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Detail Pages
The Twelve Pins, Finsbury Park, N4
N4
N4 2DE
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Twelve Pins
Dating from 1891, this was originally the Finsbury Park Tavern, still with its Taylor Walker sign frame with trademark ‘cannon’ at top, a feature often seen in these parts, as it resembles Arsenal’s logo. I’m not sure of the reasons for the current name, but Rowan’s bowling alley is round the corner.
I can’t really elaborate on the previous reviews, but it’s certainly an ‘Irish’ pub with megavision screens showing something probably Gaelic, to a rather rough, screaming, pretty much exclusively older male crowd. All this was accompanied by a very loud soundtrack and tables littered with glasses.
No real ale of course, my half of Neck Oil was a reasonable £2.75, necked quicker than it took to pour before I was out the door.
I really didn’t like this place one little bit; I’d have to think back a long way to the last time I was in somewhere as bad as this. The much improved – though not great – Blackstock over the road is a far better bet.
Rated 2.5.
On 3rd February 2022
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Twelve Pins
A large Victorian pub with a very high ceiling and plenty of supporting columns,the interior is largely open plan apart from a snug to one side of the bar behind some wood dividers on the way to the function room.The bar is three sided and has a good looking wooden bar back while opposite is a small stage.There is a large drop down screen for Sky Sports with another flatscreen above the entrance to the loos,while two further screens were covering At the Races and an Irish hurling match.The furniture was traditional if a little worn and there is an Irish theme with gaelic bits and bobs.Like most of Ireland,keg is king here and there is no real ale.The only interesting keg option was Meantime's Yakima Red but served too cold and fizzy .Food was popular from a pub grub menu with most mains around £8,with a selection of daily specials pitched at the same price point.There is a darts board and an array of fruit machines below the drop down screen and outside there is a sectioned off area with pic nic benches for a tab.
Sport orientated keg only boozer but popular none the less,with a bit of character.
On 25th April 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Twelve Pins
Typical North London Irish / sports pub, so no real ale available of course (and thus had to resort to Worthington Smoothflow, £3.30). Notably high ceiling and some columns hinting at the original layout. Pretty basic overall, but they are obviously making a bit of an effort to promote food and wine offers.
On 20th October 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Twelve Pins
This is another "Irish" pub, right by Finsbury Park Station. I didn't hear any Irish accents while I was in here on Tuesday afternoon, but there was Gaelic writing all over the place - one helpfully translating The Twelve Pins into "Na Beanna Beola" - and several Guinness adverts. There was also a superb Guinness brewery mirror set into the impressive bar back. The bar back cum stillion deserves a mention as it is a three-sided carved solid wood affair in the style of the late 19th Century pub fitters, although I understand that it is actually late 20th Century workmanship. Nonetheless, it's an impressive centrepiece to the pub. The main pub area is completely opened up now, although a few remnants of screening remain, although these are also likely to be more modern eplacements. The room has a very high ceiling, which you tend only to see in these old Victorian pubs. The floor's bare-boarded, which, combined with the high ceiling, will undoubtedly make the room noisy when it becomes moderately busy. Furnishings are mainly banquettes, normal tables and chairs although I did spot a couple of barrels masquerading as tables, with accompanying tall stools. In addition, there's a small stage at the front of the room - I'm not sure what it's used for, but at the back of it there were adverts for forthcoming football matches being screened. There's a function room to the side of the main room, but I didn't venture there.
There's no real ale unfortnately, but masses of taps dispensing all manner of keg products, the best being Tetley Bitter at £1.60 a half. The menu looked reasonable, with sandwiches around the £4 - £5 mark, and main course, including several pub grub classics, at around £7.
This is not a bad pub at all, but the absence of a real ale is a big negative factor for me. But if you're not fussed about that then this place is a handy stopping off point if travelling from Finsbury Park.
On 11th January 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Twelve Pins
Large Irish pub. Standard draught selection and food served. Big screen for sports. Some original fittings have been retained.
On 9th March 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Twelve Pins
This is a large pub that is ideal for watching the football on Sky Sports and Setanta whilst drinking standard lagers. The barman seemed quite miserable, but it was late on Saturday night after an Arsenal home game so I will cut him a bit of slack.
I didn’t really like the area so I doubt I will find myself wandering the streets here again, but if I do and there is a game on I would return to this pub.
On 7th April 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ALFRED COCHRANE left this review about The Twelve Pins
really disappointing, now one bar,and looks like its never been painted,irish stew on the menu,but didnt look like anyone was trying it,took ages to get served dispite the fact there was not many wanting a drink
On 12th October 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 19 recommendations about 19 pubs]