With its simultaneously down-to-earth and well-to-do attitude, this popular Muswell Hill pub suits its locals nicely.

The Venue
A bit of a hike down Fortis Green Road, The John Baird is a slightly off-piste from Muswell Hill Broadway, making it a destination for those in the know. From the outside, the pub is non-descript – it's a red brick building, which only gives away its pub status by its swinging sign decorated with an image of the eponymous electrical engineer. But venture inside, and The John Baird is much more enticing. Its crisp, white walls and shiny, wooden floors are unconventionally pristine, as is the vase of pink lilies adorning the mantelpiece. To the other side of the pub is a carpeted area with plenty of booth seating, which operates as the Black Orchid Thai restaurant. And out the back is a cosy beer garden and a heated smoking area, which becomes quite a suntrap in the summer but is also well shaded by leafy trees, And the John Baird wouldn’t be complete without the TV screens that its eponym pioneered all those years ago.

The Atmosphere
With weekly pub quizzes and occasional live music nights, The John Baird can get quite lively at times. It also engenders a laid-back attitude from punters, who come here to relax and unwind. The overall vibe of this pub, though, is its sense of community spirit, which means you’ll more than likely be making friends in no time. And this goes for the bar staff too, who are always up for a chat while you’re being served.

The Food
Having a Thai kitchen adjoined to a pub has become fairly commonplace in the capital, and this venue follows suit. Starters and snacks include fried tofu (£4.45), prawn in a golden blanket (£4.75) and chicken satay (£4.75). There is also the option of a sharing platter (£13.45), which contains spring rolls and Thai fish cakes among some other fine choices. For something a bit more filling, there are soups and salads available, like prawn coconut soup (£4.45) and Thai papaya salad (£6.95). Stir fries come in spicy and non-spicy varieties, and meat dishes are remarkably refined, such as tamarind duck (£9.95), lemon steamed cod (£8.95) and garlic tiger prawn (£9.95). And of course, no Thai menu would be complete without a curry or two, with chicken Thai green curry (£7.50) and beef jungle curry (£8.95) leading the way.

The Drink
Those looking to sample real ales have come to the right place. This Cask Marque-accredited pub lays on eight different draught ales, which are regularly changed and cost between £3.20 and £3.70 for a pint. And some nice choices are on offer too, like Brakspear and Doom Bar. Lagers are a bit pricier here, which is all part of the territory in this fancy north London area. A pint of Staropramen will set you back £3.75, but there is Kronenbourg and Fosters on tap too.

The Last Word
The John Baird is an appealing, community-minded pub that opts for Thai food instead of traditional pub grub. Given that it attracts droves of loyal regulars, it’s a formula that’s working and their excellent selection of ales is also worth seeking out.

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