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

The Albion - Still Worth A Visit by kittylyst

kittylyst — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:08:46 +0000

Review by kittylyst

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7607 7450

The current owners came in a couple of years ago with a fairly explicit agenda to increase turnover, which they presumably did - certainly the comfortable decor, and lovely, rambling, characterful garden were the first things to go.

Despite the pub not being what it was, and the attempts to turn the superb (and unique) garden into a clone of every other beer garden in London, the Albion is still worth a visit in the summer.

The location means that the garden remains quiet and still even at the height of summer (despite being located in the middle of N1) and the pub remains the closest thing one can find to a country pub (albeit a rather generic one nowadays) without leaving Zone 1.

Standard real ales on tap, slightly above average wine list, passable food.The current owners came in a couple of years ago with a fairly explicit agenda to increase turnover, which they presumably did - certainly the comfortable decor, and lovely, rambling, characterful garden were the first things to go.

Despite the pub not being what it was, and the attempts to turn the superb (and unique) garden into a clone of every other beer garden in London, the Albion is still worth a visit in the summer.

The location means that the garden remains quiet and still even at the height of summer (despite being located in the middle of N1) and the pub remains the closest thing one can find to a country pub (albeit a rather generic one nowadays) without leaving Zone 1.

Standard real ales on tap, slightly above average wine list, passable food.

The Angelic - by brenna

brenna — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:03:07 +0000

Review by brenna

Rating: 4.00Cosy pub with a nice atmosphere, but often too busy. Get there early or reserve a table if you want a seat. Food is pretty good too - they do tapas and roasts on sundays! All in all a nice pub away from Upper Street but still in a good location.Cosy pub with a nice atmosphere, but often too busy. Get there early or reserve a table if you want a seat. Food is pretty good too - they do tapas and roasts on sundays! All in all a nice pub away from Upper Street but still in a good location.

Hemingford Arms - A little gem by brenna

brenna — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:00:33 +0000

Review by brenna

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7607 3303

Website: http://www.capitalpubcompany.com

Tags: excellent pub food, live music, relaxed

A great friendly pub, full of old relics and vintage bits and bobs hung from the ceiling, on the window ledges....everywhere! Chairs appear to be old church pews - very mismatched but which adds to the chaos of this absolute little gem!

Friendly staff, great thai food and lots of picnic tables outside which i imagine would be packed in the summer!A great friendly pub, full of old relics and vintage bits and bobs hung from the ceiling, on the window ledges....everywhere! Chairs appear to be old church pews - very mismatched but which adds to the chaos of this absolute little gem!

Friendly staff, great thai food and lots of picnic tables outside which i imagine would be packed in the summer!

Old Red Lion Theatre - A proper pub by vich

vich — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:24:58 +0000

Review by vich

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7837 7816

Tags: relaxed, friendly, food

This is a dangerous pub....but dangerous in the best possible way. It is practically impossible to stay for only one drink as the eclectic mix of people and excellent atmosphere will keep you there much longer than intended - especially at the weekend when they are open til 1am.
The staff are friendly, efficient and knowledgable and the music is always good.
Occasional DJ nights and events in the pub and an award winning fringe theatre venue upstairs means there is always a different mix of people to entertain you.
There is also an excellent range of lagers and ales along with ciders and wines - you are spoilt for choice really.

And no review of the Old Red is complete without mentioning the best pub dog ever - Rolo the boxer, who features prominently on the pub sign.This is a dangerous pub....but dangerous in the best possible way. It is practically impossible to stay for only one drink as the eclectic mix of people and excellent atmosphere will keep you there much longer than intended - especially at the weekend when they are open til 1am.
The staff are friendly, efficient and knowledgable and the music is always good.
Occasional DJ nights and events in the pub and an award winning fringe theatre venue upstairs means there is always a different mix of people to entertain you.
There is also an excellent range of lagers and ales along with ciders and wines - you are spoilt for choice really.

And no review of the Old Red is complete without mentioning the best pub dog ever - Rolo the boxer, who features prominently on the pub sign.

The Peasant - Tough as the Queen's old boots by up_shiraz

up_shiraz — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:06:36 +0000

Review by up_shiraz

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7336 7726

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

Tags: gastro pub, jazz, young professionals

It might have had something to do with the long walk, or the pouring rain, but when we walked into the peasant it was with some trepidation. It's quite a big space downstairs but it doesn't seem to be configured to hold that many people, with an enormous space taken up by the bar. The decor is pretty cool and the British Beer Festival that was on was a real beer drinker's delight. If the mark was for the pub alone it would have been a higher star rating.

We headed upstairs for a birthday dinner and the room was nice. The staff were a bit fussy and as it was so quiet (on a Saturday night), they kept trying to take away unfinished drinks etc. They were friendly enough but not inspiring.

