Tom Helliwell has been landlord of The Woodman in Archway Road since 2007 and every year makes sure that the pub is decked out with hanging baskets.
In recent years the father-of-two has launched a seafood hut in the 300-seat outdoor space selling scallops, crab, oysters and lobster at weekends.
The hut is set to reopen on April 4 and Tom says it has been a hit.
“We started it a few years ago on Saturdays and Sundays and it’s really popular.
“It’s high quality food – rather than being frozen and reheated. If you wanted to enjoy seafood like it you would have to go to somewhere like J Sheekey in the West End, but here you can get it in Highgate from the same people they get it from.”
The pub is close to spots like Queens Wood and Highgate Wood and draws in hungry walkers for a meal and a pint.
Tom adds: “The garden is open year round – we have a covered terrace and some of it is heated but when it’s nine degrees out there it’s going to get a bit chilly.
“It’s the biggest in this part of north London, you have the Edinboro’ Castle in Camden and the Freemasons in Hampstead but the next one is probably The Woodman.
“We are really well supported by the local community and by visitors who come from further away – I think we’re known for the quality of our food at reasonable prices – and the table service, inside and out.”
When he bought the lease on The Woodman 19 years ago he had already run pubs in Euston and Wandsworth.
He says: “It was a pub of n’er do wells. It was challenging but we took it over and have changed it over the years into a traditional pub that’s a nice place to meet up with family and friends.”
That included adding decking out back, which was later covered over.
But he says that the pub’s secret weapon is chef O’Neil Smith who previously worked at celebrity hangout The Ivy for 11 years.
Tom thinks it makes shepherd’s pie “probably better than they do because ours is just made in small batches upstairs”.
He also praises O’Neil’s beef wellington as “to die for – one of the best I’ve ever had”.
Today, while takings are up around 15 per cent on last year, Tom says costs are also rising.
Even dogs have a special menu at the pub which dates back to 1810 as a stop and stabling for mail coaches heading north out of London.
The current building is early 20th century in arts and crafts style on around the same foundations of the original pub.
