The Crown, Highgate, N6

Been waiting to trek here since noting last summer’s re-opening so took the advantage of being in the rough vicinity (less than a mile away in my books) after visiting the Duke of St Albans a little earlier. This is a small venue on Highgate High St, perfectly described below. Was pleasantly surprised to see such a decent cask offering - four operating hand pumps providing Leeds Pale Ale, a Five points offering, something called the Planter (didn’t notice the brewer) and Harvey’s Sussex Best. Five keg offerings (two from Staro, Blue Moon, Jupa from Five Points and an Aspall cider. The upcoming cask offering were also listed - really decent stuff indeed. Here just after 7.30pm and the crowd started to build quickly for a quiz starting at 8pm (every Wed). Someone in to “tinkle the ivory’s” with a ding-dong sing-a-long every Monday evening. Thought this was a really lovely pub - small but perfectly formed and definitely the best in the post code area IMHO.

As the Rose & Crown, this pub dates back to around 1730; I wouldn’t be surprised if the façade is original, given the area’s history and indeed as a grade II-listed building, Historic England confirms this is an 18th century structure with 19th century windows, once a Whitbread house, Charrington’s lanterns extant. Sadly, it closed in 2012 to become an upmarket chain bakery only to reopen on 22nd June 2023 as the Crown, for some reason. I don’t recall the interior from my one original visit from many years back, but I suspect it had been messed about with; the staff member in black slacks, black waistcoat, white shirt and black bow tie have certainly gone, as has the restaurant slant. There’s a raised area to the rear, modern boarded and carpeted floor, mid-grey all-over colour scheme, traditional furniture with some natural wood peripheral pews, dried flowers and tealights to tables, framed period prints and beverage makers’ mirrors, a few plants and shelf with knickknacks and Toby jugs. There are board games, middle-aged local customers and garden with the only remaining details being part of an elaborate dentilled cornice, all to a decent REM/Smiths soundtrack. The cask front amounted to Pride, Northern Monk’s A Little Faith, Marble Pint and Five Points XPA at a reasonable £5.40 a pint, on decent form, served by a friendly barman. Given that the Duke’s Head, Angel and sadly Prince of Wales have largely gone to the dogs, this place is a welcome reinvention, now the best option along this short strip, but given the history, why on Earth did the tenants dispose of a name dating back nearly 300 years?