Nice little pub nestled in Finchley off the main road, can easily miss it. Came in the later afternoon just for drinks and had a pleasant time. Nice range menu and good drink selection especially Belgian and craft beers. Food looked good but didn't order. The outdoor seating was basic but nice with heaters and covered. Ordering was easy and staff were very pleasant. Removed 1 star because bathrooms were filthy and overall place needed a good clean in my opinion. Still would recommend a visit though. If you liked my review give it a 👍 and feel free to follow me on Google maps for more drinks and food related reviews!

Great drinks and a lovely pub! The food is amazing and I would definitely reccomend coming here for a meal as well as a drink as the menu is quite big with different options and tastes great.

What a fabulous wedding I recently attended at this lovely London pub. The decor was gorgeous, the food was super delicious and the staff were great. Big thanks to Mike, Alex & Sophie who were on hand to attend to our every needs. Can't wait to come back to sample more of your fine food & booze...cheers!!

Great local pub with friendly staff and great food. Plenty of seats available.

Gathered here with friends and family after a funeral. The buffet style food was exceptionally good and plentiful. And service was friendly and prompt and unobtrusive. We had a long drive home ahead of us so can't say what the beer was like but if I lived here this would definitely be my local.

I used to love this pub. We used to go there with my Mum all the time when she was alive. We loved it so much we go there every year on the anniversary of her passing, sit where we used to sit by the fireplace, and drink Johnny Walker Black Label and cokes in her honour, as we did this Tuesday (30th of Jan). The staff there were lovely, as they always are, and the Welsh lady serving us this week was just amazing. Indeed we'd spent well over £350 between 1pm and 6:30pm, but then suddenly this week a different barmaid in the early evening approached us and asked us to move because the table we were sitting at had been reserved. We explained that we'd been here all afternoon and there hadn't been a reservation notice or anything, so asked if the person could go somewhere else, there were other tables available. We were told that they wanted to sit where we were, and so I explained why we were sitting at this particular table, and then she insisted "well you wouldn't want to be sitting here whilst there's a pub quiz going on if you're commemorating your Mum anyway would you?"??? The insensitivity of the woman was shocking and it's really tarnished our experience there. It might sound like an overreaction on our part, but this year has been particularly tough for a number of reasons and so we were really quite emotional anyway. It's a massive shame!

My niece Millie and her husband Shane chose the White Lion as the venue for their wedding. What a wonderful place.The atmosphere was great, the staff friendly and efficient and the food was delicious. Highly recommended

Great service, delicious food. We ordered the award winning pale ale and beef pie (it's definitely a must if you drop by). Also the beer battered fish and chips was really really good, probably the best fish and chips I've tasted.

Very much improved setting and seating, the new decorations are welcoming. Improved quality of dishes. I had the chicken schnitzel and it was well cooked with a well dressed salad and fries. Much better than previously. Mayo seemed homemade? Service was fine, could be a little friendlier with attention to clients, like coming to check if everything is ok or clients need water etc. Also, say goodbye when people leave. This is the kind of details that make a difference to people wanting to return.

As others pointed out, the food service is very slow. Plus the waiter was rude. I'd look for one of the other pubs in the area the next time. It's nice that the owner responds to the reviews here, but I'd prefer if they invest this time in improving their staff service level. My friend ordered hamburger, and i just had chips. The waiter responded "just chips?" with a patronizing look. I tried joking about it, but he ignored me altogether-apparently you're expected to order a full meal. The food itself took exactly 55 minutes to be served, although the pub was mostly empty. No explanation or apology were provided. The food and beer were all tasty, but were not enough to compensate for the terrible service.

We had our daughter and son in law’s wedding reception here and booked the entire space. It was a very special place for them as it was where they met. The venue was perfect in that it had four different spaces - an area for their blessing, a bar to mingle in, a grand dining room and conservatory to seat over 60 in our case and a gorgeous, sunny garden. The Old White Lion is not a conventional pub with smaller rooms and lots of nooks and crannies, it is charming building with open plan spaces that all connect, full of period features, vibrant decor and provided a gorgeous backdrop for a celebration such as this. Mike, Alex and the team bent over backwards to get everything just as we wanted it and worked tirelessly to achieve this (with smiles on their faces). They allowed us to decorate and add our own touches and provided entertainment - a fabulous guitarist and singer who took requests and the guests loved! The food was amazing, a choice of wonderful starters and then a very generous roast dinner which was cooked to perfection. The staff attended to everyone’s needs throughout the day and night. Would highly recommend not only for dining and drinks but for celebratory events. Thank you all so much on behalf of Scott and I and of course the happy couple!

