A North Finchley institution reborn — Malt and Hops reopened in 2022 after years of darkness, and the neighbourhood couldn't be happier. With roots stretching back to the 1850s, this is a proper local pub with a genuinely massive beer garden, solid gastropub grub, and the kind of warm, dog-welcome atmosphere that keeps regulars coming back for Tuesday quizzes and weekend roasts alike.
North Finchley's comeback pub with a massive beer garden, proper gastropub food, and a dog-friendly welcome that locals adore.
Kitchen hours are limited Mon-Wed (from 5pm only) — go Thursday to Sunday for all-day food service, and grab a spot in the garden early on sunny weekends.
A beloved local back from the dead, with a garden worth the trip
Malt and Hops is the kind of pub North Finchley was missing — and locals know it. After shutting its doors for several years, it reopened in 2022 with fresh energy but the same neighbourhood-soul feel. The real draw is the garden: it's genuinely massive, with a big grass area at the bottom that makes it one of the best outdoor drinking spots in the area when the sun's out. You can even privatise the garden for events, which regulars have done for birthdays and gatherings.
The kitchen punches above typical pub expectations. Reviewers rave about the dirty burger and the sea bass — not your standard pub grub combo — and the porcini mushrooms get shout-outs for freshness. It's proper gastropub fare done with care, not an afterthought. Kitchen hours are a bit limited early in the week (Mon-Wed from 5pm), but Thursday through Sunday they serve all day, which is when you'll want to settle in for a roast or a long lunch.
Beyond food, there's a Tuesday quiz that's become a local fixture, open mic nights, Sky Sports on the telly, a pool table, and a dog-friendly policy that means you'll usually find a few four-legged regulars. The owners are frequently described as lovely, and the staff get high marks for friendliness. With a 4.6 on Google and 9.1 on TheFork, this is a pub that's earned its comeback.
Malt and Hops, c'est le pub que North Finchley attendait depuis des années. Fermé pendant un bon moment, il a rouvert en 2022 avec une énergie nouvelle tout en gardant son âme de quartier. Le vrai point fort, c'est le jardin : immense, avec une grande pelouse en bas, c'est sans doute l'un des meilleurs spots en plein air de la zone pour prendre un verre quand il fait beau. On peut même le privatiser pour des événements, ce que font déjà pas mal d'habitués.
Côté cuisine, c'est bien au-dessus du standard pub. Le dirty burger et le bar de mer sont plébiscités, et les champignons porcini sont régulièrement cités pour leur fraîcheur. C'est de la vraie gastronomie de pub, soignée. Attention, la cuisine est limitée en début de semaine (du lundi au mercredi, à partir de 17h), mais du jeudi au dimanche, c'est service continu — parfait pour un roast ou un long déjeuner.
Mardi, c'est quiz night — un rendez-vous incontournable pour les locaux — et il y a aussi des soirées open mic, le sport sur Sky, un billard et une politique dog-friendly assumée. Les propriétaires sont adorables et le personnel reçoit d'excellents retours. Avec un 4,6 sur Google et un 9,1 sur TheFork, ce pub a largement mérité son retour.