The Joiners — Restaurant in London

🚇 Finchley Central 🍺 £6.10 Cruzcampo

The Joiners is located on busy Ballards Lane in the heart of Finchley, North London. The nearest Tube is Finchley Central.

This pub dates from the late 19th century and was originally called The Joiners Arms. The pub was rebuilt in the interwar years, you can just about see the ‘brewers Tudor’ building behind the modern front extension.

This is a large one bar that has a modern chain pub feel. The servery is centrally located and straddles the main bar area at the front and a dining area at the back. Opposite the servery is a raised section with a pool table. At the rear of the pub is a decent size partially covered beer garden with plenty of benches. The decor is slightly dated with lots of bold colours around the walls, a mix of carpet and wood floors, loads of seating and one nice touch was the original 1930’s fireplace.

The beer line up was a who’s who of familiar keg favourites. I decided on a Cruzcampo, my pint was excellent, price point was average. The food menu consists of pub classics and a range of Burgers and Pizzas, Fish & Chips costs £14.50.

We arrived around 2.30pm on a chilly Saturday afternoon in January. The pub was fairly busy with a mix of clientele, most of which were watching the Spurs v Newcastle game on the multitude of screens around the bar. The atmosphere was relaxed and chilled, so settling in was easy. The service was pleasant, the chap on duty was rushed off his feet and had everything under control.

Visiting The Joiners didn’t blow me away. This was due to the generic over the top cheap and cheerful chain pub vibes. I couldn’t fault the beer and this is definitely a great place to watch sport. Have a look, see what you think.

📅 4th January 2025

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Veggie/Vegans beware!!

The food service let's this place down. Messed my order up last 2 visits.

Update. It goes from bad to worse! If that is possible.

I must be crazy giving this place another chance. Thought with the refurb they may have sorted out the kitchen.

I ordered from the lunch menu😅 an avocado and halloumi sandwich. Simple, one of a handful of lunch sandwiches on the menu.

As I gaze out the window an inflatable Guinness monstrosity keeps falling over at the entrance. It's quite comical. Staff and customers keep trying to put it back up. It's tied to a post with a little string, it's no wonder it keeps falling down. I watch as it falls on to the pavement almost on an elderly passer by. I go to the bar and suggest that it may cause an accident.

The long wait is less painful as I watch the comical scene.

I wait ages and finally my sandwich arrives around 40 minutes after I order!

The usual delivery of condenments does not arrive and as I wait I notice avacado is missing! And it gets worse in place is Chicken! So I get chicken and halloumi. I am a vegetarian! I don't even see that item on the lunch menu!

I send it back and then they tell me they haven't got avocado! I am not happy at all, and have run out of lunch time! They gave me chicken instead of avocado without asking me!! I am totally disgusted and get money back and leave to rush to Tesco to grab a sandwich. Lunch time has run out!

I would be seriously angry if I had bitten in to it as a vegetarian. The kitchen is a joke.

I have written to Stonegate to make a complaint....

The pub is a charming spot that could benefit from some extra care. Having frequented it a few times over the past couple of years, I've noticed some areas that could use improvement. Firstly, while the bar staff are friendly and competent, it's evident that they're stretched thin due to long shifts and understaffing. This can detract from the overall experience, as tired staff may not be able to provide the level of service customers deserve.

Moreover, the decline in food quality is disappointing. It leaves me questioning the safety standards, especially considering the apparent rat problem in the back garden. It's concerning to witness rats roaming around, which raises questions about hygiene and pest control measures. Enjoying a drink outdoors loses its appeal when you're constantly aware of the presence of rodents.

Addressing these issues requires proactive measures. Temporary closure to tackle the rat problem and implement thorough pest control measures would be a wise step. Additionally, hiring more staff and ensuring fair pay would not only alleviate the burden on the existing team but also foster a more positive working environment. Staff who feel valued are more likely to deliver excellent service and uphold the...