Rather sneakily, Highgate tube is a fair walk from Highgate Village. It should take about 15 mins to get from one to the other. Leave Highgate tube by the 'car park' exit so you're on the Archway Road. Cross the road and walk up Jacksons Lane till it meets Southwood Lane. Keep on Southwood Lane until you reach the almshouses and turn right up Castle Yard. This leads to North Road. You'll see pub across the road on the left. Alternatively walk (or catch the bus) up Highgate Hill from Archway. At the top of the hill in the heart of the village, the pub is over the other side of the mini-roundabout a minutes walk down North Road on the left.
Mon-Wed 12:00-00:00Thu: 12:00-01:00Fri Sat 12:00-02:00Sun 12:00-00:00* * opening times can change, please check with the pub before organising important events.
Street View - click to see the area around the Red Lion & Sun
Until recently the Red Lion & Sun was a traditional style pub with a gaggle of older regulars. Then the refurbishment arrived and if you keep abreast of prevailing fashion you'll find the results unsurprising. The wood panelling has been painted in various unexcitingly muted colours - ranging from grey to beige - and the carpet went skip-bound. Scattered around are a few objets d'art - and thank goodness too, as they enliven an otherwise bland and somewhat cold appearance. We're sure it'll go down a storm with certain Highgate residents, but we can't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for the pub it once was - there are ways to renovate a pub without it looking like a clone of so many other pub renovations. Despite this, it's all right here - nice beer gardens feature at the front and back, service is friendly and there's a useful late license. You'll also find a pretty reasonably priced food menu, even if the £3.50 "English hotdog" conjured up images of burger vans outside football grounds. Still early days, if it gets into its stride we might up it to a three pint rating.
reviewed: 03/08/2007
pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)
posted by heathball - Thursday 27th March, 2008, 11:24pm
Thank you YBOT for your comments.. it's so nice to get positive feed back. Please next time you are in introduce yourself to me.
Eugenio, we have plans this summer for live music in the front garden.
Heath (landlord)
posted by ybot - Tuesday 25th March, 2008, 1:09pm
dont listen to the detractors the pub has been transformed, it was a grubby toilet with even grubbier clientele, now its civilised, good food and professional staff, its frequented by a more select crowd without attracting some of the spanners that go to 'the flask' the best pub out of the ashes of the worst in Highgate
posted by eugenio - Tuesday 12th February, 2008, 2:31am
I'd suggest the landlord to introduce some form of entertainment in the new pub, nothing too noisy, just a piano with a singer, Blues, Jazz, good old Pop...
posted by Iclemiss - Tuesday 30th October, 2007, 3:19pm
Great place with friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere. Food is good and very reasonable and they do one of the best Sunday Roasts around. Also open till late at the weekend which is very good!
posted by ac1977 - Sunday 28th October, 2007, 1:45pm
We've lived in Highgate for 4 years, and were so pleased when this place was re-furbished.
The old version was 'traditional' in all the worst ways... dark, dirty and that cardinal sin... STICKY CARPETS!
I'm sure that those who live in the area will appreciate how little choice there is when it comes to good food at honest prices. Well this place manages to deliver both. Starters are all about £4 and mains about £6.50... Cheaper than Pizza Express or Cafe Rouge, AND they only sell quality meat that comes from Highgate Butchers.
Drinks are equally well priced, good selection and they serve until 2am.
With lovely Beer Gardens for the summer and open fires in winter this place is great.
My partner and I have never been 'bar flys' before but since Heath made a welcoming refurb of this run down dive, we've become genuine regulars.
I suggest that others give it a go.
click for directions to Red Lion & Sun from wherever you are
real ales - Greene King
beer garden front and back
open late
