Islington pubs
Upper Street is the archetypal area for the Daily Mail’s beloved ‘chattering classes’ who are apparently destroying Britain with their champagne socialism, trendy liberalism and hypocritical political correctness. In reality, what this translates into is a load of posh restaurants, some antique shops, dreadful bar/club type things and roaming packs of well-heeled students. The occasional decent pub threatens to give the area a good name.
| The Agricultural, Liverpool Road, Islington, N1 0RW |
|
Unremarkable but pleasant enough, parked on the corner near Sainsbury and Woolworths, and therefore a good enough excuse not to visit either. Hovering halfway between traditional pub and trendy bar (and managing to be neither), its very lack of definition appeals to a broad enough range of people to slowly fill up as the evening progresses, but not getting to the point of being too busy (at least on the Tuesday of visiting). Plenty of tables, nice bar staff, a few real ales and prices that were not too exorbitant considering the area. The occasional weird punter. Has a TV showing football, but the sound was off and no-one seemed to be paying attention anyway.
Reviewed by Fred Flange, Jan 2007
Nearby pubs: The Red Lion, 418 St John's Street (270 metres),
The Steam Passage, 44 Upper Street, Islington (180 metres),
The York, 82 Islington High Street (140 metres),
The Castle, 54 Pentonville Rd (200 metres),
Clockwork, 66-68 Pentonville Road (270 metres)
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (140 metres)
| The Castle, 54 Pentonville Rd, N1 9HF |
|
Fancy-dan bit of business for people who think they're much better than they are. Super-expensive and foreign-lager toting, with wobbly twigs and minimalist decor in order to persuade the clientele that they're actually either in Clapham or on Upper Street. The only plus point is the extensive roof terrace, with exclusive views over the architectural abomination that is Pentonville Road. It does, however, get rammed in summer as everyone attempts to catch skin cancer the fastest way possible. Head downhill for the many and varied pleasures of King's Cross instead.
Reviewed by Fred Flange, Oct 2006
Nearby pubs: The Red Lion, 418 St John's Street (180 metres),
The York, 82 Islington High Street (230 metres),
The Harlequin, 27 Arlington Way (270 metres),
Clockwork, 66-68 Pentonville Road (120 metres),
The Agricultural, Liverpool Road, Islington (200 metres)
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (210 metres)
| Clockwork, 66-68 Pentonville Road, N1 9HS |
|
Hideous attempt at cool lounge bar, appealing to Generation Loaded and all the funky young things from the nearby student halls. Comfy sofas, cocktails, half-decent range of beers are all ruined by a dreadful clientele and DJs who insist that the only decent music is that played at deafening volume (which is kind of like American comedy: you can tell when the funny bits are because the lines are shouted more loudly). Unexplored music venue upstairs. There are bouncers on the door; a move which should deter the sensible. Open til 2am Thurs/Fri/Sat.
Reviewed by Fred Flange, Oct 2006
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (320 metres)
| The Duke of Cambridge, 30 St Peters Street, N1 8JT |
|
Not reviewed yet.
Want to review it?
Telephone: 020 7359 3066
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (510 metres)
| The Florence, 50 Florence Street, N1 2DU |
|
Not reviewed yet.
Want to review it?
Nearest station: Essex Road, Zone 2 (390 metres)
| The Harlequin, 27 Arlington Way, EC1R 1UY |
|
Just off Rosebury Avenue lies a peaceful estate of mouldering white stucco buildings which roll gently down the hill towards Farringdon Road. It's a great area for wandering about, feeling constantly deserted and just a little shabby, much like a film-set from 'The Day of The Triffids' or an English version of 'The Omega Man'. Having spent much time idling about the area in a generally up-to-no-good manner, I was surprised to stumble across a pub I'd never seen before. A small, unimposing façade leads into a rather splendid interior, strictly traditional and not too fussy about providing consistent levels of light or much in the way of TV/Game amusement. Good selection of beers and decent staff make for a most hospitable boozer, more inclined towards a quiet night out talking than Bacchanalian liver-destroying excess. Open weekends.
Reviewed by Fred Flange, Jul 2005
Telephone: 020 7837 9035
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (320 metres)
| The Hope and Anchor, 207 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1RL |
|
At some point, the management took a rather shabby pub with a music venue underneath it, brought some designers in, fed them acid and reproduced the design plans to the letter. Leopardskin print, Dalmatian spots, Edwardian patterns plus the usual paint on tobacco effect (which is common to most pubs) are all thrown together to glorious effect. Particularly pleasant on a freezing night with sleet dropping by the bucket load outside. This can be a very noisy and expensive joint, with the idiots from Islington's extreme wealth and extreme poverty all congregating here, but is usually worth a look in on any day but Friday
Reviewed by Fred Flange
Telephone: 020 7354 1312
Nearest station: Highbury & Islington, Zone 2 (340 metres)
| The Island Queen, 87 Noel Rd, N1 8HD |
|
Islington on a Friday night can be something of a nightmare. Most pubs are standing room only and the people are, well, not my kind of people. So I was dubious about The Island Queen but fortunately it is far enough away from Upper Street not to be completely packed. It's down a quiet residential street (in fact you may think you've taken a wrong turning) and has an unpretentious atmosphere. It has a good selection of the kind of cloudy Belgian beers that you regret drinking in the morning, with a somewhat poorer selection of real ales. Other than that it is fairly unremarkable, but given this is Islington, this is actually quite remarkable.
