Old Ale Emporium, Finsbury Park

Small corner-house pub with mix of students and locals. Following a renovation this pub now has a lovely atmosphere. There is a heated covered area for smokers, a polished wood floor, nice furniture, celebrity photos on the wall and a jukebox with 5000 selections.

The guest ales come from the Heineken list and can be quite varied. On a visit in March 2023 the beers were Greene King Yardbird, Butcome Bitter and Gales HSB. We npw think the latter is a regualr. Basically the cellar man will choose what he thinks is a good beer and will be popular with his clientele which can produce unexpected surprises at a fair price. Two handpumps are immediately on your left on entering, the third can be found further down the bar.

Opened originally by Wetherspoons as the Mortimer Arms in a former shop unit in 1986.