The Florin (Archway), pool in Archway (N19)

Photo: CAMRA WhatPub

The Florin (Archway): Pool & Snooker in London

FreeWalk-in1 tableIrish pubPool league

563 Holloway Road, Archway, London · N19 4DQ · Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00; Su 12:00-01:00

The Florin (locally signed "The Floirin") is a classic Irish corner pub on Holloway Road in Archway, and there is a pool table sitting right in the middle of the room. It suits anyone who wants an unfussy local game over a pint rather than a slick games bar. The single most useful thing to know: it is a free-to-enter pub, so you walk in, buy a drink, and play. The building dates from around 1880 and is locally listed, with a square room, the bar facing you, carpet underfoot and comfy bench seating in bays near the front. It is a short walk from Upper Holloway Overground, and it is the home pub for a team in the Chalk Farm Pool League, so expect league nights and regulars who know the table well.

The pool setup

There is one pool table and it sits in the middle of the main room rather than tucked in a back corner, so games happen in the thick of the pub. It is a traditional carpeted corner boozer, not a dedicated games venue, so you get a single table to share with whoever else fancies a frame. The pub is a home venue in the Chalk Farm Pool League, which plays on Monday nights, so on league evenings the table will be in use for matches. If you just want a casual game, an off-peak afternoon or early evening is your safest bet for getting on it.

Good to know

This is a free-to-enter pub, so there is no door charge and no booking. You walk in, get a drink and wait your turn on the table, the usual winner-stays-on or coins-down etiquette. It is an Irish pub that shows sport on the TVs and sometimes has live music, so it can get busy and loud around big fixtures. There is no real ale and the kitchen does not do hot food, so come for drinks and pool rather than a meal. Opening runs late at the weekend, with Friday and Saturday going to 01:00.

Getting there

The pub is on the busy stretch of Holloway Road in Archway, N19 4DQ. The nearest station is Upper Holloway on the London Overground, which is only a couple of minutes on foot. Archway on the Northern line is also within easy walking distance, and plenty of buses run along Holloway Road. The building is a locally listed classical corner pub from around 1880, so it is an easy landmark to spot on the corner.

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Common questions

What is The Florin in Archway?
It is a classic Irish corner pub on Holloway Road in Archway (sometimes signed as The Floirin) with a single pool table in the middle of the main room. It dates from around 1880 and is a locally listed building.
Is The Florin free to get in?
Yes. It is a normal free-to-enter pub, so there is no door charge. You just buy a drink and play pool on the night.
Do you need to book a table or can you walk in?
Walk in. There is no booking; you wait your turn on the single table using the usual winner-stays-on or coins-down system.
How many pool tables does it have?
One pool table, set in the middle of the main room.
Does The Florin run pool league nights?
Yes. It is a home venue in the Chalk Farm Pool League, which plays on Monday nights, so the table will be tied up with matches on league evenings.
What is the nearest station to The Florin?
Upper Holloway Overground is about a two-minute walk away, and Archway on the Northern line is also within walking distance.

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