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Disappointment of the week with Bucking Fastard
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Newmarket Ale House, Lower Holloway, N7
N7
N7 9QG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Newmarket Ale House
Originally called the New Market Inn on account of its proximity to the now defunct Metropolitan Cattle Market, the pub's name now erroneously has an association with Suffolk - passed on many an occasion over the years, so we decided to give it a go. The pub effectively has a monopoly; 30-odd years ago there were eight pubs in the immediate vicinity; today this is the only one that remains.
The pub is quite large inside with a bare boarded floor and central bar. It's also a bit gloomy, lighting comes courtesy of a multitude of the now so fashionable low wattage filament bulbs. Most of the furniture is quite conventional with some tables and chairs fabricated from cheap planking with spindly metal frames on which there are menus advertising food which whilst not gastro, is certainly a cut above swanky burgers. Less obviously so than in the past, the pub is still something of a draw for Brazilians. We arrived at 9.30 on the Friday and the place was rather empty. Some sad old men propped up the bar whilst young couples schmoozed. Latinos go out quite late, so perhaps this place picks up around closing time. Samba music was playing over the stereo and it really was a bit loud.
The pub now appears to be an outlet for BrewDog craft beers. No other ales were on pump and premium lagers were in evidence aplenty. However, all the BrewDog pumps were dry except for Alice Porter. I was offered a bottle of Fuller's London Pride to be poured into a glass which was already filled with ice!! Luckily (the Brazilian?) barman couldn't find a bottle of Pride so I plumped for the porter which is described as having a "coffee character" - not wrong here, in fact it tasted more like chocolate and was so cold it made my teeth ache. It also cost £5.50.
This isn't really my kind of place though I suspect that you have to be Brazilian to appreciate it. Perhaps ice in a pint is a Brazilian thing? I can't see any real reason to return.
On 16th May 2015
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Newmarket Ale House
I was expecting there to be lines of hand pumps and hoards of bearded gentlemen lining the bar as I approached the Newmarket Ale House, but the name is well out of date as I don’t think there has been a real ale served here for some time. This pub is in fact a run by South Americans and from all of the flags on the wall and the few speciality bottled beers advertised I would imagine that they are Brazilian. There are a few standard draught products alongside San Miguel and I thought that the Guinness was on pretty good form. It wasn’t very busy and half of the handful of customers seemed to be friends or family of the staff, but I was served in a courteous manner and made to feel welcome.
There are a couple of flat screen TVs and also a projector screen that was rolled up. I didn’t spot any advertisements for Sky Sports, but a foreign satellite channel was showing highlights of some Primera Division football, which was muted to give way to some Salsa type music. There is plenty of seating in this large pub and a pool table can be found to the left of the entrance.
This is not a place for the traditional pub fan and I wouldn’t go out of my way to drink here again, but I would imagine it is good fun when it is busier and there is more of an atmosphere.
On 23rd August 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5229 recommendations about 5197 pubs]