Courage Best & Directors; Greene King Abbot & Old Speckled Hen; guest beer, real cider
A busy Wetherspoon pub which is a beacon for real ale in the area. A former North London Branch Pub of the Season and regular GBG entry. About 5 mins from the station. Lots of good value restaurants nearby as an alternative to the Spoons fare. It offers a children's menu (last orders 17.00) and family food area, included in the large non-smoking area.
One of three former Taylor Walker outlets which used to dominate the local pub scene, as well as dropping the word "hotel" from its name, its also dropped any attempt to sell real ale.
Cricklewood falls part into North London Branch and part into Enfield and Barnet. So while The Beaten Docket offers real ale to North London, other outlets have been less helpful to Barnet folk. All that changes now with the recent introduction of cask beer in the pub that was immortalised in the song McAlpines Fusiliers by Dominic Behan. A hugely imposing, landmark Grade II listed Victorian pub built by the Cannon brewery in 1889, it is now owned by Irish entrepreneur Tom Moran's Moran Hotels. This has seen the pub undergo a massive refurbishment with plentiful use of wood, on floor and wall, mirrors, new lighting, and the usual comfy chairs. In this it very much reflects the changes taking place in the area and the diminution in membership of those said Fusiliers. Following this, a 116 room hotel has been built on an adjacent site and linked to the pub through an impressive glass and steel atrium. This area leads into what might be termed the "hotel side bar", albeit open to all, where handpumps have just appeared. The availability of the beer is though not so well advertised in the "pub side bars". One assumes the handpumps have been installed in just one bar as the area where demand might be deemed greater but lets all encourage this new outlet - a pub once again selling the real stuff. Full details can be found at www.crownmoranhotel.co.uk.
The local Conservative Association coffers likely did well out of this conversion of a part of their premises opposite Willesden Green tube. The front terrace (with gas heaters) proved a busy spot in summer and the restaurant at the back comes recommended by this reviewer. But there's nothing for the cask beer drinker unless you fancy somewhat expensive draught Hoegaarden.
As the pub sign shows, previously the St James's Gate and before that Hole in the Wall, now a Afro Caribbean pub with restaurant. Formerly this was a bank; while in general such conversions have been good for real ale drinkers, this one has not, reflecting far more the area, which seems to spurn cask beer. One of McGowan's Irish bars (see www.irishbars.co.uk).
Another of the triumvirate of Taylor Walker pubs that once dominated Cricklewood, it became something called a Mr Q's, but has recently thrown off that cloak to become Cricklewood's first gastro pub, with the standard gastro-fit, and a large outside drinking area at the rear (in good readiness for the smoking ban) plus a bed and breakfast facility. If this bears a passing resemblance to the Black Lion in Kilburn, then go to the top of the class, as it’s run by the same people. Sadly, they have yet to get their real ale quality off the ground. On two recent visits, the Adnams clip has always been turned around, and the Bombardier has been respectively off and a murky porridge. This improved with yesterday's visit - the Wells was pretty good although sadly the Broadside was vinegar and my returning it did not seem to result it its removal from sale. Still, keep trying.
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