Reviewed by Doogal Bell, Feb 2008
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (520 metres)
| The Kings Head, 115 Upper St, N1 1QN |
|
This is a great pub – one of the best in Islington. An amazing mix of people – relatively few suits, a comprehensive age range and a ‘cultural’ mix which is very typical of N1. It’s also a place with loads of character and history. The pub goes back to the 19th century and many of the original features from the Victorian era are still present, including working gas lamps.
They also still charge you for your pint in pre-decimal currency; the King's Head allegedly being one of the UK's last retail outlets using pounds, shillings and pence - and all of this on an original restored till. Eat your heart out Tesco.
There’s a good range of decent ales, well kept, including Adnam’s, Young’s, Tetley and Wadsworth 6X. If you are a wine buff, there’s just the house red, a decent Tempranillo and a Pinot Grigio house white, also perfectly drinkable. But if you want to see the wine list – forget it. There isn’t one. And while you are at it, don’t go there hungry – gastro it is not – indeed, they don’t do food other than as follows.
What they do do is theatre and live music. The theatre at the back of the pub was the brainchild of the late Dan Crawford. In fringe terms, it is famous, and many productions, have deservedly transferred to the West End. And, by the way, incongruously, for theatre patrons only, you can dine very well indeed on smoked salmon, roast lamb and so forth for just £16. Bizarre…
On the live music front, once the theatre finishes at around ten, the focus moves up front to the pub where every night there is something different – from rock to jazz to country to blues to cover bands – mostly good to very good, professional and usually on time.
And the staff? Generally polite & efficient and when it’s not heaving with the theatre and music crowds, very friendly a well.
Man and older man I’ve been drawn back there for more than twenty years. It’s that sort of place.
Reviewed by John Duncan, Oct 2006
Telephone: 020 7226 1916
Nearest station: Essex Road, Zone 2 (540 metres)
| The New Rose, 84-86 Essex Road, N1 8LU |
|
Not reviewed yet.
Want to review it?
Previously known as: Half Moon
Nearest station: Essex Road, Zone 2 (280 metres)
| The Red Lion, 418 St John's Street, EC1V 4NJ |
|
Apparently, this is a haunt of minor celebrity, partly due to being one of these pubs with a theatre in it. Although rather down-at-heel, this is an exceptionally convivial establishment that serves great beer. It also has a weird wooden screen and seating arrangement at the front. Not always open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Reviewed by Fred Flange
Telephone: 020 7833 3053
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (170 metres)
| The Steam Passage, 44 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0PN |
|
All looks normal upon entering this establishment. There is a low front lounge from which you can pleasantly watch the world go by, or watch the football, when it is on. However, pass through to the backroom and you enter a psychedelic sports bar nightmare from the 1980s. A canoe hangs from the ceiling, random battered brass instruments line the walls, a rank of televisions blare Transworld Sport into the gloom, bizarrely reflected by mirrors to create a second rank of televisions blazing the out the same scenes, only upside down. Foolhardy drinkers either sit gallantly pretending there is nothing abnormal in all this, or stagger back out again, ashen faced
Reviewed by Fred Flange
Telephone: 020 7226 5882
Nearby pubs: The Red Lion, 418 St John's Street (370 metres),
The York, 82 Islington High Street (190 metres),
The Kings Head, 115 Upper St (390 metres),
The Castle, 54 Pentonville Rd (370 metres),
The Agricultural, Liverpool Road, Islington (180 metres)
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (210 metres)
| The Wenlock Arms, 26 Wenlock Road, N1 7TA |
|
Tube strikes can do odd things to people. I'm sure I wasn't the first person to find himself disgorged onto hitherto unexplored streets by an over-burdoned bus network. The Wenlock Arms, tucked away in the quiet streets between City Road and the Regents Canal, has a reputation for serving fine ales. Finding myself in the neighbourhood, I decided to seek it out. I wasn't disappointed. A blackboard on the wall displays both regular and guest ales together with their alchohol content and price. On this visit names included "Golden Ale" and "Wolf in Sheeps Clothing". The choice of regular ales would eclipse the selections of guest ales in most ordinary pubs. However this is no ordinary pub. As you would expect, this place is a Mecca for stereotypical ale fans complete with their wild facial hair and nervous ticks. However the prospect of quaffing some of the finest beer in North London has attracted a surprisingly mixed crowd. Proof indeed of the increasing popularity of real ale. Notable examples were a group of Aussies who seemed intent on sampling every pint in the house, and a woman who was a dead ringer for Ossie Osbourne. The highlight of the visit was a long conversation with an american ex-pat who was a Vietnam War veteran and former porn director. It seems the owners of the Wenlock have found the Philosopher's Stone of the pub world. Just turn up, grab a pint of ale and soak up the unique atmosphere. Fantastic.
Reviewed by Paul Melton, July 2004
Telephone: 020 7608 3406
Nearest station: Old Street, Zone 1 (780 metres)
| The York, 82 Islington High Street, N1 8EQ |
|
A quintessentially British boozer on Islington High Street. As you enter you are immersed in a world of wooden floors and late Victorian décor that has apparently stood the test of time. Being managed by Nicholsons, the pub boasts a small selection of fine ales together with all the usual staple drinks. There is one discreet television set for silent sports viewing, although on our visit most people seemed to be ignoring the test match. The pub has a friendly atmosphere which is no surprise as the punters comprise a healthy mixture of young, old, couples and blokes. This pub is a must for any Upper Street pub crawl.
Reviewed by Paul Melton, June 2007
Telephone: 020 7713 1835
Nearest station: Angel, Zone 1 (20 metres)
All content © Random Pub Finder 2001-2008, website development by
Doogal
