The W B Yeats

Another almost local for me.
This is just a few minutes from Finsbury Park station a little off the normal pedestrian route, which is actually quite a good thing as you are more likely to get a table, they have a lovely outside terrace area, that unfortunately does not get the sun later in the day but is great for lunch time/​day drinking. Interior is lovely if a little sparse although I personally love the larger tables and chairs, gives more of a homely lounging feel to the place.
I have been here several times and to agree with previous reviews, it seemed to take a while for the toilets to be a good standard, however, when visiting for an afternoon of cider drinking on Sunday they were fine.
They don’t appear to do food on a Sunday (or at least this particular Sunday) which I find quite odd, although with the competition of the World’s End, Stapleton and Old Dairy perhaps they considered it better to go food free. It did mean when my friend and I arrived in late afternoon the place was really quiet but picked up massively around 6/​7pm. They do a good range of beer/​lager/​cider on tap, they even have a small cocktail menu if that is more your thing. Staff are really lovely, friendly and chatty with the customers, it’s clear that there are a few regulars, as a bonus they allow dogs in and even have dog biscuits on the bar.
Definitely one of my favourite haunts in the area, they do show football/​rugby as well so it serves the area well as an alternative to the far busier World’s End.

I think the reviewers above are definitely being harsh. This is a really nice local pub. It’s a nice place to spend an afternoon or evening. The drinks selection is good and it feels homely. I haven’t eaten here so I can’t comment on that aspect.
Is it the best pub in London? No. Is it worth travelling to? No. But that’s not the point of the place. It’s there to provide for the local community. And given the current competition I’d prefer to spend an afternoon here than the old dairy for example.
Take Unilocal reviews with a pinch of salt. People seem to find it appropriate to use Unilocal as an outlet for their frustration at not not becoming a restaurant critic, not understanding that a restaurant critic would never review a place like this. Critics review places that are generally considered worth going out of your way for, and are normally pretty pricey. They hence can have a clear conscience slagging off a place in the way the reviewer has done above. But being so critical of a place like this as if it were a restaurant in soho? That’s irresponsible.
This is a nice place to have a drink with friends if you’re in the area. Two stars for poor acoustics and kitchen towel? Oh please… you need to get your head out of your rear end…

Popped in here on the way out, haven’t eaten in hours due to travelling and they serve a whopper veggie breakfast.
Serve was a little slow but very friendly so that made up.
I had the eggs florentine which was cooked to perfection, and a generous side of hash browns.
Gorgeous interior, really open and airy with that slight pub feel thanks to the bar.
Really like it here

Ahh, W B Yeats. You’ve tried to emulate many a successful gastropub in London with your mismatched, vintage furniture but you haven’t quite succeeded in making this a place I would be itching to come back to so here’s some things to think about:
1. Pubs are noisy places, don’t waste space and money by putting in massive tables that your patrons will need to shout to be heard over.
2. You have a beautiful space here but need to be careful, leaving the walls and windows so bare makes acoustics really bad. The place was not that busy but the noise was deafening.
3. The tables and chairs thing is fine but add something else to the mix. Why have you called it the W B Yeats? There was nothing here that linked to that name. A theme perhaps? Fabrics, colour, pictures, stuffed animals, something…
4. We didn’t try your menu but with such a small place, don’t set out tables ready for diners you don’t have. People will think they are taken or you can only sit there if you’re eating. If this is true then scrap that rule unless you actually get a reservation. More profit is made on drinks usually anyway (according to Gordon Ramsay).
5. The wooden walled beer garden on the pavement with flowers on top is cute but doesn’t work. People like to people watch, don’t obscure the view with cheap wood.
6. Toilets. I was in shock. They were worse than most public toilets in London. Cheap plumbing on display (just wait until a drunk rests their foot on that and you’ll have a flood of pee) and KITCHEN ROLL to dry your hands? You’ve got to be kidding and it used kitchen roll was all over the floor.
You’ll be pleased to know your service was friendly and the drinks were good. But there are some things you need to work on before I return.