A historic drinking establishment in Muswell Hill has secured a prestigious title recognising its appeal to families.
The Clissold Arms, located on Fortis Green Road, was honoured as London’s premier family-friendly pub at the Great British Pub Awards held in Leeds.
This recognition follows another accolade the venue received earlier this year, having been crowned London’s best community pub in 2025.
The establishment, which traces its origins to 1850, has cultivated a reputation for fostering community connections through an extensive programme of events designed to appeal to all ages.
These activities encompass seasonal celebrations for children during Christmas, Halloween, and Easter, alongside the provision of three private function rooms available for family gatherings and school fundraising initiatives.
As a gastropub serving Mediterranean cuisine, the venue accommodates families with facilities including buggy storage, baby-changing amenities, high chairs, and bespoke colouring materials for younger visitors.
A programme of complimentary arts and crafts sessions takes place fortnightly, while a recently introduced Family Swap Shop enables children to exchange pre-loved books and toys.
The Clissold Arms also demonstrates commitment to broader community causes by hosting events that raise awareness for health matters and providing venue support for charitable activities, including the Chris Harmanda Foundation Christmas Blue Jean Bash, which features a seated dinner accompanied by live musical entertainment.
A diverse entertainment schedule includes quiz evenings, comedy performances, jazz nights, literary events, wine tasting sessions, artistic workshops, and gatherings for board game enthusiasts and choir members.
Recent activities featured a George Michael tribute performance on 30 September, Greek folk music presented by The Amalgama ensemble on 9 October, and an autumn wine tasting on 14 October.
The venue holds particular significance in music history as the location where the legendary 1960s rock ensemble The Kinks performed for the first time.
Brothers Ray and Dave Davies, who would go on to achieve international fame with the band, resided at Denmark Terrace directly opposite the establishment, where their father was a regular customer.
When the siblings sought a venue for their inaugural live performance, the location proved a natural choice.
In 2006, the Campaign for Real Ale recognised the establishment’s place in rock-and-roll heritage by awarding it a Pubs in Time commemorative plaque.
A dedicated space within the venue, known as the Kinks Room, houses an collection of band memorabilia comprising photographs, signed vinyl records, and artefacts documenting the group’s early career.
Following the announcement of the family pub award, celebrations at the establishment featured entertainment for children, professional face painting artistry, a disc jockey, complimentary champagne, and homemade desserts for guests.