Unfortunately it all fell apart with the food. The menu is really very attractive, with very posh sounding gastro pub dishes. Prices seemed to be that London gastro staple - Â£6-8 starters and Â£13-16 mains. The donwside of an exciting menu is that if the food doesn't match it, you have a massive case of over-promising and under-delivering. Now i don't want to see that unless it's means that the annoying girl/guy is being fired by Sir Alan.

Wood pidgeon cassoulet was just a a bit of a cheat. The beans were tasty and the wood pigeon tender, but it wasn't confit'd...so it wasn't really a cassoulet. Don't call it a cassoulet then! The young lady's oxtail was meltingly good. Others had oysters and such like and seemed happy enough.

The wheels came off with the mains. Braised beef brisket was a massive hunk of dry beef without enough juice, fat or sauce to keep the jawbones interested. The birthday girl's Balmoral venison was so tough that it all got left behind. This came from the Queeen's deer, people! I mean...Libby...what happened there? Did you hang the beast at all? Did Phillip do the butchering himself? I'll stop there...before I incriminate myself any further.

So all round not good enough. But the upshot is I get to give my first 2 star review. I've eaten so much good food recently that I was worried it would never happen and you'd start thinking i was a bit soft. Well, I am a tough cookie after all...grrrr...It might have had something to do with the long walk, or the pouring rain, but when we walked into the peasant it was with some trepidation. It's quite a big space downstairs but it doesn't seem to be configured to hold that many people, with an enormous space taken up by the bar. The decor is pretty cool and the British Beer Festival that was on was a real beer drinker's delight. If the mark was for the pub alone it would have been a higher star rating.

We headed upstairs for a birthday dinner and the room was nice. The staff were a bit fussy and as it was so quiet (on a Saturday night), they kept trying to take away unfinished drinks etc. They were friendly enough but not inspiring.

Unfortunately it all fell apart with the food. The menu is really very attractive, with very posh sounding gastro pub dishes. Prices seemed to be that London gastro staple - Â£6-8 starters and Â£13-16 mains. The donwside of an exciting menu is that if the food doesn't match it, you have a massive case of over-promising and under-delivering. Now i don't want to see that unless it's means that the annoying girl/guy is being fired by Sir Alan.

Wood pidgeon cassoulet was just a a bit of a cheat. The beans were tasty and the wood pigeon tender, but it wasn't confit'd...so it wasn't really a cassoulet. Don't call it a cassoulet then! The young lady's oxtail was meltingly good. Others had oysters and such like and seemed happy enough.

The wheels came off with the mains. Braised beef brisket was a massive hunk of dry beef without enough juice, fat or sauce to keep the jawbones interested. The birthday girl's Balmoral venison was so tough that it all got left behind. This came from the Queeen's deer, people! I mean...Libby...what happened there? Did you hang the beast at all? Did Phillip do the butchering himself? I'll stop there...before I incriminate myself any further.

So all round not good enough. But the upshot is I get to give my first 2 star review. I've eaten so much good food recently that I was worried it would never happen and you'd start thinking i was a bit soft. Well, I am a tough cookie after all...grrrr...

Bluu - Breath of fresh air.. by CristinaA

CristinaA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:16:04 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7613 2793

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

Tags: jazz, food, cool

What a breath of fresh air.

Hoxton can have some pretty nice bars and some horrible ones too. This is one of the nicest, the staff at Bluu made me feel welcome; there were no pretentious attitude and the food was excellent, good and wholesome.

Itâ¬"s becoming very difficult to find a warm and welcoming bar in Hoxton, but this one fits the bill.

What a breath of fresh air.

Hoxton can have some pretty nice bars and some horrible ones too. This is one of the nicest, the staff at Bluu made me feel welcome; there were no pretentious attitude and the food was excellent, good and wholesome.

Itâ¬"s becoming very difficult to find a warm and welcoming bar in Hoxton, but this one fits the bill.

Trafik - Don't like it... by CristinaA

CristinaA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:09:58 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7613 0234

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

Tags: cool, food, bar

There's nothing that appeals to me about this place. I don't like it insidde, I don't like the music and I don't like the cocktails.

I'm a regular in Shoreditch and there are so many better places to go to than here.There's nothing that appeals to me about this place. I don't like it insidde, I don't like the music and I don't like the cocktails.

I'm a regular in Shoreditch and there are so many better places to go to than here.

Cocomo - Not my kind of place by CristinaA

CristinaA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:52:42 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7613 0315

Tags: cosy, food, relaxed

I'd be lying if I said it was a good bar.

