About The Starting Gate
Dark wood panels catch the afternoon light streaming through our Victorian windows, and suddenly your party has that perfect pub atmosphere everyone's after. We've been pouring pints at The Starting Gate since 1875, right where racegoers once gathered before heading to Alexandra Park Racecourse—locals still call it "The Frying Pan" sometimes. Our Grade II listed building sits just across from Alexandra Palace station, making it brilliantly easy for your guests to find us. Our main restaurant area transforms beautifully for parties. Those original Victorian features—the ornate ceiling cornices, the aged mirrors behind the bar—give your celebration proper character without feeling stuffy. We can arrange the space for standing drinks receptions or seated dinners, and our team knows exactly how to set things up for birthday parties, engagement celebrations, or those work dos that actually turn out to be fun. The courtyard beer garden comes into its own for summer parties, with fairy lights strung between the trees and plenty of room for mingling. We pride ourselves on our food and drink selection. Our kitchen turns out proper British classics alongside creative vegan and vegetarian dishes that genuinely taste great. Behind the bar, we stock carefully chosen craft beers, an impressive wine list our regulars rave about, and all the spirits needed for classic cocktails. Dogs are welcome too—we've seen plenty of four-legged party guests over the years. Wedding receptions work wonderfully here, especially smaller, more intimate celebrations. Business groups book our spaces for those meetings that need somewhere less corporate, and we handle everything from the AV setup to keeping the coffee flowing. Our building is fully wheelchair accessible, and we're happy to work around any specific requirements your event might have. Whether you're planning a relaxed Sunday afternoon gathering or a proper Friday night celebration, we know how to make it work.
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Event Spaces & Function Rooms
The Restaurant Area · From 24 to 100 people
£448 · £560 - £672 /day
Amenities
Ticketing event possible
Air conditioning
Wireless Internet Access
Accessibility
Projector/TV/Screen
Menu
Food And DrinkPrice
Location
Alexandra Palace · 0 minutes
Bowes Park · 12 minutes
Wood Green · 8 minutes
Opening hours
Monday:Midday - 11:00 pm
Tuesday:Midday - 11:00 pm
Wednesday:Midday - 11:00 pm
Thursday:Midday - 11:00 pm
Friday:Midday - 11:00 pm
Saturday:Midday - 11:00 pm
Sunday:Closed
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