Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 29 and Version 8 of Bald Faced Stag, N2 8AB

Version 29 Version 8
== Line 0 == == Line 0 ==
A very capacious gastropub just along the road from [[East Finchley Station]].
One of those [http://www.realpubs.co.uk/ Real Pubs] redevelopments, this is a very capacious gastropub, with plenty of tables and a separate dining area. There's a good beer garden as well. The background music is fairly loud but not too distracting. Seating is generally leather and plush.
== Line 2 == == Line 2 ==
Previously owned by the [http://www.realpubs.co.uk/ Realpubs] chain, it was [http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/90427 acquired] by [[Category Greene King|Greene King]] in April 2011, along with the rest of the chain. A visit since then confirms that very little has changed in the Realpubs "concept".
They have ales on tap, with Black Sheep Bitter a standard and a number of guests ales available (and advertised outside on a chalkboard). Addlestones cider, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Staropramen and the standard range of lagers are on tap, with a good selection of bottled beers as well.
== Line 4 == == Line 4 ==
Inside, there are plenty of tables and a separate dining area. There's also a nice little hideaway room to the right of the bar, with a curtain to separate it from the main area; a sign suggested that this area can be booked. Seating is generally leather and plush, with several sofas scattered around; the floor is hardwood; and the lighting is chandelier-and-wall-lamp style. There's a good beer garden as well.
The menu has a good selection of food, though tends towards the pricier end (£9-13 main courses). However, [[Ewan]]'s butternut squash polenta with wild mushrooms, spinach and goats cheese was extremely good, and Jo's butternut squash tart with halloumi (sensing a winter theme, here) was, despite being from the starter menu, still perfectly substantial and tasty.
== Line 6 ==
They have three handpumps, which as of March 2009 always host guest ales rather than regulars. Two were on offer during [[Kake]]'s March 2009 visit; Holdens Springheeled Jack (£1.60/half) and Deuchars IPA. The barman gave me a very generous taster of the former even though I was only ordering a half, full marks for customer service! On a September 2012 visit, the cask ales included one from Itchen Valley brewery, perfectly well-kept. In October 2007 [[Ewan]] also noted Addlestones cider, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Staropramen, and the standard range of lagers on tap, with a good selection of bottled beers as well.

The menu has a good selection of food, though tends towards the pricier end (&pound;9-13 main courses). In October 2007, [[Ewan]]'s butternut squash polenta with wild mushrooms, spinach and goats cheese was extremely good, and Jo's butternut squash tart with halloumi (sensing a winter theme, here) was, despite being from the starter menu, still perfectly substantial and tasty. In March 2009, [[Kake]] tried the fish soup from the lunch menu (&pound;4.50) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/3346062131/ photo]</small>; it wasn't bad, perhaps edging towards being a little too rich, but the flavour was fine and although the soup itself was quite smooth the croutons provided a decent textural contrast. <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/3346947898/ Photo of the March 2009 lunch menu.]</small>

A return visit in September 2012 revealed little change to the overall feel of the menu, or the pricing, and on a Saturday lunchtime they also had breakfast options (served until 2pm), so [[Ewan]] had a full English breakfast (&pound;9.50) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/8003360568/ photo]</small>, which had good quality ingredients, including excellent black pudding. Eggs were offered in any style (I went for poached, which were cooked properly, with a runny centre), and if the toast was a little bit too chunky and rigid (and I had to ask for butter), it was still a tasty brunch. [[Kerry]] had a 28-day aged rump steak (&pound;12), good value for the general quality and cooked rare as requested, served with some solidly chunky chips.

On Ewan's October 2007 visit, the background music was fairly loud but not too distracting. On Kake's Tuesday lunchtime visit in March 2009 and on [[Ewan]]'s October 2011 visit, the music was a more reasonable volume and fairly laid back in style.

A visitor called Sarah Dee (July 2008) comments that there's free wireless; we haven't confirmed this, though.

