retiredmartin

December 2023. Crouch End. London.

I’d got a spreadsheet extract showing the London pubs I needed on my phone. I know you lot love spreadsheets.

Pleasingly, I was about to complete that Top 4 (FIFA haven’t agreed a 5th place so that Lower Edmonton one will have to wait) at Small Beer in Crouch End.

As I just said, I have always had no idea what Crouch End is, despite arrogantly believing I know London better than a black cab driver after 30 years of pubbing.

I’m not the only person confused by Crouch End, according to Wiki.

“According to legend, in the 1990s Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics invited Bob Dylan to drop into his Crouch Hill recording studio any time he wanted to. It is said that Dylan took him up on his offer, but the taxi driver dropped him off on the adjacent Crouch End Hill. Dylan knocked on the door of the supposed home of Dave Stewart and asked for “Dave”. By coincidence, the plumber who lived there was also called Dave. He was told that Dave was out, and would he like to wait and have some tea? Twenty minutes later the plumber returned and asked his wife whether there were any messages. “No,” she said, “but Bob Dylan’s in the living room having a cup of coffee”.^[28]“

A smart bit of London between Arsenal and Spurs, I guess. I thought we’d walked round here when we took Matt to see (no definitive article) Architects at Ally Pally 5 years ago, but that was Muswell Hill, which Madness sung about, didn’t they ?

Anyway, Crouch End is what you’d expect.

There’s places called “Sourdough Sophia” and “Miranda Cafe” and “Les 2 Garcons” (with that dangly thing under the c).

Nice clock.

But have I ever been to a pub here before ?

Yes, King’s Head and Harringay Arms, apparently.

I’d have spelt that with one “r” and an “e” to be honest.

Small Beer looks handsome from the outside,

inside it’s a bit dark and high-tabled but the staff are great, the decor is interesting,

and the beer is stunning. Some connections with the Duke’s Head, apparently, and that was great.

I’d saved the dregs of that Two by Two (NBSS 4) to show you the quality of the murk.

Several youngsters came in and asked detailed questions about the non-alcoholic beer they were drinking with their pizza.

I could have had pizza there, but had to get back into “town” on the Number 51 for my gig on Pentonville Road, where Pizza Union serves a 12″ Calabria for £7.95 and you get one of those buzzers that buzzes when its ready. EVERYONE was drinking Moretti.

It was great. The musical offerings at the annual End of the Road Christmas Party at the Lexington a bit dull this year.

And NO-ONE on stage was wearing a Christmas jumper*.

*The singer in English Teacher was wearing a Liverpool scarf. Nuff said.