The Twelve Pins

Ultimate Sports Pub: Guinness & Good Times

In the heart of Finsbury Park, an easy stroll from bustling rail and tube stations, sits The Twelve Pins—a fixture of convivial London life that gladly blurres the edges between pub culture and fervent sports fandom. Stepping inside this establishment feels akin to stepping back into a cherished annal of local history: the air is redolent with the comforting scent of roasts and bitters, while the pub’s wooden interiors buzz with the fervor of its loyal Arsenal supporters. Even on an uneventful weekday evening, the space hums with the vibrant mingling of young fans readying for a match alongside senior patrons who have perhaps been padding these floors since the arthritic days when it was known as The Finsbury Park Tavern.

Despite its occasional lapses in harmony—like the sometimes polarizing pricing strategy or a cooled demeanor from a couple misplaced staff—the charm of The Twelve Pins wins the day. Under relaxed conditions, the pub excels as a bastion of camaraderie and hospitality, digs which convincingly bat away modernity's sterile pretense in favor of something genuine. The delight is truly palpable when settling down with a sumptuous Guinness, notably praised by seasoned pub-goers, all while stealing glances at any one of their plentiful screens showcasing global sports events in synchrony. For those staying nearby or merely passing through, ‘The Pins,’ as locals would suggest, offers a fantastically eccentric plunge into unabashed English pub vigor—delivering hearty servings of both food and friendship to any willing visitor. — Clarissa Cuisinier