Home > London > N22 > The Nightingale The Nightingale

The Nightingale was situated at 349 High Road. This pub was closed and demolished in 2004.

Source: Colin Price

I lived with my parents at a flat in 327 High Road from late 1940’s to middle 1950’s. my mother had a Ladies hairdressers in the high road - Barnes. The landlady from The Nightingale had her hair done by my mother and I was friends with her daughter. I had my first taste of banana at one of the daughters birthday party. Each Child has 1 1/4 sandwich put on their plate. Underneath our flat (corner of Commerce Road & High Road, were 2 sisters who made artificial flowers and beneath that was an aquarium shop and next to it was Ormes the greengrocers. I also remember Mrs Knight and her sweet shop- she had a white cockatoo and a piano which I was allowed to play. There was then a bomb site, which as children we lived to explore, then my mothers hairdressers with barbers next to it and next to that Stephens the butcher whose daughter Peggy I also played with. Further along was another pub where I used to go for ballet & tap lessons! In later years, after we had moved away, I would go Wood Green Jazz Club there. There was also a pub on the opposite side of the high road, the landlady there also a client of my mothers. She used to make amazing flans and bartering would happen. Happy childhood memories.

S Y Halifax (April 2021)

Built in the mid-nineteenth century on the edge of Wood Green's first suburban development, the tavern-hotel's grounds and facilities were used to host an active calendar of entertainments, civic and musical events. By the beginning of the twentieth century, its importance in Wood Green seemed to be endorsed when it became a tram terminus. After a short period of notoriety as one of Haringey's mid-twentieth century pub rock venues, the establishment ended its life rather ignominiously as an ugly truncated single storey somewhat down-at-heel north London local, finally being demolished in the opening years of this century. No matter how ignoble its demise, however, the ingredients that go to make up its 140-year life bear some scrutiny for what they reveal about the story of Wood Green and the light they cast on the area's social history. More here.

Hugh Flouch (February 2025)

Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here. Like this site? Follow us on You can also make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.