The Brownswood, N4

Originally built in the mid-19th century as the Brownswood Hotel for the Wenlock brewery. A first in here, prompted by it appearing on CAMRA’s heritage inventory for having an interior of Some Regional Importance and now without the noisy fan or black floor. It’s a commanding corner pub with much larvikite cladding (no, me neither). The interior is really rather grand. The floor’s boarded but the central bar has some fine carvings as well as etched mirrors, the bar itself being attractive and original. There’s an unusual coffered ceiling with ornate cornicing, as well as some great ceiling roses with ‘fern’ plaster embellishments. There’s an open kitchen to the right rear but there are at least two fireplaces, one is topped with a fantastic Bass mirror emerging from a wooden fireplace surround, probably added when the pub was surrendered to Charrington’s; other Bass/Charrington’s regalia remain and are probably original. The windows are of particular interest, as they are not typical picture windows, but arched and in quite deep recesses, punctuated by bare wood fluted architraves (see photo). There are some remaining etched glass screens with some t ‘n’ g panelling to dado height, painted battleship grey. Walls are either white, grey as a gastro nod, or with some trendy monochrome wallpaper. A sweeping staircase takes one up the first-floor function room which is a departure from the more traditional ground floor, featuring distressed brick and the modern lavs Furniture is largely conventional and lighting comes from quite traditional hanging iron and glass chandeliers. Customers seemed to be professional types and older than many of the customers in nearby trendy pubs. There were three ales on, served by a very friendly and busy barmaid who reminded me of Jodie Comer. For the record, three unused pumps then Tribute and Five Points XPA on great form and at a reasonable £4.90 a pint. Detractors will probably say that the interior looks like a tearoom that’s part of a Regency National Trust property, but this is a great pub and I’d be happy to stay longer. It would also make for a great stop after a visit to nearby Clissold Park, but by night would make for a decent threesome with the nearby Bank of Friendship and Woodbine.