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The Old Wheatsheaf, Enfield
Enfield
EN2 6SE
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Wheatsheaf
Update: Sadly The Wheatsheaf is no longer part of the Big Smoke stable and they sold it some time last year to one of the pub arms of Punch Taverns. The real and craft ale range is much more reduced from the Big Smoke ownership and there were three ales on for my recent visit, London Pride, Adnams Ghostship and something badged as Wheatsheaf Pale Ale (which was actually quite decent).
Fortunately the two room interior and the very good garden space outback remains unchanged , but have to knock a point off for the reduced ale range.
11th August 2021
The Old Wheatsheaf has now reopened after a period of closure for a makeover after being bought by the Big Smoke Brewing Co of Esther.
Fortunately the makeover has not changed the attractive exterior of the pub and there have been no changes to the still two room period interior of the pub that saw it included in the CAMRA London Inventory of pubs with historic interiors. Internally the only real changes have been to the bar in the larger room itself that now has a line of eight hand pumps to the fore and a new tiled 13 tap wall to the rear.
For my initial visit a week after its reopening alongside Big Smoke Solaris and Music Room there were Oakham Ciltra, Harvey’s Best, Roosters Highway 51 and Laine Brewing Doubloon on the pumps and ciders on the remaining two. Then the tap wall had several craft offerings from Big Smoke amongst others from Marble, Siren, Red Squirrel and Hackney Brewery.
But the biggest changes has been externally round the back and the area that used to be a fitness centre is now the pubs spanking new garden with lots of bench seating and several individual huts around two sides of the new outdoor space.
Both the ales I tried were in good condition and the makeover has catapulted the Old Wheatsheaf into the position of being the best pub for beer choice in Enfield Town, but to be honest it didn’t have a lot to beat.
On 28th February 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Old Wheatsheaf
A classic glazed tiled exterior with two fine curved bay windows,the main public bar here has a traditional feel with lots of interest.The glass is all etched,with a traditional front door while there are fitted bench seats in dark wood,a Victorian fireplace with a mirror inlayed into a wooden frame.Sadly only a coal affect gas fire operates here.On the walls are a few old football photos,while the two flatscreens will show Sky Sports,thankfully mute on my trip.The guv'nor is a bit of a character,and there was a lot of good humoured banter with the locals.The three handpumps were offering CW Courage Best,Wadworth 6X and St Austell Tribute (in very good condition,£4).There is another seperate side bar at a higher level,but in a less interesting oblong room.This also had the feel of another public bar.There is a covered courtyard with substantial benches for those who like fresh air drinking.
Despite an unadventurous ale selection,I really enjoyed the boozer atmosphere .It's proper old school and well worth a visit for the historic interior,listed by CAMRA.
On 28th January 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Old Wheatsheaf
This pub is on CAMRA's London Inventory of pubs with historic interiors, because it still retains its two separate rooms. The room on the right is the more upmarket of the two, and has subsumed the old jug and bottle bar, although the door shows where it used to be. Unfortunately the right hand room was not in use when we visited on Thursday lunchtime - apparently it opens later in the dat when there is sufficient trade to warrant it. The left hand room is single storey and looks to be an addition to the pub. Nonetheless, it is a nice room with matchboard panelling on the walls and bar counter, is carpeted and traditionally furnished with banquettes, small round stools and normal tables. There are a few odds and ends on the window ledges, such as books and plants. There's a small outside seating area to the side of the pub.
There were three ales on - Hobgoblin, Courage Best and Adnam's Southwold Bitter (£3.40 a pint). There was no sign of any food - not surprising as it seems to be very quiet at lunchtime, with only four customers in there. This struck me as an honest to goodness unpretentious local, of the type that's becoming increasingly rare. It's a real pub - I liked it.
On 31st October 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Old Wheatsheaf
Situated virtually opposite Enfield Chase Station is The Old Wheatsheaf, a pub that, in a small poster on the station platform, describes itself as a “Victorian pub with modern standards”.
An attractive frontage features curved bay windows and glazed bricks. Etched glass in a door indicates that the pub had a “jug and bottle” department for off sales. The main bar features a fine fireplace with decorative Art Nouveau tiling and a fine ornate mantelpiece. The pub features in CAMRA’s book of London Heritage Pubs. It’s a comfortable carpeted bar with something of an old fashioned pubby feel. A smaller, cosier, separate bar with its own entrance, in what appears to be an extension to the original building, has much light pine wood panelling and is decorated with pictures of old Enfield. Despite being smaller, this bar was evidently more popular with an enthusiastic crowd of locals watching the England v Italy Six Nations game.
Beers on were Doom Bar, Ringwood Best, Greene King IPA and Black Sheep, a beer that one doesn’t seem to come across so much nowadays when compared with a few years ago. The Black Sheep - £ 3.00p – was pretty good. The pub has had a number of CAMRA Good Beer Guide listings over the years, but isn’t in the current 2011 Edition.
Worth dropping in for one if in the area
On 17th February 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Wheatsheaf
The Old Wheatsheaf is a traditional two room pub just slightlyout of Enfield Town on Windmill Hill. It is still a traditional Public and Saloon bar set up, both rooms having their own entrance doors. The lower bar (as the public is known to locals due to the pub being built on the slope of the hill) has recently been done up, as it was beginning to look tired and worn. The refurbishment has certainly improved it and it is now a lot more welcoming and not so cluttered as some of the seating has been removed, and there is not much to choose between that and the upper bar now.
Both rooms have a fireplace and now have flat screen tele’s , which wasn’t always the case. Both bars support four handpumps with the same beers on and the pub is a GBBG regular as the ale is usually very good. However it is pricey and it still remains one of the more expensive places in Enfield for a pint.
I still prefer the smaller upper bar as this has more of a homely feel to it, even with the big plazma over the door way to the toilets. As it was when I escaped the post Christmas sales last week for a pint. The beers on were Ringwood Best, Adnams Broadside, Doombar and GK IPA, and the Ringwoods was a well kept pint.
On 10th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Old Wheatsheaf
I popped in here late last Saturday night and was informed that there was a problem in the cellar and no draught products were available leaving Bombardier, Pedigree and Greene King IPA along with bottles. I was a little disappointed as I had been on Guinness all night, but the Pedigree was an ok substitute.
There are two separate bars, both of which have plasma screens and the ability to show Sky Sports. VH1 classic was playing on them during my visit and the pub has a late license until midnight at the weekend.
There is a covered outside area to the left of the pub and a beer garden to the rear.
I picked a bad time to visit here, but I still liked it and I will go back again when next in Enfield.
On 4th October 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5243 recommendations about 5211 pubs]