Muswell Hill pub receives new lease of life

On Friday 7th of March, The Clissold Arms in Muswell Hill will open its doors again to the public following a major refurbishment under new ownership. Hugh O’Boyle and Caroline Jones, who bought the pub back in the Autumn of 2007, have a handfull of hugely popular gastropubs in North London including The Three Crowns in Stoke Newington, The Spurstowe Arms in Hackney and The Talbot in De Beauvoir.

The Clissold, known to Kinks fans worldwide as the venue for the band’s first ever gig (in December 1960), has been given a new lease of life since Hugh and Caroline took it over last year.

They have spent six months on the refurbishment, adding a large galley kitchen, separating drinking and dining areas and opening up the main dining room with natural light from two huge skylights. Floor to ceiling windows have been added throughout creating a light and airy feel and opening out the room onto the pubs back garden.

A muted colour scheme of heritage greens combined with wooden floors and an oak panelled long bar are cleverly offset by vintage seventies table lamps and a stunning collection of black and white photographs of Muswell Hill and The Kinks from the 60’s and 70’s.

Jake Young (La Bodeguita del Medio, Searcy’s, 192, Alistair Little) takes charge of the kitchen at The Clissold and has devised a selection of menus including Saturday brunch and Sunday lunch alongside the weekly changing lunch and dinner menus.

Jake’s culinary focus is on well-priced hearty seasonal British food. Starters cost between £4.50 and £7.50, mains between £10.50 and £15 and desserts are £4.50. Sample starters include: Salad of Baby Beet and Pink Fir Apple Potatoes, Ham Hock & Parsley Terrine with Toasted Sourdough and Homemade Piccalilli and Pan Roasted Quail, Puy Lentils and Caramelised Onion.

Mains include: Ale and Maple Braised Short Rib of Beef, Lardons, Pearl Onions and Horseradish Mash, Fillet of Wild Seabass, Shaved Fennel, Jerusalem Artichokes and Roast Vine Tomatoes or Roast Pumpkin, Cracked Wheat and Stinking Bishop with Chilli Dressing.

The dessert menu features: Rhubarb & Apple Crumble with Vanilla Sauce, Lemon Tart with Chantilly Cream and Apricot and Almond Flan with Crème Fraiche. Sundays will feature a variety of roasted joints including Middlewhite pork, Gallaway beef and Ulverston Lamb.

The reasonably priced wine list has fifteen of each white and red wine varieties, a good selection of sparkling and dessert wines, the majority of which are available by the glass. There is also an excellent selection of beers, including an assortment of ales – Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Ruddles County, Harvey Sussex Bitter and London Pride, as well as lagers, Guinness and Addlestones Cider.

Since Hugh and Caroline opened their first pub in 2001, they have hit on the winning formula of turning run down North London pubs into relaxed environments for drinking and eating, retaining the original character of each venue they acquire. Be it a long lazy Sunday lunch, mid week drinks with friends or a cosy dinner, The Clissold should prove a very welcome addition to the area.

The Clissold Arms is located at 115 Fortis Green, London, N2 9HR (nearest station – East Finchley).

Find out more are Jobo-developments.com.