Go Wild in Wood Green: A Guide

Wood Green is a time capsule for the 1990’s and having shopped there all my life, I can safely say it is the last place in London and possibly the entire world that I would expect to find craft beer. This is a place that barely has a pub and seems to have gotten stuck in some kind of quantum loop in order to preserve the existence of clothes shops where you can’t return things, cinemas whose staff pat you down for both weapons and your own snacks, and those kiosk type places that unlock your phone.

Yet in the past couple of years, some savvy beer aficionados have seen the potential that Woody G has for breweries given the cheaper real estate and lack of competition, so here is a quadruplet of tipples to treat yourself to after a hard day out on the High Street, in geographical order for efficient craft-crawling.

The Prince
Perched like…well, a Prince, on the corner of Trinity Gardens (all very grand around here isn’t it!), The Prince attracts local families, Wood Green locals and lost hipsters in equal measure.
Good For: Sunning yourself on the grass outside; Getting a really broad array of local London craft beers.
Thing to note: Formerly home to their own brewkit and beer, this is sadly no longer the case but the beer from other breweries more than makes up for it. A good amount of seating out the front is bookable, and if it’s all booked up then get a takeaway and sit on the grass three metres away.
Beer: As broad an array of signature brews from around London and UK as you’ll find anywhere. Something for everyone, erring more towards pale ales and IPAs.
Vibez: If it’s sunny this is like a tiny slice of Hyde Park, far enough from a busy main road that if you drink enough pints you might even think you’re there.
Price: Most pints are pricey but you’ll want the more affordable 2/3 of many of them based on ABV, whereas they have a great cask line that is very affordable. Try some of the best craft in the UK on both cask and keg.
Warmth: Chatty, well-informed staff that bely the old-fashioned architecture of the pub.

The Earth Tap – unfortunately this closed in December 2021, though the bus is still there as a cafe!
Walk into this little oasis of a courtyard and you’d be forgiven for wondering where the brewery is. Out of everything there, it is in the place you least expect: the giant red double decker bus.
Good For: Novelty setting; board games; getting a beer in Wood Green.
Things to note: The brewery itself isn’t in the bus, it is around 400 metres away, inside The Chocolate Factory (a disused chocolate factory, you’ll be shocked to learn). The beer is brought over to the bus and dispensed nice and fresh from the repurposed side window. There is also copious outdoor seating around the courtyard, though no heaters or rain cover.
Beer: It’s pretty darn good with some unusual tastes such as a Verbena Pale Ale. They have 8 taps, so there’ll certainly be something you like.
Vibez: It’s a real treat sitting on the top deck sipping a fresh one and knowing there is nothing TFL can do about it. On weekends, there is often live music for the outside crowd.
Price: Not cheap: given Wood Green tends to operate at 90’s prices, it is pricier than I’d have hoped.
Warmth: Very friendly staff who do their best to accommodate people on the top deck (when open) and outside in the courtyard.

Goodness Brewing
Situated directly opposite the aforementioned chocolate factory, just five minutes away from The Earth Tap, is Goodness Brewing. This is much more of a familiar scene, so much so that it could have been airlifted directly in from Portland, Oregon or New England (or maybe that’s just how it seemed after a few pints of their hard stuff).
Good For: Feeling like you’re somewhere epic; babies; dogs; big groups; big groups of babies and dogs.
Thing to note: A huge cavernous space with giant metal fermentors on show, plus an outdoor space with tables perfectly sized for groups of six.
Beer: They had this one Idaho 7-hopped beer “Our Friend Idaho” which was amazing. The rest were also lovely and their “Yes!” is doing the rounds all over London pubs.
Vibez: Spend a good time here with an eclectic crowd, plenty of seating, and it is very kid/dog/drunk mate friendly.
Price: Affordable, slightly cheaper than The Earth Tap
Warmth: With such a large space and quite a few staff it was hard to tell if it was warm or more of a “seasonal staff” type setup. The staff are certainly professional and know their beer stuff. Not the place you’ll be propping up the bar discussing the beers with the brewers, though I’m told they’re often around.

The Great Northern Railway Tavern
Not officially in Wood Green, the final stop is a pleasant 10 minute walk down a small canalway from Goodness Brewing.
Good For: Solid pub food; shockingly large craft beer selection; spacious beer garden.
Things to Note: On the outside this looks like an old fashioned boozer, but step inside and…well, it still looks like an old fashioned boozer. What isn’t old fashioned is the beer selection, with some of the latest and best from the UK craft scene on an ever-rotating selection. Totally unexpected. There is also a large beer garden in the back.
Beer: 18 rotating taps and knowledgeable staff – you can’t go wrong.
Vibez: It still has the feel of an old fashioned pub, which is mostly a good thing.
Price: It doesn’t have the price of an old fashioned pub – a meal and a couple of craft pints in here will set you back around £30, though it’s worth it.
Warmth: It’s friendly, but it’s a pub with a varied degree of passion from staff, so you know the deal.

Bonus Stop: Small Beer
If you need a fifth stop (and a late night closer at that) you can venture another 15 minutes walk onward from TGNRT. You’ll end up in the heart of Crouch End, where Small Beer will be a perfect nightcap, open til 2am on weekends. A minimalist bar space keeps it simple with 10-12 taps of London craft, often with some hard to find seasonal brews. Be aware though – Dorothy ain’t in Wood Green anymore, and the prices reflect this.

Know another great independent brewery or dedicated craft beer location in/near Wood Green? Let me know and I’ll go there (once it’s open) and if it fits the bill I’ll add it here!