Morning:
12°c
Secret loans totalling £61.6 billion to struggling banks Royal Bank of Scotland and HBOS revealed for the first time
More...
New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Critic rating
Reader rating
New management: The Clissold Arms
An increasing number of London's pub close, change owners and reopen again, but more column inches than usual were devoted to the changes in management at the Clissold Arms over the last couple of years.
This can mostly be put down to the pub's close connections to The Kinks: the brothers Davies first public performance took place here many moons ago years ago, and a small collection of memorabilia marked the spot. When the pub closed, a campaign was launched to protect the site, which even received Ray Davies's backing. Would the pub remain a traditional local? Would the Kinks records and photographs remain on the wall?
Well, the pub has finally reopened and in answer to those questions: 'no' and 'just about'. This one's been taken on by the owners of a successful group of madeover pubs in East London, which is all the more surprising given how formulaic this pub now is: all the cliches of gastropub refits are fully in force, from the hardbacked church chairs to the regulation off-white painted walls - it's as if someone with no background in pub management has taken the place on, and is religiously following the gastropub makeover rule book.
The layout of the pub has also been significantly altered, so that the bar is now at the back, leaving almost half the pub as 'diners only'. How about that Kinks shrine? Well, a cursory selection of four framed photographs of Ray, Dave et al, are tucked away beside the toilets.
There's a high chance the Clissold will find a regular clientele in this part of town but it is disappointing how bland and uninspiring this makeover is. The range of drinks on offer are decent enough and the food may well be of a high standard, but the Clissold, once a pub with a distinct air and a unique history, has now become just another identikit gastropub.
CLIENTELE: locals
NEAREST STATION: East Finchley station
FEATURES: disabled facilities, outdoor seating, separate restaurant
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
[ 1 ] [ 2 ]
It's simply history (The Eighties) repeating itself. The pubs we loved were closed and replaced with swanky wine bars. They died a death when the initial attraction and novelty wore off,a recession bit in and hey presto, were replaced by pubs (albeit redecorated) in which we could all return and cry in our beer like we used to.
I'm not a fan of overpriced gastropubs and the phoneys it attracts but I will simply bide my time and tell them 'I told you so' when it didn't work out.
This fad has to die if only to retain some of London's identity.
- Steve, Marylebone
Too bad. Shame Ray hasn't got the coin to buy it, 'imself...'e was always a dedicated follower of fashion, weren't 'e?
- Will Oliver, Winnipeg, Canada
