15/01/22 - London Spiral Walk - Stage 3

 Distance - 6 Miles

Start - Hoxton Square

Finish - Archway Premier Inn

Areas Walked - Shoreditch, Hoxton, De Beauvoir Town, Highbury, Finsbury Park, Crouch Hill

Geocaches - 0

Pubs - 3

Previous Walks - Stage 1, Stage 2

The problem with doing a 260 mile walk, in ever expanding circles across London City, is there are too many distractions.

Picking up from the end of Stage 2 at Hoxton, my plan was to get at least as far as Kilburn (10m) or possibly Chelsea (12m).  Instead, I got distracted by Finsbury Park Pubs.

Hoxton Square was quiet on a Saturday morning.  The blue plaques pointing to its edgy reputation but the street market is as working class as you can get.  First stop of the day at a Paula's Cafe - a place with a bewildering choice of breakfasts.  Take your choice between Big, Full, Set1 running to at least Set 4. 

Proper Londoners, incredulous that Arsenal are crying off tomorrow's big game.

Hoxton Edge

The Street Market

I've never been to De Beauvoir Town before.  Its starts off as a collection of high rises but the architecture improves increasingly the further north you get.  Those sorts of solid Georgian Terraces that politicians are being doorstepped by photographers at.  

The London Spiral does what it does best - psychogeopraphy of a series of left and right turns, pounding the streets and looking for street art.

Street Art

One of the better on-line resources I have found in recent months is a Facegroup Page called "London Pubs".  Never short of inspiration and it goes a little further than what the Good Beer Guide recommend.  Proper pubs, with atmosphere.  There are four on interest at Finsbury Park.  I have a cunning plan to save money and time, by drinking halves.  

First up, is the Arsenal Tavern.  There's a number of pubs that show their allegiance to the Gunners along this stretch.  Not really noticed that in other towns.  I am sure that if this happened in West Bromwich, they would just be a target to away fans.  

My half pint plans initially thwarted by Timothy Taylor.  

Arsenal Tavern

I did look at the 12 Pins directly opposite the station but that wasn't for me.  It looked half closed and inside was too chain-y, with an uninspiring drinks selection.

However, around the corner was the Faltering Fullback.  This keeps coming up on the facebook page as a destination pub.  The people are right - even if CAMRA aren't interested.

Slightly off the main track, it appears to not want to be found.  Hidden under natural camouflage.

Half Pub, Half Kew Gardens

And there is the door

Inside, its all things to all people.  A lovely couple of divided rooms around a central bar.  The roof covered in all sorts of junk.  A cavernous extension with rows of bench seats all pointed at sports big screens.

Very easy to get into conversations with the regulars and other pub tourists.

I could have stayed all afternoon, except the TT Landlord was £5.70.   25% more than the Arsenal.

2nd Bar

Plenty to look at between conversations.

A proper pub.

Got to give CAMRA a go and the only place they are recommending is the Brave Sir Robin. With a name like that I was convinced it was a JDW but no, it's a hipster craft bar that is sadly lacking customers on a Saturday lunch.  I would be surprised if it is still trading in its current format in 12 months time.

One cask - A Stout.  Many Keg. Takeover kitchen, offering Artisan burgers.  Distressed decor.  

Nowhere near as homely, interesting or pub-like as the Faltering Fullback. Although the prices are in the same ball park.

Brave Sire Robin

GBG says "Best Described as Modern Decor"

It's less than a couple of miles of street walking to Archway - which is where my Premier Inn is located and far too tempting to pass on by.

Its cold and Hampstead Heath can be saved for Stage 4.