The Hadley Hotel, Barnet

They had three real ales on when I visited on Wednesday lunchtime - the usual suspects of GK IPA and London Pride plus Daleside Yorkshire Rascal. I went for the latter of course, which wasn't in good condition but drinkable. They did food but I didn't see a menu - there wasn't one at the table at which we sat. You enter through the large and imposing main doors into a smallish entranceway area facing the section of the bar counter where the handpumps are located, which makes life easy. There's a Tudor style wood-framed archway on the right leading to a smallish room which is interesting in that above the archway are the words "Battle of Barnet" and which seems to commemorate said battle as there are battle scenes on the walls - murals of course. A larger archway on the left of the entrance area leads to another room; then there's another drinking area at the back where there are a couple of fruit/games machines. It's carpeted throughout which would act to reduce noise levels in a high-ceilinged old pub like this, and it's furnished with normal tables and chairs. There are TVs strategically placed on the walls. My guess is that the interior fitting (bar back and counter) are inter-war, with the bar counter at the front having a melamine top. There is some marble effect coving in the left hand rooms, with embossed brown wallpaper on the dado, with green arty paper above it. Not really my cup of tea as decor goes, but not really something to get excited about. There was a sprinkling of other customers in there during our visit; it wasn't what I would call busy but I was pleased to see that a pub as off the beaten track as this one was still doing a healthy trade. I rather liked this traditional pub - if only the Yorkshire Rascal had been on better form the visit would have been much more enjoyable.

Randomness Guide to London - Hadley Hotel entry

Randomness Guide to London - Hadley Hotel entry