Highgate breeds quality pubs like the Red Lion and Sun. This beautiful Edwardian boozer shows why this is one of the best areas in London for an impromptu pub crawl.

The Venue
Highgate has more space than many areas of the capital, and it shows in the sprawling nature of pubs like the Red Lion and Sun. It has a beautiful exterior which entices with its feature windows and Edwardian flourishes, helping it to stand apart from its competitors. An outdoor seating area is particularly popular in the summer months when this area really comes alive with drinkers looking to soak up the sun in country-like surroundings. Inside, open fires, a neutral colourscheme warmed up by trendy red granny lamps, a simple array of wooden tables and chairs and decorative flourishes from animal heads on the walls to Union Jack flags are understated enough to just sit in the background and a real highlight is the pretty solarium that floods with light during the day. Beautifully done.

The Atmosphere
As a pub for locals, the genuine warmth of the staff, who are keen to build on their core base of regulars, is evident from the start. Efficient and keen for a spot of a banter, they are friendly to newcomers and you’ll soon feel like this is only one of several visits you’ve made to the Red Lion and Sun. A gastropub edge doesn’t encroach on the drinkers here, either, with a happy lack of pretension.

The Food
They do take their food seriously here with options that include Dorset rock oysters, a selection of daily thick soups, ham hock terrine with piccalilli (homemade, of course), upmarket pies and not just a standard burger - a rump steak burger. You can eat a main meal here for less than £10 and the quality of the dishes is above the usual comfort food churned out by many pubs in London.

The Drink
Alongside their selection of draught lager, Red Lion and Sun offers a selection of ales that has made them popular with CAMRA, including Greene King IPA, Abbot, Morland Original and one house guest beer. On top of this, complementing their upmarket food selection, they have a choice of Bibendum wine, which aren’t exclusively expensive. They are also proud of their whisky choice, with some of the staff very knowledgeable of the selection and keen to offer up their expert opinions if you’re not sure what to order and are after some guidance.

The Last Word
Were the Red Lion and Sun located in any other area of London then it would possibly be the stand out drinking option; however, it does suffer at the hands of some of the stiffest competition in the capital. Still, it does a great job of holding its own with a strong offering.

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