Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Holloway, London, United Kingdom

Big Red - Best chilli nachos - ever! by BiggseyMalone

BiggseyMalone — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:44:03 +0000

Review by BiggseyMalone

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7609 6662

Great rock pub, pretty dingy lighting and a great jukebox, lots of Bruce Springsteen, Led Zep, Pink Floyd etc.

We live in South West London, quite a long way away but always make the journey specifically for the chilli nachos - seriously unbeatable. Always end up staying far too late, spending copious amounts on both the pool table and jukebox but well worth it.

If I lived closer we would eat those nachos at least twice a week!Great rock pub, pretty dingy lighting and a great jukebox, lots of Bruce Springsteen, Led Zep, Pink Floyd etc.

We live in South West London, quite a long way away but always make the journey specifically for the chilli nachos - seriously unbeatable. Always end up staying far too late, spending copious amounts on both the pool table and jukebox but well worth it.

If I lived closer we would eat those nachos at least twice a week!

The Quays - Reasonable Irish Pub by kittylyst

kittylyst — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:38:50 +0000

Review by kittylyst

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7272 3634

Tags: live music, relaxed, food

This is an Irish boozer, largely serving the local Irish community. The staff and majority of customers were of Irish origin, Setanta was on the big TVs with the sound off, and the food and drink selection reflects the customer base - lots of different Irish whiskeys, lots of Scotch, some Irish ales.

Food (Steak and Guinness pie) was plentiful and arrived very quickly - it was not hugely stand-out but was perfectly pleasant and nicely filling.This is an Irish boozer, largely serving the local Irish community. The staff and majority of customers were of Irish origin, Setanta was on the big TVs with the sound off, and the food and drink selection reflects the customer base - lots of different Irish whiskeys, lots of Scotch, some Irish ales.

Food (Steak and Guinness pie) was plentiful and arrived very quickly - it was not hugely stand-out but was perfectly pleasant and nicely filling.

The Gaff - Goth Heaven by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:10:49 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7609 3063

Tags: goth

Absolutely amazing. With bar decor by artist Vince Ray, this is more like some rockers pad on MTV's Cribs and it's on the Holloway Road! Vince Ray is the underground legend who's designed most of the best Tattoo places in London and The Gaff pub is easily his most integrated yet. Forget Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst and con-ceptual art - this guy can actual draw, he's funny, ironic and politically incorrect. Ray is Britain's number one commercial artist and his style melds the best from vintage Psychotronic movies, Fetish & Kink(Ooh-la-la) and the world inhabited by Lux and Ivy of the Cramps. The Bar is lined with blood red Chesterfield seats. The walls painted black. Whaddya expect from a Goth Tavern and this self-styled purveyor of 21st century retro glam, goth, twisted humour and kinky stuff? Maturity & good taste - never! Hand made coffin shaped, stenciled Posters on the wall cover every possible fun movie sub genre from shock, schlock Sci-Fi, Blood Mania. Gore, Black Magic and kinky fun. There's even a shiny metal sign with a slick & quirky devil, as well as custom made mirrors with similar themes. The bar is dotted with hanging skeletons and skulls. Very nicely done, the whole bar has a sense of lightness and fun - no taint of heavyweight doom and gloom here. Unbelievable that a bar this well designed should be near the tangled and woolly Nags Head! Could become a place of pilgrimage for the dark-clothed ones.Absolutely amazing. With bar decor by artist Vince Ray, this is more like some rockers pad on MTV's Cribs and it's on the Holloway Road! Vince Ray is the underground legend who's designed most of the best Tattoo places in London and The Gaff pub is easily his most integrated yet. Forget Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst and con-ceptual art - this guy can actual draw, he's funny, ironic and politically incorrect. Ray is Britain's number one commercial artist and his style melds the best from vintage Psychotronic movies, Fetish & Kink(Ooh-la-la) and the world inhabited by Lux and Ivy of the Cramps. The Bar is lined with blood red Chesterfield seats. The walls painted black. Whaddya expect from a Goth Tavern and this self-styled purveyor of 21st century retro glam, goth, twisted humour and kinky stuff? Maturity & good taste - never! Hand made coffin shaped, stenciled Posters on the wall cover every possible fun movie sub genre from shock, schlock Sci-Fi, Blood Mania. Gore, Black Magic and kinky fun. There's even a shiny metal sign with a slick & quirky devil, as well as custom made mirrors with similar themes. The bar is dotted with hanging skeletons and skulls. Very nicely done, the whole bar has a sense of lightness and fun - no taint of heavyweight doom and gloom here. Unbelievable that a bar this well designed should be near the tangled and woolly Nags Head! Could become a place of pilgrimage for the dark-clothed ones.

