The Beaconsfield, Harringay, N4

This looks very much like a pub that has seen better days. It looks an impressive building from the outside, although the “E” and “S” were missing from the original gilded pub name above the door, with the more modern pub sign above it looking a bit incongruous. Inside all the original rooms have been knocked into one, with the bar counter in the centre of the room. This pub is also on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs with heritage interiors, and I noticed what looked like the original ceiling (painted dark “racing” green), cast iron pillars, as well as some cut and etched glasswork. But it has none of the Victorian grandeur of the Salisbury down the road. There was a big pull-down screen showing the Stoke v Wigan game when I was in, plus at least four other TV monitors around the room. London Pride was the only real ale advertised when I was in, although there was another handpump with a GKIPA clip turned round. I ordered the Pride, but it tasted exactly like GKIPA, and the two ales are very different in taste, and I know the difference quite well. I mentioned this to the barman, who tried a taste and said I might have a point. I’m not sure what he did about it though. If he checked while I was still in there he didn’t let me know the result – but he was on his own and presumably that would have made it inconvenient for him to leave the bar. This is not a bad pub, and it was quite comfortable, but there was nothing sufficiently special about it that would make me want to pay a return visit.