XPA and Fuller's American Fall - a half of the latter and a half of Coke came in at £4.00. Plenty of posters / flyers dotted around advertising Quiz Nights, Live Music, Comedy Clubs, Board Games, etc., although the ad for "DJ G-Nutz" is probably one to give a miss.
On 7th October 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1079 recommendations about 1079 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Emily Ovenden left this review about The Chandos Arms
Refurbished and serving a fantastic menu of pub classics, burgers, salads and pizzas all homemade. Recently won Barnet Pub of the year. Regular live music and community events. Beer Garden and real log fire. A superb pub in an up and coming area.
On 28th March 2015
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about New Chandos
Currently closed and borded up. Another one where the future is uncertain.
On 4th May 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2279 recommendations about 2135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about New Chandos
I spent last Saturday evening in here which was my only visit since my previous comments and nothing much has changed except that there was a brain splittingly loud karaoke disco in progress and I gleaned that the governor is a Spurs supporter as, much to his delight, ‘Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspurs’ was played at midnight as last orders was called. This turned the air even more blue than it already was as the banter ensued from the working class locals who seemed like they had been on the sauce all day.
My feelings are the same as before as I would have no problem going to watch a match here.
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16th March 2009
I found the barman in here to be friendly and the other punters were an excitable lot making it the sort of place I would avoid taking my granny to. There are a couple of pool tables in there own section of the pub and I spotted three plasma screens up on the wall so that you could see at least one of them from any part of the pub. There is also a dartboard on a raised area just to the left of the bar as you walk in.
One ale pump was unused and the other was serving up Adnams which was passable. There was also a selection of usual suspects available on draught.
This is the sort of place I would pop into for the football if I lived locally.
On 8th November 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6168 recommendations about 6131 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about New Chandos
Large pub, with a couple of pool tables in the back room. Has real ale, but couldn't see what they were as the regulars were all sitting at the bar.Friendly staff.
On 13th December 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 759 recommendations about 721 pubs]