The Good Reader — Local services in London

🚇 Highgate 🍺 £6.80 Cruzcampo

The Good Reader is located in Crouch End, North London. The nearest Tube is Highgate, it’s a fifteen minutes walk to get here.

This pub was originally built in 1896 and started life as The Princess Alexandra. The pub was destroyed by bombing during World War II and was rebuilt by in 1952. This former Watney Combe Reid pub has had a few monikers over the years. In July this year the pub was extensively refurbished and is now called The Good Reader.

The pub is named after a local Victorian gentleman by the name of Sir Henry Reader Williams. He was a self made man and later philanthropist who donated towards the well being of poor children and green spaces in the area. The Clock Tower in the centre of Crouch End was erected in 1895 to celebrate his achievements.

This is a one bar pub that is divided by a centrally located fireplace. The decor here is traditional and stylish with some contemporary accents here and there. The servery is a good size and has a solid counter and a modern bar back. The floor is boarded, there is plenty of seating and the polished Joanna is a nice touch. This pub boasts two outside spaces, a small decked area to the left of the pub and a larger beer garden to the right.

The beer selection offers a range of familiar keg favourites and cask ale. I decided on a Cruzcampo, my pint was excellent, price point was high. The pub is looking to get the kitchen up and running and start serving food soon.

We arrived around 4pm on a sunny Saturday afternoon in August. The pub had a very relaxed atmosphere and a homely feel. The main bar area was fairly quiet as most punters were sat outside lapping up the sunshine. The service was on point, the team were welcoming and courteous.

Visiting @thegoodreadern8 was an excellent local pub experience. I loved the laidback vibe, the homely interior, the beer was great and the welcome warm. This pub is well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

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What a welcome and delicious addition to the ever growing Crouch End hospitality scene; a long standing local pub that has failed the last few openings has finally nailed it!

With Victoria Grove at the helm of the customer service, heading a team of charming, attentive waiting and bar staff, coupled with a warm, homely ambience & thoughtful vintage & bookish decor (The Good Reader has to have books!) it was very easy to get comfortable and feel supremely confident it the culinary joy that was to follow.

Jeff The Chef is an imaginative, talented crafter of outside-the-norm dishes that aren’t overcomplicated and appeal to every palate. We plumped for Roast Hake (sublime); Bavette (medium rare, succulent & flavourful) and home made Gnocchi - (a scrumptious, slightly smaller main); obviously the perfect finisher was the bonkersly delish Sticky Toffee Pud.

Wines are carefully curated with around half a dozen ‘by-the-glass’ options in red and white, with the same again by the bottle; fewer Rosé options; prices are good.

Beer is abundant as are spirits, mixers & soft drinks.

Book the front-room cosy restaurant or the room next to the bar offering a buzzier & busier vibe.

Whatever your tastes & preferences this is a fabulous local and actually, worth travelling across town for too.

Oops, nearly forgot the unparalleled giant marinaded olives with vampire offending large pieces of superb garlic. I’m slightly...

The Good Reader in Crouch End is one of those gems that, once you discover it, you can't help but keep coming back. This hidden pub/restaurant beautifully captures the essence of a classic gastro pub. With an impressive selection of beers and wines, charming decor, and the friendliest staff you’ll encounter, it’s hard not to feel at home here.

This past Sunday, I woke up with a hearty appetite! With my kitchen undergoing a remodel, it was the perfect excuse for a 12:15 roast. I secured a reservation and made my way to the pub, where a warm welcome awaited me. Thanks to my timely booking, I snagged a table right by the cozy, roaring fire—like stepping into a country pub without the need to drive to the Cotswolds.

I opted for the pork roast, and it was nothing short of spectacular. A generous portion of the juiciest, most succulent pork drizzled in a rich red wine jus made my taste buds sing. Roasts can often fall short in one area or another, but this one delivered on all fronts. The roast potatoes were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, while the buttery greens added a delightful touch.

If you’re looking to reset your week and have time for a solo roast, I wholeheartedly recommend The Good Reader. At £24, considering the exceptional quality of food and service, it’s a bargain in my book. I can’t...