Log in to My Time Out for your personalised guide to what's on in London. It's fast, easy and FREE!
Follow Bull to receive updates on new events happening here.
What is 'following'?Local alternatives
You might also like...
Latest features
-
What's on in London in 2012
Time Out's guide to the best events, films, gigs and festivals happening in London in 2012.
-
The best gyms in London
Find gyms in north, south, east, west and central london with this definitive guide to London gyms.
-
The 100 best London songs
Read which songs about London made Time Out's definitive list.
-
Time Out says 9 Users say Rate it
Can I call 2011 'Year of the Beer'? The city seems awash with the stuff, its thirsty masses more enamoured with quality ales, porters, stouts and bitters than at any point since the turn of the twentieth century. Almost every week we're reporting the advent of a new London brewery, and here's another - not on the scale of recent enterprises, but a pub with a commercial beer-making set-up.
The Bull's own ales weren't ready when we made an early visit in the first fortnight (a couple are available now), but it showed promise. The pub was recently reopened by Dan Fox, previously manager of the White Horse in Parson's Green, one of the finest alehouses in London. And the selection of bought-in beers - both on tap and in bottle - is fantastic.
Coming by the pint are five hand-pulled real ales, including progressive expressions from Tottenham's Redemption and Fyne Ales from Argyllshire. There are a further ten on keg, with the only concessions to cautious palates being Guinness and Grolsch. Those prepared for adventure will appreciate Vedett, Brooklyn Lager and Timmermans Peche. Sociable and knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide the uninitiated through the list.
As well as holding cold a few great Trappist brews, the fridges reveal a serious Americophilia, with a strong showing from US microbreweries such as Odell and Goose Island. Another clue is that the plain white walls are decorated with metal advertising signs from Colorado's Left Hand Brewing Co and Great Divide. Compare these creatively designed devices (pictured below) with the bawdy, clip-art festooned logos of most British breweries; compare too the vibrant bottlings such as 5 Barrel Pale Ale or 312 Urban Wheat Ale with traditional vernacular brews and you'll realise why many new London beermakers see the US model as the way forward.
Food at The Bull is a big part of the offer, and also shows an influence from over the pond - although the stridently sticky, carb-rich, sweet and smoky elements of classic American cooking have been toned down and gastropubbed up for the Highgate crowd. So there is pulled pork with pineapple and jalapeño; buffalo wings; Maryland crab cakes; salmon with succotash (corn and beans) and striploin steak. Beef sliders (mini hamburgers) from the bar snacks menu were great. Each item also comes with a beer suggestion - yet another reason for skipping past the wine list.
We expect to see more brewpubs opening as London's (second) beer revolution rolls on. They could all do a lot worse than looking towards The Bull for inspiration.
Bull details
Follow Bull to receive updates on new events happening here.
What is 'following'?020 8341 0510
Open noon-11.30pm Mon-Wed; noon-midnight Thur, Fri; 9.30am-midnight Sat, Sun.
Credit cards AmEx, MC, V
Bull map
Comments & ratings 4/5 (Average of 9 ratings)
We have waited long in Highgate for a place like this. Have been three times, ladies lunch and two dinners and not been disappointed. Good food, interesting beer, decor right, and pleasant ambience, all without pretentiousness and ridiculous prices. I am surprised by your 3 star rating, which I think is on the low side. Can you up it, because I want the Bull to be the success it deserves to be and that Highgate needs?
Just had lunch here today - best Xmas turkey roast I've ever had ! This fairly new pub is really settling in well. The staff, atmosphere, food just keep on getting better. This, alongside the now really interesting beers they brew here on site in Highgate , is making the Bull possibly the best all round quality pub in Highgate. I'll be back again - in fact tonight when they are launching their own Xmas ale with mince pies and brandy in the ale !!!
