The Flask, Highgate, N6

Spent an afternoon in Highgate recently and after a stroll around the nearby famous cemetery, we decided to pop into the Flask for a drink and something to eat. We found a very pleasing, dark panelled, multi roomed pub which, despite being full of diners on a Saturday lunchtime, gave me the impression that this would make for a pleasant local. The dining set-up meant that most seating was in the form of smartly upholstered chairs around formal table arrangments, but I spotted some more relaxed seating options in the area nearer the bar, where one or two punters were lounging over the morning's papers. Beer choice was restricted to three Fuller's regulars (Pride, ESB (£3.45) and Discovery) and one guest (Butcombe Bitter). My ESB was nice and came served in the correct glass. I had the sausage and mash for lunch, which was excellent - the sausages were as fine as any I've tasted for a long time and they fully justified their relatively expensive price tag. Staff offered table service and were very friendly and attentive. As with a lot of old pubs, there was a sign above the bar explaining that the building is supposedly haunted, claiming in fact to be the most haunted pub in London. I think Rex sums this place up well in his review below. The place has found an interesting niche between 'up-market gastro' and 'cosy traditional', which in theory should make it appeal to a wider audience. Well worth a look.

This is a Fuller’s pub, which during my lunchtime visit had on Pride, Discovery, ESB, Bengal Lancer, and a guest of Liberation Ale. I went for the Liberation Ale of course, which turned out to be very quaffable hoppy light coloured ale from the Channel Islands. At £3.55 a pint it was a tad pricey, but I didn’t expect this pub to be cheap. There’s no pub grub in here either. There are daily printed menus, offering such basic staples as “wild boar and girolle terrine with toast and cornichons” – which I guess must be some version of pate and toast. I had a Coronation chicken sandwich (at £7.25), which came in a smallish brown bread rustic baguette with some leaves and chips. It was of a very high standard, very enjoyable, with all manner of caramelised onions and stuff mixed in with the chicken, and was more substantial than it looked. Goodness – I do hope that I’m not slipping down the slippery slope to gastrophilia!! The pub itself is a maze of nooks and crannies, giving separate drinking and dining areas, rather reminiscent of the Holly Bush over at Hampstead. Some of the dark wood panelling is very old, giving it a place on CAMRA’s list of heritage interiors. There are some picnic benches at the front of the pub. The unadulterated interior of the pub lets it maintain a very traditional feel, but clearly the food is very “ultra-gastro”, and the ale prices reflect this very upmarket area. But for all that I enjoyed my visit to this pub. There were no one-armed bandits or the like that I saw, no raucous music or tedious radio stations being played (just some low volume blues). I don’t think it’s the sort of place to stand at the bar sinking pints (there’s not room for more than two or three punters at the bar in any case), but I would be very happy to pay a return visit.

Randomness Guide to London - Flask entry

Randomness Guide to London - Flask entry

I think that I picked a bad time to visit this pub as it was a sunny Saturday afternoon and the Highgate masses were out and about. The outside car park area and the marquee that was situated in it were both packed, so I was happy to find an almost empty pub. I was fortunate to walk in at just the right moment as I was served a pint of Pride almost instantly and I managed to easily find a seat in the small bar area. Butcombe Bitter, ESB, and Discovery were also available alongside standard and premium lagers. I think I'm going to arrange another trip to this pub on a week night when it is less busy.