Located off the beaten track in Finsbury Park, this vast and quirky pub has charm to spare.

The Venue
Situated on a back street off Stroud Green Road and five minutes’ walk from Finsbury Park, the Faltering Fullback offers a sprawling, secluded alternative to the pubs within the immediate vicinity of the tube station. Almost overgrown with greenery and pot plants, the semi-detached building can be found at the intersection of Perth Road and Ennis Road, and is made up of two bars, two back rooms and an outside terrace set over two levels. The entrance leads to the main bar where you will find a fairly conventional lay-out embellished with all sorts of knick-knacks suspended from the ceiling: guitars, model aeroplanes, sporting memorabilia, trophies and even a hanging bicycle or two. Several tables and bar stools line the walls, and large latticed windows let the natural light in.

The bar itself continues round into the back bar on the right hand side, which tones down the decorations and offers a more intimate setting. The tables are decorated with candle-holders made from empty Jack Daniels bottles, lending to the saloon vibe of the room, with its consistent dark green and brown colours. This layout is mirrored to the left of the pub, minus the bar, by the smaller of the two back rooms, which is lavishly decorated with all kinds of posters and bookshelves but is otherwise fairly cosy. Towards the back of the building, you will find a larger back room, usually the province of the younger customers, and seemingly designed to cater to the sports-lovers in particular. Among the posters, fruit machines and wooden picnic tables there are several wide-screen TVs showing sports channels and a pool table.

The feature that truly sets the Faltering Fullback apart, though, is the multi-level outside terrace, which adopts a uniform light wood colour scheme, and holds so much greenery that it almost feels like you've stepped out of North London and into the jungle. Initially an extension of the larger back room, with high tables and a scaled-down bar overlooked by powerful heaters, the outside terrace extends up the stairs to a scenic leafy veranda. This can be a sun-trap during the more clement seasons, and is an excellent place to wile away a Sunday afternoon on one of the many wooden tables that have been placed in a circuit around the stairwell.

The Atmosphere
The pub invariably draws a local crowd, particularly in the front and back bars, which can be generally described as sedate. Perhaps not a great place to go wild on a Saturday night, but definitely a sympathetic location in which to regroup unsteadily the next day. Seating is never a problem, the music is usually spot-on, and the staff are very friendly and prompt. Match days attract the biggest crowds, and the large back room offers a great atmosphere for rival fans, and indeed pool players. Because of the pub's layout, however, it's quite possible to enjoy a drink without the distraction of televised sports.

If the weather's right, the outside terrace is a great place for a weekend pub lunch and an easy-going chat, unrivaled in the Finsbury Park area. On a slow and overcast days, however, the pub can seem slightly gloomy in places, especially if the outside area is out of bounds.

The Food
The chef specialises in Thai food, perhaps in keeping with the exotic outdoor terrace. Food is served 6.30pm-10.30pm and a scaled-down kitchen is visible through one of the walls in the larger back room. All the mains cost £5.50 (daily specials cost more) and what they lack in quantity they make up for in quality, with small but tasty portions of noodles a specialty.

The Drink
No surprises on the Faltering Fullback drinks menu, just a straightforward selection of draught beers including Fosters, Kronenbourg, Becks Vier, Heineken, Stella, Guinness, John Smiths, London Pride and Leffe blond. Pints are roughly £3.20-£3.40 but specialist tipples like Leffe are more.

The Last Word
On a good day, the Faltering Fullback has something for everyone: great food, excellent sports coverage and a truly special outdoor area. Worth a visit if the weather is right.

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