Within easy reach of the Emirates Stadium, this excellent Finsbury Park pub expertly balances tasty cuisine, live music and a blistering match day atmosphere.

The Venue
The Worlds End is the first pub you will come across if you exit Finsbury Park station and make the two-minute walk up Stroud Green Road. You can spot it by its red and gold sign hanging over the main entrance and several billboards advertising upcoming attractions. The square bar takes pride of place in the middle of what is essentially one big room, divided into sections by partitions, curtains, steps and pillars (toilets are available downstairs). The floors are wooden, the walls brick and occasionally wallpapered, with a red and cream colour scheme lending unity to the space. There is ample seating available in alcoves, on leather sofas, bar stools and comfy wooden chairs around low tables, and the room is versatile enough to act as both an intimate music hall and a rowdy sports venue, depending on the occasion.

No expense has been spared on the decoration, with all sorts of mirrors, lights, maps, artwork and framed photos lining the walls – the bar itself is tastefully adorned with Christmas lights, a pyramid of spirits and Champagne bottles. Across the room, retro lamps offer intimate mood lighting. There are also several TVs showing the day's sporting highlights, as well as a table football table and a Space Invaders console to the right of the bar. Right at the back of the room on the left hand side is a raised area which serves as a stage on the many musical nights at the Worlds End. As well as boasting an excellent PA and unobstructed visibility for all, this partition is notable for its impressive domed ceiling.

The Atmosphere
Partisan football fans should be forewarned that this is an Arsenal pub, attracting the Gunners of Finsbury Park in their hordes on match days (it is especially packed before home games at the nearby Emirates Stadium). However, concessions are made to fans of different clubs too, with the day's action projected on to a large screen next to the main entrance. The rest of the week is more laid-back, with an older crowd in general, and a warm and personable ambience. The music is excellent and unobtrusive, the sofas are comfortable and the customers and staff alike are generally decent.

There are a number of themed nights, details of which are listed outside the pub. As mentioned, Sunday night offers a well-attended acoustic night with acts screened for quality beforehand, and ska-punk bands usually play on Friday and Saturday, when the bar is granted a slightly later licence (1am). Monday night is poker night, if you're willing to cough up the £8 entry bid, and there are themed nights for big events like St. Patrick's Day, Halloween and the 6 Nations rugby tournament.

The Food
The cuisine on offer at the Worlds End is good, if not great. Large groups might want to consider ordering a sharer - for £14.95 you can get the seafood, veggie or the house platter (chicken wings, wedges and a whole host of extras), and these contain more than enough food to fill up a party of four. At the other end of the scale, bar snacks such as garlic bread and calamari are on sale at anywhere between £3 and £4.50, sandwiches and salads are around £5, and a variety of mains such as BBQ chicken, pie of the day, vegetable curry and soup of the day are all available in the region of £8. The roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings is exemplary at £8.50, but the real secret weapon in the pub's arsenal is its selection of homemade burgers, which are great value for money at £7.95, from the no-holds-barred beef and Guinness to the delectable sun-dried tomato burger.

The Drink
The bar covers all the bases of a decent establishment such as this. Several lagers are available on tap and in bottles, at reasonable prices, including Amstel, Heineken and Tiger. Expect to pay £3-£3.50 a pint. Amongst the eye-catching pyramid of spirits behind the bar are such oddities as Eristoff black vodka and the big-selling Tuaca, as well as giant bottles of Champagne. These retail at around £40, with a Laurent-Perrier fetching £37, although the rest of us can settle for a very pleasant house red - a Tempranillo at 12.50 a bottle or £3.40 a glass – or alternatively a Rioja Tinto at £4.60 a glass which complements the burgers perfectly.

The Last Word
The Worlds End is an excellent pub that ticks all the right boxes: good location, great atmosphere, decent food, quality live music and an aesthetically pleasing decor.

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