Hidden round the back of Alexandra Palace, is a little tease to the weary travelers that pour out of the train to head home. A gem of a pub, with its original Victorian interior and cosy seating areas, complete with melt-into-sofas, The Gate mixes all the trimmings of a charming old drinking hole with chilled out dance beats, sport on a weekend and a great menu of delicious, freshly made stone baked pizza.

However, for me it’s the brilliant ‘art gallery’ that adds that extra special something to this lovely local hub. The walls are always adorned with work by local artists; from abstract paintings and black and white street photography to portraiture and quirky pop-art. The selection is always varied and changes every month. The best bit for artists like me is that it’s totally free to exhibit with no commission taken from sales.

I heartily recommended grabbing a table on a Saturday afternoon and enjoying their tomato pizza bread to tear and share amongst friends followed by a tasty romana pizza and gorgeous chocolate brownie! On the way home stop to enjoy the incredible views of the city from Alexandra Palace Bridge. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of one of the breath taking sunsets too.

Photo courtesy of Ewan-M on Flickr