The Bailey - Fine, except on Match Day by kittylyst

kittylyst — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:54:14 +0000

Review by kittylyst

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7700 1425

Tags: food, real ale, sport pub

The Bailey is a perfectly decent local boozer - couple of real ales on tap, adequate wines, and a decent atmosphere on a quiet week night. It can make for a very nice swift half on the way home from work.

On a match day, however, it becomes overwhelmingly stuffed and the ambience can become quite unsettling. Given its' location on the main road between Highbury station and Arsenal's ground, it is perhaps unsurprising that police vans are frequently stationed across the road from it, and that banter between home fans and passing groups of away supporters can become very unpleasant and occasionally spills over into actual scuffles.

One to avoid when there's football on, otherwise notable for the occasional glimpse of Boris Johnson passing the pub on his way home.The Bailey is a perfectly decent local boozer - couple of real ales on tap, adequate wines, and a decent atmosphere on a quiet week night. It can make for a very nice swift half on the way home from work.

On a match day, however, it becomes overwhelmingly stuffed and the ambience can become quite unsettling. Given its' location on the main road between Highbury station and Arsenal's ground, it is perhaps unsurprising that police vans are frequently stationed across the road from it, and that banter between home fans and passing groups of away supporters can become very unpleasant and occasionally spills over into actual scuffles.

One to avoid when there's football on, otherwise notable for the occasional glimpse of Boris Johnson passing the pub on his way home.

The Coronet - Cheap Pint and a chat in oddball boozer by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:44:05 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7609 5014

Website: http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Tags: food, standard pub food, smelly

Every area has a quiet really odd pub where the beer is the cheap. In Holloway the Coronet is that kind pub. Although its been slicked up and is enormous inside. It was a large old-style cinema. Now its has mutated in a David Lynch way - with his mixture of the mundane & would-be disconcerting. Inside there are lots of old movie paraphernalia. Projectors, posters, photos - an attempt to keep a veneer of its former old-style movie glamour. But quite frankly the place is a bit weird. Lots of old guys drink here - probably because the beers cheap - Â£1.70 a pint! With a screed of booths around the outside, no loud music and plenty of room you get a feeling of privacy. Good place if you need a recharge or want to sample live Lynchian action while you chat with your mates.Every area has a quiet really odd pub where the beer is the cheap. In Holloway the Coronet is that kind pub. Although its been slicked up and is enormous inside. It was a large old-style cinema. Now its has mutated in a David Lynch way - with his mixture of the mundane & would-be disconcerting. Inside there are lots of old movie paraphernalia. Projectors, posters, photos - an attempt to keep a veneer of its former old-style movie glamour. But quite frankly the place is a bit weird. Lots of old guys drink here - probably because the beers cheap - Â£1.70 a pint! With a screed of booths around the outside, no loud music and plenty of room you get a feeling of privacy. Good place if you need a recharge or want to sample live Lynchian action while you chat with your mates.

Duchess Of Kent - Smashing in the Summertime by kittylyst

kittylyst — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:39:39 +0000

Review by kittylyst

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7609 7104

Website: http://www.geronimo-inns.co.uk

Tags: food, different pub food, beer garden

This was for many years an old-school Arsenal pub, ie frequented by local family supporters on match days, but otherwise quiet.

Following several refits in quick succession, it has emerged as a gastropub with a superior, but astronomically priced, kitchen (veggies not well catered for) and quite an extensive wine list (which needs careful navigating to sniff out the few bargains from the host of overpriced bottles).

