Mason's Arms (CLOSED)

The Mason’s is one of those pubs you’re happy to stumble upon – unless you lived in this transitory neighbourhood just east of the Edgware Road, you’re hardly likely to make a beeline for it. But, once having found it, you would be equally happy to discover draught options of Badger’s Original, Tanglefoot and Hopping Hare, Stingo barley wine, Peroni, HB and HB Extra Cold. The interior couldn’t be more publike, all dark wood and scuffed floorboards, the seating areas divided in two by a horseshoe bar counter manned by attentive, smiling young Spanish staff. There’s food too: eight types of sandwiches or baguettes (steak and red-onion chutney; ham, grain mustard and new potato salad), snacks (messy garlic bread; potato wedges) and mains (‘Our Famous’ Sussex Smokey with white and smoked fish in crumble; steak and Tanglefoot pie). Outdoor seating is overhung by baskets of greenery, while an upstairs space comes into good use on rare busy evenings. All in all, the perfect place for a quiet pint or to conduct a discreet lunchtime affair.