I noticed that the Plough has a CAMRA discount. It used to be my nearest pub but the big screen and fruit machine put me off. They always had loud, crap music playing too.

What did the pub on the corner of Hornsey/Hanley used to be called?

I was going to ask about the Plough too. Looks a bit unwelcoming having peered through the fire escape while the regulars have a fag outside.

Graeme - sounds like home. Brilliant.

I used to live between the pub on the corner of Hanley/Hornsey and the one a bit further up that Ali mentioned. The Hanley/Hornsey corner pub was The Railway, then The Salt Bar for a few years then it became All Points West then latterly The Blarney Stone. As The Salt Bar it was a kind of dodgy gangsta bar with either really bad reggae or really loud banging techno pumping out of the place at all hours of the day and night. It was very dodgy and never seemed to have more than 3 or 4 customers. It was run by a couple of black guys, one of whom was a bit scary and erratic and used to shout at passers by and had an eye patch and there was always a very strong scent of ganja wafting about the place. It was very briefly All Points West and run by an Irish guy, then it became The Blarney Stone which was run by a nice couple who tried to make a go of it but that didn't last long, then it was taken over by a Nigerian guy named Moro. Under Moro's reign it was always full of underage drinkers, down-and-outs and drug dealers. The upstairs rooms were rented out to Nigerian illegal immigrants and I was told that they had whole families living in one room. The place was always getting visits from the police and Moro did a runner in the end. About 3 years ago someone started doing it up then all work stopped and it's been the same since. As a pub the whole place was in need of renovation as I remember the ceiling was falling down and the wallpaper was all hanging off. But I remember it had some amazing and rather beautiful original features such as the fireplaces and stained glass windows which I hope are preserved.

The little pub a bit further up was called The Fox and Hounds and I lived next door. It was a very small Irish pub that probably hadn't been decorated since the early 70's. The landlord was a very fat, jolly man who used to lean on the front door a lot during the afternoons and chat to people as they passed by. He was really lovely and carried a fridge up my front stairs for me like it was no effort at all. The pub was always full of old Irish people and they used to have 'turns' on on Saturday nights. It was quite a nice, friendly place but way behind the times. I remember it was very cheap and used to sell little bottles of stout that nobody had ever heard of. It shut down about 10 years ago and was renovated into flats. Before the renovation, which seemed to take about 4 years, it was occupied by a group of hippies who used to sit naked in the garden and have outdoor showers. My verandah overlooked their garden and I remember having a very surreal conversation with a group of naked men as I was hanging out my washing one day.

Cheers for that Misscara.

I'm not sure I can picture where the former Fox and Hounds is. It always hurts to see the Hanley Arms - which I think is opposite the one that is being renovated. Read the horror story here: http://www.derelictlondon.com/northlondonpubs_.htm It seems to have been turned into a mosque, and they have taped over the Victorian moudlings presumably to avoid idolatry. Crackers. A

@ Arkady -It's quite easy to spot as it used to have a circular Watney's carved sign on the front, which was covered over by a white disc when it was renovated and I think that's still there. You wouldn't know it was a pub, it looks like it's always been flats. It used to be set back from the pavement between the vets and the yellow building (my old flat) but it has a wall built out level with the pavement now and stairs leading down to the basement flat which would have been the pub cellar.

I'd totally forgotten about the Fox until today, it was nice having a reminsice. I expect all the old boys who used to drink in there have probably all passed away. My flatmate and I used to go in when we were hard-up students as we couldn't afford to put the heating on in our flat!

I know someone who still calls it The Bass House and some of the old signage still has the Bass logo.

@Four Eyes - Yes, maybe our rather cheerful mutual friend ;-)

Nope sorry Poxy, my derelict pub knowledge has its limits! I've often wondered about that place though. I don't ever remember it being open, and I've been around SG about 12 years now.

And misscara is right - most recently the hanley/hornsey pub was the Blarney Stone - I enjoyed a whisky in there once on the way back from that nice pub in the Holloway estates. I felt quite brave.

It was up for sale a while back - there were about 15 lettable rooms upstairs which would no doubt have produced a decent income filled with immigrant families. It was one of the big pub chains advertising it.

Any more news on this?

Thanks, but I meant any more news on the former Blarney Stone, haven't been up that way in ages.

It's Open! I caught a glimpse as I passed on the bus. Lots of TVs. I think they tried to open in time of the world cup. But I didn't see what the new name is.

I've been tracking a few of these on this "dead pubs" wiki

@MIsscara If you don't mind, I'll add some of your reminiscings to the wiki there. Good to record these bits of local history. I need to add the Fox and Hounds. I remember that now! It closed shortly after I moved to the area.

Harry, please feel free to add my reminiscings.

I was just discussing the former Blarney Stone with someone the other day and he reminded me of another of its incarnations when whoever had it stuck old LP's all over the wall with broad sellotape. I think this opening only lasted about a week for some reason.

Oh dear, that's a footballism reference, isn't it?

Don't we already have one of those, down by the actual railway? Don't want a Blue Posts situation developing. Besides, some mates of mine used extensive pub science to prove that pubs called The Railway (or variant) are always worse than similar pubs not so called.

This pub is also by the other actual railway and I think it was probably there long before the other one. I seem to recall some old codger telling me there used to be a railway goods depot near Grenville/Hornsey rd.

I agree with you on your other point, every other Railway pub I've known has been very dodgy indeed.

I think I'll be giving it a miss.

How about Tesco Chilean Merlot 12% £1.64 a bottle !

Apparently it is not too bad and less than £20 a case beat that !

Looks like The Corner Flag is closed down again. I haven't been in since it changed, but noticed from outside that all the nice features had been ripped out.

The Shaftesbury is a lot nicer these days, but beware they don't do the lunches they advertise on their website. Went on Friday but only found out after we'd put the 2 quid in the parking meter.

Had a burger and a pint at the Shaftesbury tonight. Came away thinking, what a nice boozer. Food, ambience, Victorian decor and general atmosphere all get four-five stars (out of five), civilised and helpful customers, great music (perhaps a bit sixties/seventies for some), not too loud, and the whole visit topped off by friendly bar staff who not only welcomed us in but shouted goodbye as we left.....nice experience, thanks.

They sometimes have 'turns' on in the Park Tavern, you could ask in there.

It was a library, quite similar really, you only borrow beer after all.