This is the kind of neighbourhood pub that reminds you why boozers matter. Reopened in late 2023 as an independent free house, this inter-war corner building in Upper Edmonton doesn't try to be fancy — and that's exactly its charm. The real draw is The Roast Spot, a Caribbean kitchen operating out of the back, serving a Caribbean-twist Sunday roast that people genuinely travel for. Add in a solid cask ale selection and a bartender named Greg who actually remembers your face, and you've got a pub that punches well above its weight.
A genuine Edmonton community pub where a Caribbean-twist Sunday roast from The Roast Spot has people travelling across London for a plate.
The Caribbean roast runs Tuesday to Sunday from 1pm to 9pm — go early on Sundays as it gets busy and the roast sells out.
A proper neighbourhood pub with a Caribbean twist
The White Horse is the sort of pub that makes you feel like you've stumbled into a proper community space rather than just another drinking hole. Reopened in late 2023 as an independent free house after a spell under the Craft Union Pub Company, this inter-war corner building in Upper Edmonton isn't big inside — formerly split into two bars — but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. The atmosphere is unapologetically local, and unlike some neighbourhood pubs where regulars eye newcomers with suspicion, here they actually chat to you. Greg behind the bar gets name-checked again and again by visitors for being genuinely warm and welcoming, and that sets the tone for the whole place.
What's really put this pub on the map is The Roast Spot, a Caribbean food operation running out of the kitchen. Their Caribbean-twist Sunday roast — available Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 9pm — has built a serious following on social media, and for good reason. It's a proper reimagining of the British roast with Caribbean flavours, and at around £20 a plate, it's the kind of meal that makes the trip to N18 worthwhile on its own. The pub also keeps cask ale enthusiasts happy with a decent selection on tap, and CAMRA has long listed it as a worthwhile stop for real ale in the area.
With a 4.4-star Google rating from nearly 2,700 reviews, the consensus is clear: this is a pub that punches above its weight. It's not a gastropub pretending to be a pub, and it's not a dive — it's a genuine community space with good food, good beer, and people who actually want you there. If you're anywhere near N18 on a Sunday, the Caribbean roast is worth the detour. Just don't expect white tablecloths — this is a proper boozer first, and all the better for it.