The cocktails aren't very good and way too expensive for what they are. I actually like bars that don't hide the fact that they're not offering luxury and are a bit un-kept. But this place is just grimy, in a bad way. Plus the staff are rude!

I'd be lying if I said it was a good bar.

The cocktails aren't very good and way too expensive for what they are. I actually like bars that don't hide the fact that they're not offering luxury and are a bit un-kept. But this place is just grimy, in a bad way. Plus the staff are rude!

The Nelson's Retreat - Grubby and dated by CristinaA

CristinaA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:47:05 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7684 7420

Tags: food, international, pool

I really dislike pubs that thinhk traditional means dirty and unkept.

The landlady behind the bar seems to be unhelpful just to wind you up and the selection of beers and spirits is limited.

For goodness sake get with the times.

I really dislike pubs that thinhk traditional means dirty and unkept.

The landlady behind the bar seems to be unhelpful just to wind you up and the selection of beers and spirits is limited.

For goodness sake get with the times.

The Old Queen's Head - This Pub's Great!!! by Barry_Heat

Barry_Heat — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:14:14 +0000

Review by Barry_Heat

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7354 9993

Tags: live music, friendly, house

This place is a right gem. I go there at least once a month on weekend nights. They always seem to have big name dj's playing and the is vibe is awesome. If you're looking for a good party in Angel I strongly recommend it. I've had a cracking roast there and seen good bands and comedy in their function room on the odd Sunday too.

Recommended!!!This place is a right gem. I go there at least once a month on weekend nights. They always seem to have big name dj's playing and the is vibe is awesome. If you're looking for a good party in Angel I strongly recommend it. I've had a cracking roast there and seen good bands and comedy in their function room on the odd Sunday too.

Recommended!!!

Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen - by queenie1

queenie1 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:54:22 +0000

Review by queenie1

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7613 0709

Tags: food, comfy, trendy

I stayed in the Hoxton hotel and saw something i had never seen before: a restaurant and bar within a hotel which were actually popular! I stayed on a Saturday night and this place was more packed than most of the local bars! The food is supposed to be excellent, I did not eat here however. The drinks were bog standard London prices. There was a heavy door presence, most likely because of the hotel guests coming in and out. This seems to be a cool place to go in this area. Full of trendies and the rich student type you so often find in London it wouldnt be hard to feel you were sticking out like a sore thumb if you had just tramped down from your hotel room for something from the reception shop though!I stayed in the Hoxton hotel and saw something i had never seen before: a restaurant and bar within a hotel which were actually popular! I stayed on a Saturday night and this place was more packed than most of the local bars! The food is supposed to be excellent, I did not eat here however. The drinks were bog standard London prices. There was a heavy door presence, most likely because of the hotel guests coming in and out. This seems to be a cool place to go in this area. Full of trendies and the rich student type you so often find in London it wouldnt be hard to feel you were sticking out like a sore thumb if you had just tramped down from your hotel room for something from the reception shop though!

Duke of Cambridge - The "Fresh and Wild" of gastropubs by chrisp

chrisp — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:55:55 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7359 3066

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

Tags: gastro pub, independent pub, expensive

If there can be any such thing as a "pariah gastropub", then it's the Duke of Cambridge in Islington. Opened as the UK's first 100% organic gastropub in 1998 it remains a solid, dependable place for a bite to eat but for some reason has in recent years attracted the kind of vitriolic backlash from foodies normally reserved for Â£95 burgers or when Delia "goes cheat". Part of the reason could be that while other food pubs in the capital have matured into rustic French restaurants or gone all "St. John" and started serving spleen and chitterlings, the menu at the Duke has remained steadfastly gastropub-traditional and is aimed squarely at wealthy Islington locals - think Feta Salad, mushroom risotto, Italian sausages - safe, comfortable and familiar. Not that there's anything wrong with that in itself, but the problem with limiting yourself to all organic ingredients is that you suddenly find you have to charge Â£15 for rabbit stew to make the numbers work.

It was a perfectly good rabbit stew - good deep flavours and a nice variety of herbs and veg, if very slightly overcooked rabbit meat and a bit tricky to dissect from the many tiny bones - but all the while there's that nagging knowledge that rabbit is vermin, and a very very cheap meat, and charging Â£15 for a stew that basically involves chucking the carcass in a big pot with some bay leaves and veg and boiling it for an hour is, well, a bit cheeky.If there can be any such thing as a "pariah gastropub", then it's the Duke of Cambridge in Islington. Opened as the UK's first 100% organic gastropub in 1998 it remains a solid, dependable place for a bite to eat but for some reason has in recent years attracted the kind of vitriolic backlash from foodies normally reserved for Â£95 burgers or when Delia "goes cheat". Part of the reason could be that while other food pubs in the capital have matured into rustic French restaurants or gone all "St. John" and started serving spleen and chitterlings, the menu at the Duke has remained steadfastly gastropub-traditional and is aimed squarely at wealthy Islington locals - think Feta Salad, mushroom risotto, Italian sausages - safe, comfortable and familiar. Not that there's anything wrong with that in itself, but the problem with limiting yourself to all organic ingredients is that you suddenly find you have to charge Â£15 for rabbit stew to make the numbers work.

