Be At One, N1

Official site of Be At One - www.beatone.co.uk

Official site of Be At One - www.beatone.co.uk

I’ve walked past this place hundreds of times and always assumed it was a grotty local’s pub, but a recent refurbishment saw the front opened out a little so that when I passed, I could see a smart gastro-style interior that looked like it might be worth taking a punt on. The pub has a long, narrow interior with bare floorboards, attractive full height wall panels and a lincrusta ceiling. The servery is down the right-hand side of the room and has a nice dark wood counter, broken by a white tiled pillar midway along, with a pleasant curved end. Modern shelving units on the bar back illuminated by angle poise lamps above are all in keeping with the pub’s fresh new look, although it can’t help but all feel a bit corporate and ‘seen-it-all-before’. There’s a particularly cosy looking padded bench booth under the front window, whilst high tables and stools run along the right-hand side and a long banquette with standard chairs serves the left side of the room. A high shelf has been decorated with typical pub décor such as old ceramic bottles and a TV screen was showing muted news coverage. The room narrows a little as it passes the bar, before opening out again into a rear space which looked like it was best suited to diners. There are plenty more tables and chairs back here with similar décor to the front half of the pub including another TV screen. The pub has a juke box and tunes from this were playing quietly in the background. I was a little surprised to see four handpulls in operation, although the selection was hardly inspiring, with a choice of Watney’s pale, Wells Bombardier, Taylors Landlord and a house beer of unknown providence. I tried a pint of the Landlord, which I was shocked to be charged £5.60 for – it was in an acceptable condition but beyond the friendly service from the barmaid, there was nothing here that merited such a premium. I’m a bit torn on this place – it’s nice to see it has been done up and looks a lot more inviting than it used to but it doesn’t have a great deal of character and seems content to charge a premium just because it’s close to the tube station and can probably get away with stinging a few unwise passers-by, like me. It has its plus-points but there are a number of far better options in the backstreets around here, so I can’t see me making a return.

This pub was better than I expected, as I never expect much from Stonegate pubs (other than the 50p off a pint of real ale with a CAMRA voucher). But they had on Doom Bar, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Rockin' Rudolph, Watney's Pale Ale, and Nag's Head Ale (brewed by Caledonian). The Watney's Pale was undrinkable, but readily exchanged for the Nag's Head Ale, which was in fine shape. They were doing hot food on the Wednesday lunchtime I visited, but I didn't see a menu. The layout is much as described previously. The mosaic flooring is still there on the floor leading from the door on the left, quite likely leading to a billiards room at the rear. There is some nice old floor to ceiling wooden panelling, including interspersed mirrored panels, on the walls. Hard to date - could be inter-war. Furnishings seemed to be traditional and comfortable. This is a surprisingly good pub. There are plenty of drinking establishments in Upper Street, but not that many good pubs.

With its two entrance doors separated by a picture window, this was once a common type of terraced London pub, but finding both doors still in use is quite rare nowadays. Anyway, one inside (by whatever route), you find a narrow wood-panelled rectangular bar with a two-part counter and two rooflights in the gloomy rear section which help a bit (although lighting levels are low throughout). Also has a couple of small tables out front, and a standard Stonegate menu. Three of five handpumps in use, offering the 'house' Angel Ale (4.1%, and brewed with five malts and whole flower hops apparently, £5.05), Bombardier and Landlord, with Adnams Mosaic and Watneys Pale Ale 'coming soon'.

Until the other night I hadn't been in here since the late 1980s, so can't really remember it. It's well described below and is worth of the description 'pub', nothing more, nothing less. The barman was very friendly and enthusiastic. Ales up: Fuller's London Pride, St. Austell's Tribute, Deuchars IPA and Flying Scotsman and Adnam's Ghost Ship which was on form and at £3.90 a pint, is good value for the area. Worth a visit in passing, but there are much better pubs off either side of the Upper Street strip.