Drinkers in Highgate took part in a battle of the booze to see whether cider or wine paired best with a sumptuous pub banquet.

About 30 diners voted for the tipple they liked best with dishes served up at a five-course meal at The Bull in North Hill on Thursday.

Wine may be considered the more traditional restaurant drink of choice. But, with three votes to two, cider was crowned the best boozy pairing with food.

Pub manager Mitch Adams, who championed cider on the night, said: “It’s not about saying that cider is better than wine, it’s about expanding people’s ideas of what cider is.”