Faltering Fullback

Don't be put off by the fact that the ramshackle horseshoe bar is always full, or that the vast but rowdy main room has the atmosphere of a sixth-form common room crossed with a 1970s pool hall. This vaguely Irish pub has long been a Finsbury Park favourite, and that's 98 percent down to its amazing garden. Drinks are reasonably priced, the Thai food is good and it’s a sport-watchers paradise, but these are just cherries on the verdant layer cake that is its three storeys of leafy nooks, crannies and look-out posts outside. Even when it's chilly you'll find a comfortable outdoor spot as many of the benches are heated and covered. Just be warned that even Ray Mears wouldn't be able to direct you to his table, so get friends to let off a flare (or carry a helium balloon) if you're the last to arrive.