A proper North London local on Wood Green's High Road that wears multiple hats — quiet daytime pub with a decent revamped food menu, raucous sports bar when the big match is on, and late-night DJ spot on weekends. It's unapologetically old-school and unpretentious, which is exactly why the regulars love it. Go for the chicken wings, stay for the atmosphere.
A no-frills Wood Green local that's quiet by day, a sports den by evening, and a DJ-fuelled night out on weekends — with chicken wings that punch well above their price.
Check the sports schedule before heading down — on match days the place fills up fast and you'll struggle for a seat with a screen view.
Three pubs in one — and the chicken wings are no joke
The Nag's Head is one of those pubs that defies a single description — it's three venues in one depending on when you walk in. On a weekday afternoon, it's a surprisingly quiet spot with a revamped food menu that's genuinely decent for the price. Come evening or when there's a big game on, it transforms into a full-throttle sports pub with Sky Sports blaring across multiple screens and a crowd that's properly into it. Then on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm, a DJ takes over and the place turns into a lively night out.
The food is better than you'd expect from a sports pub. The chicken wings are the standout — one Yelp reviewer went so far as to call them the best in London, and while that's a bold claim, they're genuinely good and the value is hard to argue with. The menu is extensive, covering the pub classics you'd want alongside a pint. Beer selection is solid rather than craft-beer-geek, with a good range of beers, wines, and spirits.
It's not trying to be a gastropub or a cocktail bar, and that's its charm. Some reviewers have noted the decor is dated and the place can feel rough around the edges — one TripAdvisor visitor was particularly unkind about the state of it — but if you want a no-nonsense North London pub where you can watch the game, grab decent grub, and have a loud night out without anyone caring what you're wearing, this is your spot.