Outside space is a luxury in London, especially when the days are bright and balmy. The Harringay Arms, a petite local pub just off Crouch End’s main stretch, has certainly made the most of it. There’s not a lot of square footage to shout about, but its bijou patio, decked out with mirrors and hanging bulbs, is a sweet, vitamin D-rich spot to while away a few hours.
The rest of the pub has an intimate vibe too, with tables gathered in modest corners. When we visited, groups of mates were catching up over locally brewed ales. This is the pub’s thing, with regular tap takeovers, an ever-changing rota of craft beers and lesser-seen cans and bottles – including brews from Newport’s Tiny Rebel – in the fridge. Gin is the pub’s second love, with small-batch craft spirit taking pride of place behind the bar. More solid sustenance comes in the form of rustic sourdough pizzas and boozy ice-cream sundaes, both ideal for sharing.
Inside or out, The Harringay Arms is the kind of pub where conversations jump between groups and tables get pulled together. And those communal vibes are fed by sports screens, laidback live music, beer festivals and ‘bring your own vinyl’ nights. Oh, and a dog wall-of-fame immortalising canine visitors – the best conversation starter of all.