We celebrated our daughters first birthday today at the pub. I can’t put into words how pleased we are with everything. Special thank you to Alex, he helped us so so much! It was just perfect! Food was delicious, service was great, venue is clean, they helped us with arranging everything, helped us with suppliers, decorators and even played with our little one. All our guests noted how amazing it was! HIGHLY RECOMMEND for private hire and can’t thank you enough for everything!

Lovely pub with supper friendly customer service. Conveniently located near East Finchley tube station.

Nice atmosphere, clean and comfortable. Pleasant dining area. Not a great choice of cask beer (big brand), but in good condition.

I had a funeral reception at the Old White Lion and they did a truly wonderful job. Trying to book a venue when you are grieving is really challenging, but the team at this pub made it effortless and on the day itself, everything went super smoothly, and no request was too much trouble for them. Good vegan/vegetarian buffet lunch, with fast/friendly service and amazing to have a car park on site and a tube station next door. Costs were reasonable, given it's London. The general vibe of the pub is great too, which added a calming atmosphere for the funeral reception. Would definitely host another event here, or even just pop back in for a drink next time I'm in the area.

Me and my gym buddy went for dinner and drinks. The service was good and food was excellent. We were serviced by a delightful lady called Sofia with a smile.

Great food - nice atmosphere and good outside seating area

One of the worst roasts I’ve had. However, the starters were great so it’s a shame & that’s what the 2 stars are for. Table wasn’t cleared before mains come out, no more drinks offered & empty glasses left on crowded table. NEW potatoes instead of roast potatoes on a roast dinner, the chicken was the driest, crustiest leg/breast I’ve ever cut, Yorkshire pudding was like a dense - near enough flat pancake. The jus was very runny, more like an oily tasteless gravy. Lastly but most importantly, my pig in blanket was completely raw, I was told it’s because they’re white sausages but the bacon was unjustifiably very clearly raw & sent it back as I’m 4 months pregnant so I of course can’t eat raw pork. Waited over an hour for food & waited just as long for the bill. No cutlery either, after we’d used the first lot for starters. I understand it was a busy Sunday but surely dont book yourself out if you can’t handle it. My mother-in-law phoned to express our experience as it was a special birthday Sunday meal for her mother, she was offered an apology & told they’ll send her vouchers for a next visit … she was sent a £10 voucher when spending £40 or more. Surely having a laugh? After we’ve just spent £200 on the worst Sunday roast.

I went in for a quick social meet with friends. I was so relieved that there was free parking. Inside was spacious and it looked like a good venue for a group meal. So next time I'll use public transport and stay longer and for more.

My visit to the Old White Lion pub was nothing short of amazing. The food was not just good; it was exceptional. I opted for the chicken schnitzel, which was cooked to perfection, and my girlfriend savored a wonderfully roasted sweet potato dish that was a delightful surprise. What truly stood out was the fantastic atmosphere in this pub. It felt like a cozy haven, with an ambiance that was both welcoming and vibrant. The garden, in particular, was a gem. It was beautifully designed, creating a perfect backdrop for our meal. It was both beautiful and incredibly cozy, making our dining experience truly enjoyable. I can't recommend the Old White Lion enough. If you're looking for great food, a fantastic atmosphere, and a beautiful garden to dine in, this place is a must-visit. I'll definitely be returning, and I can confidently give it a well-deserved 5-star rating.

Beautiful looking pub inside and outside. Car parking can be tricky if there's no space. Ordered around 1pm so the oub was at a good attendance. I ordered the half roast chicken, which was a little over cooked sadly. And the veg was a little undercooked. For me, roast potatoes get the headlines but not on this plate. They was too buttery and not crunchy enough (Hence a roast potato). Shame the roast didn't work out as it is valued at £17.50 a dish. However since the service and decore is lovely I'll be happy to give the pub another go but not a roast.

A good venue to meet friends for a drink as it's wonderfully spaced out, the food wasn't bad though it took a while to arrive at 70% capacity on a Thursday night. The staff a extremely helpful and cheerful. Good pub, just remember to order food early!

