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The Oakdale Arms
North London CAMRA Pub of the Year for 2005
(and due to be demolished too!)
by Keith Mapstone
There was a full house at the Oakdale Arms, N4 on the evening of
the 7th June for the presentation of North London CAMRA's award
of Pub of the Year for 2005. The branch membership turned out in
force and many regular drinkers made a special date for the
occasion.
Anyone who has visited the pub will know how it found favour with this
year's judges, as it embodies so many of the things which CAMRA was
founded to promote. Both the choice and the quality of the drinks
available are exemplary. Apart from the range of bitters and pale ales
from both Milton and other micros, dark beers are often featured – this is
one of the few London pubs where both mild and cask-conditioned stout
can be found on the bar simultaneously. Real cider is always on sale
(served out of the cellar), along with Belgian bottle-conditioned ales and
a few German bottled specialities. The icing on the cake is that this is the
only pub in North London to use lined glasses, so guaranteeing full pints.
The presentation was made on behalf of the branch by John Cryne (above), who,
whilst acknowledging the above factors, stressed in his speech that what made
the Oakdale special was that it was a community local with a friendly atmosphere.
The credit for this has to be shared between landlord Tom Beran and his staff
and the regular clientele, who collectively set the tone for this welcoming
establishment.
The recent refurbishment of the pub's kitchen has increased trade. Good fresh
light dishes (the home made beef and beer burgers are highly recommended) are
served 12 to 2.15pm at lunch and 6 to 8 in the evening, whilst roast dinners
are served Sunday 1 to 3pm (no food Sunday evening).
Despite the exuberance of the celebrations there was one large spectre at the
feast. In April the building firm which owns the Oakdale freehold C&S Builders'
Merchants (Stamford Hill) had submitted a planning application to Haringey Council
to demolish the pub and build flats on the site. Current government planning
rules mean that pubs are treated as quasi-industrial premises – demolition, as
opposed to refurbishment, would turn it into a brownfield site and save the
builders from paying VAT on its redevelopment.
It appears that the plans were originally drawn up two years ago, when
the Individual Pub Company first took over the running of the Oakdale, in
anticipation of the business failing. However, the scheme hasn't gone as intended.
Not only is the Oakdale a thriving concern but the application has stirred up
a hornet's nest and garnered a lot bad publicity for the building firm. In addition
to a flood of outraged objections lodged with the council, one enterprising
individual raised a petition of more than 500 signatures on General Election day
in May. This application is still pending with a decision expected on 25th July.
Objections should be sent to Haringey Council, 639 High Road, London, N17 8BD,
telephone 020 8489 5508, or email development.control@haringey.gov.uk
Keith Mapstone, North London Branch
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 31.
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