Accessibility: Two steps up at the front entrance, but there's a side entrance which only has a sort of shallow ridge, no steps. There are some toilets accessed via the room to the right of the bar, which requires navigating a step - not sure about toilets elsewhere in the pub though.

== Line 19 ==
* [http://www.fancyapint.com/pub/633 Fancyapint review]
* [http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/pubsandbars/the-bald-faced-stag-review-17790.html ViewLondon review]
* [http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubreviews/25403/ Pubs Galore comments]
== Line 8 ==
* [http://fancyapint.com/pubs/pub633.html Fancy A Pint review]
== Line 24 == == Line 10 ==
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20071215051255/http://barblog.co.uk/london/finchley-and-whetstone/the-bald-faced-stag-east-finchley-london/ BarBlog review]
* [http://barblog.co.uk/london/finchley-and-whetstone/the-bald-faced-stag-east-finchley-london/ BarBlog review]
== Line 27 == == Line 13 ==
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Ewan]] and [[Kerry]], September 2012. Opening hours taken from the Time Out website, March 2008.</div>
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Ewan]] and Jo, 21 October 2007. Opening hours taken from Time Out website, March 2008.</div>
== Line 29 == == Line 15 ==
category='Beer Garden,Featured Article,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2012,Good Beer Guide 2013,Good Beer Guide 2014,Good Beer Guide 2015,Good Beer Guide 2016,Good Beer Guide 2017,Good Beer Guide 2018,Good Beer Guide 2019,Good Beer Guide 2020,Greene King,Possible Free Wireless,Pub Food,Pubs,Real Ale,Real Cider,Smoking Area'
category='Beer Gardens,Featured Article,Food Served Evenings,Food Served Lunchtimes,Real Ale,Real Cider,Smoking Area'
== Line 31 == == Line 17 ==
fax='baldfacedstagn2'
formatted_website_text='thebaldfacedstagn2.co.uk/" class="external">thebaldfacedstagn2.co.uk'
host='2001:41c8:10:b1f:c0ff:ee:15:900d'
fax=''
formatted_website_text='[realpubs.co.uk/x/theBaldFacedStag.html">realpubs.co.uk] '
host='161.74.11.24'
== Line 40 == == Line 27 ==
node_image='https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3347003756_4772c35951_m.jpg'
node_image_copyright='Kake'
node_image_licence='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/'
node_image_url='https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/3347003756/'
node_image='https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/1698873816_c0dde6b38c_m.jpg'
node_image_copyright='Ewan-M'
node_image_licence='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en_GB'
node_image_url='https://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/1698873816/'
== Line 49 == == Line 36 ==
summary='Capacious gastropub with real ales, near East Finchley station.'
website='[http://www.realpubs.co.uk/x/theBaldFacedStag.html realpubs.co.uk]' website='http://www.thebaldfacedstagn2.co.uk/'
summary='Capacious gastropub with ales, near East Finchley station.'
website='[http://www.realpubs.co.uk/x/theBaldFacedStag.html realpubs.co.uk]' website='http://www.thebaldfacedstagn2.co.uk/'

One of those Real Pubs redevelopments, this is a very capacious gastropub, with plenty of tables and a separate dining area. There's a good beer garden as well. The background music is fairly loud but not too distracting. Seating is generally leather and plush.

They have ales on tap, with Black Sheep Bitter a standard and a number of guests ales available (and advertised outside on a chalkboard). Addlestones cider, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Staropramen and the standard range of lagers are on tap, with a good selection of bottled beers as well.

The menu has a good selection of food, though tends towards the pricier end (£9-13 main courses). However, Ewan's butternut squash polenta with wild mushrooms, spinach and goats cheese was extremely good, and Jo's butternut squash tart with halloumi (sensing a winter theme, here) was, despite being from the starter menu, still perfectly substantial and tasty.

See also:

Last visited by Ewan and Jo, 21 October 2007. Opening hours taken from Time Out website, March 2008.

List all versions