Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park

A wonderful community local which retains its multi-room layout and many original fittings.

This remarkable back-street pub, originally the Sir Walter Scott, was built just after 1870. The triangular, light-filled front bar has a striking Victorian bar-back with a glazed inscription recalling a former owner and/or licensee: WHOLESALE F.J.HOBSON RETAIL FINE & SPIRIT STORES. The original counter was replaced at some stage to provide space to improve access to a small windowless room on the left. There is a panelled ceiling; however the dado panelling in the bar was imported from elsewhere.

The star at this pub is the room reached through a doorway to the right, and from Perth Road via an impressive vestibule. It has a quadrant-shaped servery with a small but attractive L-shaped bar-back with no less than five Corinthian columns and a generous display of embossed mirrors.  Remarkably, on three of the columns can be seen the remnants of cocks which would once have delivered spirits to the bar person. Something very similar is still extant at the Cock and Bottle in Notting Hill.  The counter is original, with the doors formerly used to access beer engines visible.

An impressive doorway with embossed glazing leads to a large former billiards hall. This has a matchboard panelled dado and a skylight which has unfortunately been blocked off. Beyond is the access to the extraordinary multi-level garden.