Arsenal v Chelsea – a robust Faustino VII rioja perchance? « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
For the last few years the Untold team, when it has felt like a drink and a social prior to the match, has settled on the Auld Triangle – not for any love of the joint (and “joint” is just about the right word for this appalling establishment) but really out of habit – for it was at the Triangle that the idea of Untold first emerged after we had moved from the even more disgraceful Duke of Edinburgh – now reinvented as a somewhat more bijou drinking place.
However at an executive board meeting last week it decided that from next season we should take Untold on tour – a tour in fact of the watering holes around the ground.
In order to try out this revolutionary vision, we invited one of our number to try a preliminary report. So here it is
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Arsenal/Chelsea – match preliminaries at the Tollington
By Blacksheep63
Chelski at home in an early start, and as I was driving I got to choose the pre-match hostelry.
Since Tony and I were waking down the Holloway Road from the Archway (having arrived in good time by underground transportation from Finchley, whence we had parked) we had plenty of choice and in the end I opted for the comforting familiarity of the Tollington on Hornsey Road.
On a bright and sunny Saturday morning it was no surprise to find standing room inside and out at a premium – amazing then that we managed (eventually) to secure a firm wooden bench towards the rear. Large flat screen TVs beamed Sky Sports around the pub and the air was thick with football banter and the odd shout of ‘Red Army!’
So, first the positives: the Tollington is very close to the ground – a short hop and we were outside the Emirates. The beer on offer is pretty good too: the ubiquitous Irish stout (Guinness in this case), a reassuringly expensive French lager and that most obvious of English ales, Abbot.
However the more adventurous can plump – as we did – for the cloudy freshness of Hoegaarden or the reliable thirst quencher of San Miguel. If you have more time the Tollington boasts a reasonable cellar; I noticed a robust Faustino VII rioja and a crisp NZ sauvignon blanc.
In all they have well over a dozen wines on their list including a Bollinger for those days (unlike today sadly) when we thump our London rivals.
Indeed, if you really want to push the boat out and have cocktails the Tollington offers the usual suspects – shame there are no local football specials, perhaps something to think about for the future? – however, too much indulgence here is probably best left to post match or you might not make it up the Emirates steps.
The Tollington also sells food. Alongside the Sunday roast it has an impressive looking Thai menu. I’ve never sampled it but I might have to return one day for the Kaeng Massamun which looks wonderful. Which brings me to the first of the two negatives: while they have a range of posh crisps (balsamic vinegar and apricot probably) they have no nuts. Even though my companion has cut his nut intake in recent weeks due to cholesterol concerns, it would have made him happier to be able to ingest some salted nut based product. Alas, not today.
Finally the second grumble had nothing to do with the pub itself but with a couple of colonials standing outside. I am all for embracing the diversity of Arsenal fans but the small knot of Americans that were gathered near us seemed intent on making everyone in north London a party to their conversation. It really isn’t necessary to SHOUT THAT LOUD ALL THE TIME and we beat a hasty retreat to the relative quiet of the bar.
So there you have, the first in an occasional series exploring the many pubs and eateries clustered around Ashburton Grove. See you again in August
@blacksheep63