Great pub and great atmosphere! It was completely full when I first visited a few saturdays ago and it was really buzzing, I have been through the week and its a bit more quiet but at least we could get a seat (we got the last ones on the first visit). Food on first visit was 140% brilliant from starter to main although I had a small complaint about the desert I gave this pub a 5 as the way it was dealt with was fantastic. I didnt eat on the 2nd visit, just went for a beer or two with some friends who also loved the place. AMAZING beer! I went on Wednesday for my 3rd visit and they seem to be doing a 'Wings' deal on Wednesdays which was great value (cant remember the actual price but I remember wondering why I would ever be at home now on a Wednesday as the wings are second only to those found in some bars in the states! Did I mention the great beer? Having read the comments below I also disagree with the star - perhaps time out should go back now their beer is ready, I really think it is one of the things that makes it. I think had I not complained about my desert (a small matter really) I think I would have given it a 4 but it really gave me chance to put their seemingly 'shiny' service through the acid test and they really delivered.
I can proudly say that this will be our new local. Approachable and attentive staff. Very clean. Good-natured atmosphere. Beer selection is diverse, rather than ridiculously numerous, offering something for the beer geeks without overwhelming the uninitiated. Very much looking forward to trying the food next week and to seeing what wonders emerge from the microbrewery on site! I'm in full agreement with Billy on the ratings front.
Time Out- you got the review totally right but the star rating wrong! I give them 5. Warm and knowledgeable staff, great beer variety (if you are bored with every other pub's usuals...), fantastic food and overall great atmosphere. A real gem and a very welcomed addition to Highgate... agree with an earlier post that the other pubs up here have gone downhill and there really aren't any other places to enjoy real fine food. An original concept, brilliant!
Top-drawer beer, decor, food and ambience. What's not to like? (clue: nothing) Great pub! I'll be back...
Went there on Sunday - the beer was really excellent. Didn't have lunch there this week, but intend going back next week as it looked really good value. Welcome addition to the area as a lot of the other pubs have gone downhill.
Came for a drink, stayed for food!
Thanks to a beer geek boyfriend, I have been dragged round plenty of the aforementioned alehouse in London and can confirm this is a heavy weight contender. Excellent selection of beers on tap (some friends made it their responsibility to try all the local brew ones- easily down with prices as low as £2.80 for a pint) whilst I enjoyed some of the bottled beers.
Ended up eating there and can highly recommend trying the beer recommended with the dishes; all worked really well.
I was in a group of 9 people and every loved their meals including the one strict veggie- there was only one option on the main menu (apparently the dailies will reflect more choice for veggies) but she said it was fantastic (although felt the mash potato offered instead of the salad should have been a standard part of the meal).
All in all, we had a very enjoyable day/evening there and will be returning again to try their own beers.
I came here with a few of my friends over the weekend. I was really impressed with the decor and the whole feel of the place. The selection of drinks was excellent, and the food was even better. The sliders were to die for. This is definitely my new go-to place for my friends and I to have a good time and a delicious meal.
Time Out guides and magazines
Useful links
Things to do in London
- London restaurants
- London events
- London theatre
- London bars and pubs
- London clubs
- Film listings
- London tickets and offers
- Alternative London
- London museums
- London music
- London art
- London shopping
- London Olympics
- Gay and lesbian London
- London cabaret
- London comedy
- London for kids
- Books and poetry
- Dance in London
- Festivals
- London hotels
- Classical music in London
London by area
- Brixton guide
- Borough guide
- Bermondsey guide
- City of London guide
- Dalston guide
- Mayfair guide
- Camden guide
- Clapham guide
- Covent Garden guide
- Greenwich guide
- Stoke Newington guide
- Hammersmith guide
- Hampstead guide
- Highgate guide
- Holborn guide
- King's Cross guide
- Islington guide
- West End guide
- Hackney guide
- Marylebone guide
- London Bridge guide
- Little Venice guide
- Richmond guide
- Shoreditch guide
- Soho guide
- South Bank guide
- Wimbledon guide
- Notting Hill guide
Time Out Worldwide
Get our weekly newsletter
Share your thoughts