The Flask, Highgate  

For a long time the Flask has been a great traditional boozer - a rambling olde worlde experience in the olde worlde village of Highgate. Stories of ghosts and Dick Turpin only add to a sense of it being a bit special. It doesn't quite live up to these high expectations, but it's still pretty good if you catch it on the right day. Having lost its way somewhat under the previous owners Michells and Butler, it was sold to Fullers recently, who have begun to turn it around. The loungey furnishings which sat at odds with the aged interior are beginning to be replaced, but the view from the front is still filled with an ugly permanent gazebo and a crowded arrangement of garden furniture. It's also a shame that the second bar is still closed, which doesn't help to quell the long queues which gather on sunny weekends. Indeed weekends can be quite annoying and loud teenagers spending their parent's money can dominate proceedings. Still, on a weekday evening the service was attentive and friendly, while the full range of Fuller's ales (plus a guest) are on offer; the ESB was in good nick. Meanwhile, the food, although expensive, looked pretty tasty. Ultimately, to get the best out of this historic pub, visit out of peak times.

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