Hadley Hotel, New Barnet  

Impressive from the outside, the inside of the Hadley Hotel was a bit of a let down. Don't misunderstand us, it's quite nice - plenty of wood, bench seating and scenes from the Battle of Barent stenciled onto the walls added up to a potentially interesting pub. It was, however, rather depressing here. A handful of regulars watching the footy and under-occupied staff gave a vague air of futility. The interior, too, despite the positives, came across as gloomy rather than cosy. A couple of ales on tap and pleasant service means this is an OK pub for the locals. Nonetheless, if you happen to be taking a stroll in nearby Hadley Wood it's worth popping in for a post-amble pint; just but don't arrive with muddy boots - the sign outside indicates they've had enough of cleaning their carpets already.