Bank of Friendship, Highbury, N5

Like previous reviewers, I also found three real ales on, with London Pride, Hammerton N1, and Gritchie Moon Lore (£4.60 a pint) all on. I went for the latter as it was a new one on me, and it's branded as a new world pale ale, at 3.7%. It was OK without being anything special. No sign of food late afternoon on a Wednesday, although there were gin menus on the tables. This pub is now on CAMRA's Regional Inventory of pubs with historic interiors. This must be because it still has two separate rooms, connected to each other at the back behind the servery, as well as some old Courage signage at the top of the bar back in the right hand room. The room on the left is more basic than the one on the right - bare-boarded compared to carpetted, and lacking the moody tea lights on the tables to which any customers in the right hand room are treated. There's a nice fireplace in the right hand room as well, with a gas coal-effect fire alight, and with the only real downside being that the tea lights don't provide enough light for anyone wishing to read. There's also a garden at the back. This is a friendly, comfortable and welcoming pub. but probably best avoided when Arsenal are playing at home.

Official site of Bank of Friendship - www.bankoffriendship.com