The rest of the drinks selection is excellent in scope, and is simply "expensive by London standards" rather than risible. The guest ales are well cared for and are rotated regularly.

This pub really comes into its' own in Summer, however. The location on the corner of Liverpool Road is roomy, and this makes for a good suntrap at the front, and a slightly shaded set of tables on Ellington Street - both of which are very pleasant on a hot day.

This was for many years an old-school Arsenal pub, ie frequented by local family supporters on match days, but otherwise quiet.

Following several refits in quick succession, it has emerged as a gastropub with a superior, but astronomically priced, kitchen (veggies not well catered for) and quite an extensive wine list (which needs careful navigating to sniff out the few bargains from the host of overpriced bottles).

The rest of the drinks selection is excellent in scope, and is simply "expensive by London standards" rather than risible. The guest ales are well cared for and are rotated regularly.

This pub really comes into its' own in Summer, however. The location on the corner of Liverpool Road is roomy, and this makes for a good suntrap at the front, and a slightly shaded set of tables on Ellington Street - both of which are very pleasant on a hot day.

The Holloway - by kittylyst

kittylyst — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:13:29 +0000

Review by kittylyst

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7607 5364

Very much a local's pub - sport shown, very restricted choice of drinks, pub-circuit duos quite often.

Not somewhere I'd go on a weekend night - it always seems a bit lairy walking past, but during the week it can be quite nice when quiet - both staff and customers surprisingly friendly at lunchtime.Very much a local's pub - sport shown, very restricted choice of drinks, pub-circuit duos quite often.

Not somewhere I'd go on a weekend night - it always seems a bit lairy walking past, but during the week it can be quite nice when quiet - both staff and customers surprisingly friendly at lunchtime.

The Landseer - OK I Suppose by kittylyst

kittylyst — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:55:43 +0000

Review by kittylyst

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7263 4658

Website: http://thelandseer.com/

Tags: relaxed, friendly, trendy

Not really sure what all the fuss is about, personally.

A fairly bland "gastro" (although the food, while passable, is not really of a standard to deserve the tag) pub.

Selection of drinks is what you'd expect for a pub in its bracket - ie a couple of bog standard real ales, more emphasis paid to the "premium" lagers.

Staff are overly laidback, to the point of approaching rude in some cases, and I've experienced a "too cool for school attitude" from both customers and staff more than once.Not really sure what all the fuss is about, personally.

A fairly bland "gastro" (although the food, while passable, is not really of a standard to deserve the tag) pub.

Selection of drinks is what you'd expect for a pub in its bracket - ie a couple of bog standard real ales, more emphasis paid to the "premium" lagers.

Staff are overly laidback, to the point of approaching rude in some cases, and I've experienced a "too cool for school attitude" from both customers and staff more than once.

Holloway Castle - refurbish by gino

gino — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:10:14 +0000

Review by gino

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7609 1600

Tags: jazz, live music, cool

i used to go to this pub and it was a big surprise when i entered again because it is under new ownership and it went from a relatively poor condition to a more sophisticated and upmarket place. They have done the gardens and the interior, they also have two big plasma tvs with a mainstage which contains an overhead projector and is commonly used for social events. and soon it will contain an italian restaurant.
it's well worth paying a visits, i give it high regards.
8/10i used to go to this pub and it was a big surprise when i entered again because it is under new ownership and it went from a relatively poor condition to a more sophisticated and upmarket place. They have done the gardens and the interior, they also have two big plasma tvs with a mainstage which contains an overhead projector and is commonly used for social events. and soon it will contain an italian restaurant.
it's well worth paying a visits, i give it high regards.
8/10

Nambucca - by thamshere

thamshere — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:12:38 +0000

Review by thamshere

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7272 7366

Tags: live music, bar, pub

Nice, big pub with a lot of space. Good for bands. Gets very lively at the weekend. Drinks are slightly above average prices for the area and it can be too noisy.Nice, big pub with a lot of space. Good for bands. Gets very lively at the weekend. Drinks are slightly above average prices for the area and it can be too noisy.