North Eight — Restaurant in London

🚇 Hornsey 🍺 £4.40 Fosters

This pub is located in the heart of Hornsey close to Priory Park. The nearest station is Hornsey mainline.

This pub was originally built in 1890 and was subsequently rebuilt in the 1950s by Watney’s. It has gone through a number of name changes — originally known as The Hornsey Tavern, then The Lord Palmerston, The Hornsey Arms, and since November 2024, North Eight, in reference to the area’s postcode.

This is a simply decorated, one-bar pub laid out in an “L” shape. The servery is brick-built with a very deep counter — which I think are kitchen worktops. At the front of the bar there are rows of tables and a Chesterfield in front of a fireplace. At the back are two dartboards, two pool tables and a jukebox. The decor consists of a boarded floor, white walls with green-painted woodwork, and a number of TVs dotted around the walls.

The beer line-up is a selection of no-nonsense keg beers. I went for a pint of Foster’s, nice pint, price point was less than a fiver. No food is served here, but there are bags of Tayto’s if you’re peckish.

We arrived at around 3:30 pm on a warm, cloudy Saturday afternoon in August. The pub was fairly quiet, with a few regulars sat at the top of the bar and the horse racing on one of the TVs. The atmosphere was laid-back, so we pulled up a couple of stools at the front of the bar to enjoy our pints. We had a brief chat with the team on duty, who were really friendly and were kind enough to leave us a pint in. They told us there was a traveller engagement party happening later, and that the pub has had a few issues in the past with police call-outs due to disturbances. They mentioned they get a lot of trade from the traveller community — which is basically what keeps the pub going — but that it comes with its own challenges. It’s as if the pub is stuck between a rock and hard place.

It has just been reported by local news sources that the pub could close, as its licence is under review after police were called to the premises 40 times over a 15-month period. I’m not sure what the future holds for this pub.

📅 2nd August 2025

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Visited last Saturday with friends and really disappointed of the interaction of the staff and the owner’s daughter.

The bar staff was quite short and rude to several people. Specifically, I was being bought a drink from a new friend of mine that I just met that night from our party. When asked for payment, I told the bartender (young female) that my new friend was paying …she spat back and said “you don’t know the name of person who is buying a drink ?”, slumped off pissed and got payment. Really unnecessary comment, attitude and tad unprofessional- on decency and overall manners.

I was not going to say anything as I understand it was late and they must of been exhausted and wanted to shut the pub- im compassionate on that but when I tried to tell the manager (owner’s daughter - who made sure I KNEW she was the owner’s daughter) if she can ask her bartender to adjust her attitude towards people calmly and made sure it wasn’t in front of her staff. I did not want to make a big deal but she answered quite shortly , blamed they are tired and trying to get everyone out and she will tell her and asked me to leave - which I obliged with no issues.

Again, you can try to tell them helpful feedback in calm manner but you’ll get a hostile response. Just disappointing for my first visit and happy it will...

Nice couple of pints of fosters and Wouster Sauce Crisps. Plus a good Vodka and Tonic for my good lady friend. But I'm afraid the Mens loo need good appropriate signage writing on the piece of paper attached to the number 2 cubicle door saying door handle is broken. So you may get locked inside the cubicle door to open the door. Fortunately the barmaid heard my noise banging on the wall shouting to be let out. Maybe next time they can put a more appropriate sign on door to say " Not in use untill door be fixed.". Also this is not a good trade description for the pub. Ps. Even though I saw the funny side of it from the customers at the bar and the barnaid knowing bout it.......I don't think that the wrong sort of customer being trapped behind that loo cubicle door will! So please 🙏 to the managers that NOW own this pub. Please fix ASAP. And mark it down as a business trade "Near...