The Picture Palace, Ponders End, Enfield

Randomness Guide to London - Picture Palace entry

Randomness Guide to London - Picture Palace entry

A oasis of real beer in the desert of Londen's north-eastern outer suburbs. Not that much to look at from the outside, but inside the conversion has been done pretty well with some sensible lighting drawing the eye to the interesting architectural features and giving the main bar area a comfortable feel (although the former lobby and another space of to one side have a more spartan atmosphere). Ten handpumps, with the usual suspects and two"available soon" but my pint of Winter Warmer from the relatively local Brentwood Brewing Company was excellent value at just £1.95. The barman was pretty efficient too, so overall this must be one of the best pubs in the whole area.

I think that my lasting memory of this pub will be the man that I saw disappearing towards the toilets whilst wearing a dressing gown and holding a newspaper and some plastic flowers. There is a theatre attached to the rear which probably explains it, but there wasn't a play in progress whilst I was there. A Champions league game was on though and it was being shown on the two projector screens/various TVs and the crowd in attendance led me to believe that this is the pub to watch football in the area. Greene King IPA was available along with a standard draught selection and my Guinness was well poured. I don't plan on drinking here again as there are better pubs in the area.

A former cinema (hence the name) and then dance hall known as Howard Hall that was converted into a 'spoons in 2001. It's actually a strange place and has more the feeling of a library being in the most a large square area laid to uniform tables , with the bar area some distance away from the tables. But for somewhere to get a decent pint and decent grub amongst all the fast food chicken shacks of the Hertford Road then it isn't too bad. And as I remember with fondness going to the Howard Hall for non-alcoholic pre-teen discos when it was a Dance Hall , it scores as another historic building that Wetherspoons has saved from the wrecking ball by turning it into a pub. Does tend to get busy at the weekend with the Ponders End youth.