The Oakdale Arms, Woodberry Down, N4

Given its impending demise, it would be very hard to write a review of the Oakdale without it sounding like a eulogy. This was my first and no doubt last visit, hurriedly arranged 10 days before the pub is due to shut for good and I suppose it is difficult to comment on what the place has meant to a lot of people over a longer period of time than to me on my fleeting one off visit. Situated in an area devoid of quality pubs, the Oakdale has been flying the “good pub” flag for several years and is widely accepted as the best pub for cask ales in the area. The interior is divided into 2 quite large bars, a spacious, carpeted main bar that is, to be honest, quite tatty and dingy but in its own kind of way quite representative of the kind of take us as you find us pub that has become a dying breed. The rear section has been extended at some point and is nominally brightened by the presence of some skylights. In the corner is a raised section with sonme sofas but the most interesting features are the 2 large tanks containing some Australian Dragons that will apparently attack any fingers that disobey the warning signs. The separate games room is more functional than aesthetic and contains a pool table, 2 dart bords, a pinball machine, various fruit machines and a collection of pump clips to rival any pub in London. To the side of the main bar is a small “beer garden” that in reality is little more than a smoker’s patio with a couple of covered benches. Given the number and variety of beers that have obviously passed through the pub, it is surprising that there are only 4 hand pumps (2 in each bar) and only 2 available on my visit (Blindman’s Mine Beer and Milton Dionysus) although the pub’s current predicament may have reduced the normal availability. I had no problems with the quality or pricing with either. The fact that I left at 7pm on a night when Spurs were playing one of their biggest games in recent times (and was being shown on terrestrial TV) and there were barely 3 or 4 people in the pub suggests that not too many people are as concerned about its closure as some would have us believe. The pub may have had better days according to some reports I have read but I for one am at least glad I was at least able to spend a brief but enjoyable couple of hours before the last bell rings. I just hope that Oakdale leaves some kind of legacy for other pubs in the area to aim for.

An old fashioned locals pub that has not been touched in many years which adds to the atmosphere.I tried the 2 Milton real ales and they were in top form and served up by a very friendly barmaid.As stated before this pub will close its doors for the last time on 19th March and will be demolished to make way for a block of flats.A sad lose.