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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 3rd August 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Ox & Gate, Cricklewood, NW2
NW2
NW2 7HS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Ox & Gate
Visited 13/05/25
No cask. Threats of some hand pumps but guess a decent period since last dispensing. Keg offering of Moretti, Amstel, Peroni, Cruz, Neck Oil, Guineas, Fosters, Cruz, Inch's.
Some outside seating at the front. Bar counter is along the rear wall opposite the entrance. The area over towards the left-hand end is up a step and is carpeted and feels like a library sort of area. An area off this area houses a pool table . A large fire grate mid venue sort of divides the space and the seating is via regular tables and chairs and there are some banquettes here and there. There are a lot of TV screens showing mostly evening racing. A large venue but lacking in atmosphere I would have to say.
On 18th July 2025
- rating: 4
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 774 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Ox & Gate
Named after the former Ox Gate farm diagonally opposite, this pub was open by 1935, probably built to serve the area which appears to be urban expansion dating from that period.
This had recently been known as Whelan’s from 2016, the original name reinstated recently; this is also a ‘stealth’ Greene King pub. The interior is spacious with a small front room and raised rear area, delineated from the remainder of the pub by balustrades. Otherwise, the floor is bare boarded – carpeted to the small front room – with a tiled bar apron. You can see the interior on their website, but essentially there’s a smoky blue or white colour scheme, grey swag curtains, conventional furniture with tan studded banquettes, games machines, silent unwatched televised dross, Spandau Ballet, with décor in the form of eclectic prints then glassware and earthenware drinking vessels to a cabinet at the rear; in all, it’s a bit like a fake Victorian hotel bar, but with the obligatory north London legend ‘Céad Mile Fáilte’ to the green shiny tiled bar back. Customers amounted to just three older solitary blokes at the time of my Thursday 9.00pm visit.
Despite the branding, there’s no cask here, so it was more Neck Oil at £3.13 a half, served by a charming south-east Asian barmaid.
This place is essentially fine for what it is, but the amount of time required to get here for very little reward doesn’t justify a return visit, but it’s better than the Crown.
On 22nd November 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2267 recommendations about 2219 pubs]