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Detail Pages
Clissold Arms, N2
N2
N2 9HR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about Clissold Arms
Visited 30/04/25
No cask. Quite small keg offering of Inch's cider, Neck Oil, San Miguel, Amstel, Moretti, Guinness, Meantime Prime Pale Ale.
This pub has a very strong Greek theme and the walls in the main bar area are adorned with Greek holiday island images. The venue is entered on the side through the beer garden, and the bar area is really a dining area with regular tables and chairs laid for diners. The area is bare boarded, and the wooden bar counter is on the wall opposite the entrance. There is a large skylight in the middle of the room, and I sat at the single table at the bar counter not laid for dining. To the left side of the main bar area is a room called the Shed (essentially a small private function room) and which also leads to the Terrace (essentially a large wood panelled, bare boarded space with green leather banquettes around a good part of the wall with a small stage area opposite the entrance). To the right side of the main bar is the Kinks Room, down a couple of steps. This is also bare boarded with turquoise painted wall panelling to half height all the way round. The floor space is filled with regular tables and chairs with a colourful sofa and tall backed armchair array in the far corner around a wall plaque commemorating the venue as the first public appearance by the Kinks in December 1960. The walls above the panelling are adorned with Kinks photos and memorabilia and there is an upright piano that can only be played with the permission of the management. Despite the Kinks heritage the soundtrack here was wall to wall Greek traditional music that was very pleasant on a Sunny Afternoon. Not surprisingly the inside of the venue was people deficient and the many here were out in the extensive courtyard to the left side of the venue.
On 4th March 2026
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1349 recommendations about 1332 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Clissold Arms
This pub dates from the mid-19th century and I suppose the name must relate to Joseph Clissold, though what – if any – association he had with the pub and area is unclear.
To the left of the entrance is a plaque, the product of a new CAMRA initiative to celebrate ‘Pubs in Time’, the subject here being a relationship to The Kinks (see photo). This entrance is to ‘The Kinks Room’ which doubles as one of three function rooms, in use at the time of my Friday evening arrival. This means that customers’ first impressions of the pub are the result of being herded round to the left-hand side to enter via the unattractive car park into a substantial patio, where one is greeted by a caryatid, for this pub is now Greek run, serving Greek food. Next up, you’re into the dining room, the bar in front with modern glass shelves. The floor is modern boarded, walls natural wood field panelled then white paint, the furniture typical restaurant-style, tables mostly vacant. As I didn’t feel like sitting in the garden, The Kinks Room being hired out and tables laid for dining-only, I had nowhere to sit or even perch, which is a bit crap.
There’s now no cask, a half of Neck Oil coming in at an unjustifiable £4.00, served by a Zorba lookalike.
I’d be hard pressed to call this a pub anymore and the execution is a little shambolic; the Village Green is a short walk, the Windsor Castle further still but worth it.
On 22nd July 2024
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2307 recommendations about 2251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Clissold Arms
When I called in here I was perplexed to find both the front doors shut, but I'd seen some people smoking in the garden so I walked in through the side door, which is where the bar is situated. There was the apparent aftermath of a wedding party going on here, but as there was no sign saying "private function" or "sorry, we are closed to the public", I just went to the bar and waited to be served. After a few minutes a very polite young man asked me if I was with the wedding party, to which I gave the obvious negative reply. He apologised and said it was a private party, and apologised again when I pointed out the lack of a sign outside to indicate this fairly important detail of the evening's arrangements. Perhaps someone took it home as a souvenir.
There were four hand pumps, including one selling the local Sambrooks Wandle, but as I didn't get a drink I can't review the beers. It does seem strange that the front part of the pub has no bar, and that the pub's own website makes no mention whatsoever of drink. Perhaps there's a hint to be found in that omission...
On 21st May 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4666 recommendations about 4275 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alesonly . left this review about Clissold Arms
I went in here on the way home recently as the Pub I usually go in was closed being early afternoon so I though I would give it another try and see if its improved but no such luck since this Pub was taken over Its now just a licenced Restaurant not a Public House in my opinion. For someone too wreak a good Kinks heritage Pub like this was such a shame. As a long term resident of Muswell Hill since the early 1970s this Pub was always a local landmark that I used very regularly until it was changed we used too go play Darts matches watch football Etc now its just been turned it into another a gastro Restaurant offering nothing special. Theres now No bar down in the lower end this has been removed so now and if you want a drink you have to go up the top end which is more of a restaurant plus Its mainly table service only. When I visited I got the feeling they don't like just drinkers preferring foodies only. I found the Place very bland it felt more like drinking in a hotel Bar it had no atmosphere whatsoever only saving grace I could find is they serve a few good Real Ales.
I would not bother returning as I prefer a more traditional Pub like the Alex just opposite.
On 12th September 2010
- rating: 3
[User has posted 132 recommendations about 105 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Clissold Arms
Strange in that it has a grocers shop in the beer garden
On 6th April 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Clissold Arms
Friday afternoon was my first time in the Clissold and as I walked in I thought that I could have just entered any Slug and Lettuce in the country.
A few premium lagers were on offer along with Landlord, Ruddles County, Pride and a Sussex ale. The barmaid was very friendly and thankfully my change was put straight into my hand rather than onto a silver tray. The inside is quite large and split level with the bar up a few steps to the rear just before the doors leading to the covered patio area. There are plenty of dining tables and a few sofas scattered around the pub.
If you're ever in the mood for a little chocolate with pistachio mousse this is the place to go, but I think I'll stick to more traditional pubs!
On 7th May 2008
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6560 recommendations about 6522 pubs]