Old Crown, Archway  

When we last came here in 2004, service was so abysmal that we never returned; there's enough good pubs in Highgate to keep us happy. Still, reviewers we are, so on a recent sojourn to lovely Waterlow Park, we ventured back. What we found was certainly better - but not much. Service from the one barman was pretty good; he even brought our drinks over to the table, presumably for something to do - there were a total of four people in on Saturday afternoon. Drinking here still is very depressing, though. You can see the once grand pub it was; three sets of doors indicate the separate bars which once graced the interior. Today it's a stripped out shadow of its former self. The nice bar remains, but not much else. Hard wooden surfaces and high ceilings make the smallest sound echo throughout the pub, while the badly arranged furniture give the appearance of a Careers Fair at closing time. Nasty frosted glass dissuades wary passing trade from venturing in. This is a pub of immense lost potential; some plants or soft furnishings would be a start, while more customers wouldn't hurt either. Shame.

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