The Village Green

Just what London needs - another gastropub masquerading as a neighborhood watering hole. The Village Green in Muswell Hill joins the endless parade of establishments trying to convince us they're simultaneously down-to-earth and sophisticatedly curated. I approached with my usual skepticism, fully prepared to add it to my mental list of mediocre venues riding the craft beer wave straight into tepid mediocrity.

And then, damn it all, they had to go and be actually good.

Let's start with the garden, because that's where my cynicism first began to crack. While most London pubs consider three plastic chairs and a half-dead hanging basket a "beer garden," The Village Green has created something that somehow manages to be both whimsical and grown-up. The sprawling back area features what might be the least offensive mural I've seen in North London (and trust me, I've suffered through plenty), complemented by strings of twinkling lights that transform the space from "standard pub garden" to "wait, am I in a Midnight in Paris moment?"

I wanted to hate the drinks menu. Really, I did. But they've struck that infuriating sweet spot between comprehensive and carefully curated. Yes, you'll pay £7.50 for a Guinness - welcome to London, folks - but it's pulled properly, with the kind of care that makes you forgive the price tag. The cocktail selection manages to avoid both the "we've just discovered mixology" pretension and the "we only know how to make G&Ts" limitation that plagues so many similar venues.

Speaking of pleasant surprises, let's discuss the Sunday roast because it's become something of a revelation. In a city where mediocre roasts are as common as delayed tube trains, The Village Green has somehow managed to elevate the humble tradition without descending into unnecessary fancification. Their vegan option - words I never thought I'd type approvingly - is particularly noteworthy. It's the kind of meal that makes carnivores question their life choices, and I'm still not entirely sure how they've managed that.

The interior strikes a balance between traditional pub coziness and modern functionality that shouldn't work but somehow does. They've retained enough original features to maintain character while adding contemporary touches that don't scream "we've just discovered Pinterest." The function room upstairs has hosted everything from 40th birthday parties to local community meetings without feeling like either a tired events space or an overly precious venue.

Service can be hit or miss, particularly during peak hours. Sometimes you'll wait longer than ideal for attention at the bar, and occasionally the staff look like they're auditioning for The Walking Dead. But when they're on form, they're genuinely knowledgeable and refreshingly unpretentious about it.

The crowd is a proper London mix - locals who've been coming here since before the renovation, young professionals pretending they're not checking their work emails on a Sunday, and families attempting to maintain their social lives while wrangling small children. Dogs are welcome, which adds both charm and the occasional chaos you'd expect when combining pubs and pets.

For sports fans, they've managed to show the important matches without letting the place devolve into a sports bar atmosphere - a tightrope walk that deserves recognition. The sound system handles everything from background music to DJ sets with surprising competence, though the latter tends to feel a bit optimistic on quieter nights.

Here's the thing about The Village Green in London - it's the pub equivalent of that friend who's annoyingly good at everything while pretending they're not trying. Sure, there are fancier places in the city, and yes, you can find cheaper pints elsewhere. But for a venue that sits comfortably in the middle of the price range, it delivers far more than it needs to.

Go on, then. Make your booking. Join me in reluctantly admitting that sometimes, just sometimes, a place manages to be exactly what it aims to be - a proper London pub that's kept up with the times without losing its soul. Just don't tell them I sent you. I have a reputation to maintain.