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Submitted on Monday, 21^st May 2012
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Clissold Arms, N2

105 Fortis Green
N2
N2 9HR

Phone: 02084444224

Correct details

Served areas

Muswell Hill, East Finchley

Reviews of Clissold Arms (Average Rating: 3½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

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 22^nd July 2024 - rating: 3
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 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 21^st May 2012 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 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 12^th September 2010 - rating: 3
[User has posted 132 recommendations about 105 pubs]

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