The handsome South African man in the kitchen (I think his name is Mark) was responsible for the best steak I have ever eaten. On the bar staff front, Sophie, Justin and Jack were welcoming and friendly. The pub is very cozy and definitely a favourite.

Average. Location isn't particularly pleasant and the food is average but it is convenient, large, with friendly staff.

My new fave pub! Fish and chips was wonderful. A big Thankyou to Sophie for making our visit so lovely. We will see you again next week :)

Looks nice and cosy but it wasn’t, had to keep my puffer coat over legs like a blanket. Service was pleasant when we eventually got it. My starter of falafel was delicious but one of my friends had the prawns which had so much juice in the bowl they could have swam in it. My other friend had the mushrooms which again were in a juice not a sauce. We all ordered steaks, mine medium and my friends wanted well done. Mine was med/rare and there’s were med/well. The meat was a good flavour and tender but not what we were expecting, basically my dog did very well out of it. We should have brought it to the attention of the waiting staff but we were hungry and I worry about sending food back to the kitchen. I definitely won’t be visiting again, one of my friends will as apparently it’s quite near the cemetery her father is buried in. Our other friend also won’t be going back.

Stunning pub!!! Brilliant remodel and food is great… looking forward to trying there Sunday roast.

Love the new decor. Beautiful garden. We had a really good time. Food was delicious. Especially plant based burger. Staff was friendly and helpful. Adam delivered a great table service.

The Old White Lion has been our local and favourite pub for 20 years. It’s probably one of the only pubs in the area that has a that ‘cosy’ local feel. The recent refurbishment gave it the makeover that it needed and the new contemporary food menu is great, but what matters more is the welcoming staff and friendly atmosphere. Thank you to Alex and all the staff for their professionalism and great service.

Good beer. Although a pint and half for over £10 is very expensive. Decent bar service. Food experience was very poor. Items forgotten. Numerous items sent back. Small portions, dishes soaked in too much oil. Ruined our evening basically. Staff were nice. We did not feel that paying anything for the meal was appropriate. After a lengthy discussion, management agreed and apologised. Over £100 spent on drinks. We all said we should have gone elsewhere. For what you charge, you rarely deliver on quality.

Lovely place, lovely people, awful beer. I have no idea how the beer is so terrible but I've never had flatter ales and weirder tasting lagers. Fancy a pravha that tastes like someone dropped cheese in it? This is the place. Newly refurbished interior, excellent beer garden, but maybe get a bottle or a cocktail instead of a beer.

Food was good but maybe not as hot as it could have been, judging by the number of people returning their food on other tables around us. There was also a really long delay in getting served and a lack of attentiveness from the staff. Luckily we were not in a rush but didn't actually leave our 1.30 booked meal until well after 4.

Recently visited here when on holiday from New Zealand - I really love and English pub and this one takes the cake! Fantastic work guys - loved the food and the amazing staff - especially :) - will definitely be back when I'm in the neck of the woods again. Edit: Had to ask my Dad about who was looking after us because I'd had a couple and didn't catch his name, but Alex - You were a legend -cheers 🍻 for making us feel at home and for recommendations of what to do in the area - didn't find the phone repair shop tho :))

I have been regular customer at this place for a while. Always great service and atmosphere.. lovely and Friendly staff. Added bonus dog friendly place ,love the beer garden with tv

We had our company Christmas lunch/dinner (group of 20) at The Old White Lion. Very nice classic British pub. Good atmosphere, and good service. Would like to thank Gui in particular. We had food off the Christmas menu. We had a great time and all left with full stomachs and feeling rather merry ⛄😁⛄ Thank you Old White Lion

This pub is spécial to me as my father took me there about 30 years ago. So 1st visit since then. I love the building and the pub is gorgeous inside too. Very pretty and comfortable. Even nicer with the fireplace on. The food was delicious and I enjoyed a few pints as well. East Finchley is a bit far but the station is right next door. I simply love this place ans will certainly return (I live in France) The place was quite busy on a Monday night, which is a proof of a well appreciated pub by the locals.

We have lived in the area for ages and are now wondering why we hadn’t come sooner. Simple pub food done well, lovely weekday night atmosphere. Justin really looked after us and we surely will be back. Would recommend