The Five Bells, East Finchley, N2

Official site of The Five Bells - www.greeneking.co.uk

Official site of The Five Bells - www.greeneking.co.uk

I imagine this pub has changed quite a bit since the two previous reviews. It now looks like any one of similar pubs in this chain and others like it, being food oriented with a large car park. As I was here with a large group for a post-funeral party, there are no complaints on that score. There were four real ales available: Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale, Morland Old Speckled Hen and H&H Rocking Rudolf (is it Christmas?). My GK IPA was as good as it gets. The party food was generous with some pretty decent vegetarian options. So I suppose I can recommend the pub in that it does what it sets out to do pretty well, but I wouldn't make a point of coming here again (until the next funeral).

The grounds of the Five Bells are pretty big; they actually make the pub look small. Lots of no smoking areas, hence no seating in the smoking area even though half the pub was empty. I found it to be very much a local's pub, to the point where I thought that I was trespassing. There was no unpleasantness, but there was no pleasantness either. Maybe it was just that time of the day when all the Friday afternoon drinkers were getting ready to go home and have some tea. I wouldn't make a conscious decision to walk there from the high street again.