It was a perfectly good rabbit stew - good deep flavours and a nice variety of herbs and veg, if very slightly overcooked rabbit meat and a bit tricky to dissect from the many tiny bones - but all the while there's that nagging knowledge that rabbit is vermin, and a very very cheap meat, and charging Â£15 for a stew that basically involves chucking the carcass in a big pot with some bay leaves and veg and boiling it for an hour is, well, a bit cheeky.

Clockwork - Eclectic setting by ben1982

ben1982 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:54:31 +0000

Review by ben1982

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7837 5387

Tags: bar, pizza, dj

A good fun bar to spend a friday night, there is a wide ranging decor swinging from film memorabilia to seventies splashes of colour. An expansive bar serves a good choice of drinks and regular gigs on the first floor mean you can stumble upstairs and catch some bands later in the eveningA good fun bar to spend a friday night, there is a wide ranging decor swinging from film memorabilia to seventies splashes of colour. An expansive bar serves a good choice of drinks and regular gigs on the first floor mean you can stumble upstairs and catch some bands later in the evening

Dalston Jazz Bar - Steamy late night action by ben1982

ben1982 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:33:20 +0000

Review by ben1982

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7254 9728

Tags: live music, dj, food

The first thing you often see are the steamed up windows as you turn the corner to the dalston jazz bar. Free entry and a late close ensures that this tiny bar is always full to bursting, and although drinks are very pricey, it is a great late night option, although don't go expecting to hear much in the way of jazz - it tends to play a huge variety of stuff, all of which is great to swing limbs to as the rum takes its inevitable effect.The first thing you often see are the steamed up windows as you turn the corner to the dalston jazz bar. Free entry and a late close ensures that this tiny bar is always full to bursting, and although drinks are very pricey, it is a great late night option, although don't go expecting to hear much in the way of jazz - it tends to play a huge variety of stuff, all of which is great to swing limbs to as the rum takes its inevitable effect.

The Nobody Inn - by larakiara

larakiara — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:42:15 +0000

Review by larakiara

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7249 6430

Tags: food, traditional english

Fun bingo pub quizzes on a Sunday, TV's for the footy, friendly bar staff and a nice decor. The only one downside is that it does live up to its name- the majority of the time there's nobody in there!Fun bingo pub quizzes on a Sunday, TV's for the footy, friendly bar staff and a nice decor. The only one downside is that it does live up to its name- the majority of the time there's nobody in there!

Barrio North - Indoor Street Party! by VickieMac

VickieMac — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:54:02 +0000

Review by VickieMac

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7688 2882

Website: http://www.barrionorth.com

Tags: cool, friendly, trendy

I LOVE this place!! The music is totally street party perfect - sort of a fab mix of samba, salsa, pop and house.

The staff are friendly and welcoming and always smile to say hello. It seems to me they actually enjoy their jobs. This also means there's no pushing and shoving at the bar because the big oaf beside you thinks the bartender hasn't noticed them standing there becuase they don't make eye contact. They DO make eye contact and they SMILE!!

The drinks are also FANTASTIC!! They make a mean Manhattan and their Mojito's are super tasty! No water and sugar flavoured cocktails here.

This is practically my new local.I LOVE this place!! The music is totally street party perfect - sort of a fab mix of samba, salsa, pop and house.

The staff are friendly and welcoming and always smile to say hello. It seems to me they actually enjoy their jobs. This also means there's no pushing and shoving at the bar because the big oaf beside you thinks the bartender hasn't noticed them standing there becuase they don't make eye contact. They DO make eye contact and they SMILE!!

The drinks are also FANTASTIC!! They make a mean Manhattan and their Mojito's are super tasty! No water and sugar flavoured cocktails here.

This is practically my new local.

Cafe Kick - Back of the net by ben1982

ben1982 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:44:49 +0000

Review by ben1982

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7837 8077

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

Tags: friendly, relaxed, young and fun

Small and invariably overcrowded after work, this portuguese bar has an edge over many other local bars through the release of office stress possible through thrashing colleagues in table football. This plus cheap continental bottled beer during happy hours makes for an enjoyably rowdy atmosphere.Small and invariably overcrowded after work, this portuguese bar has an edge over many other local bars through the release of office stress possible through thrashing colleagues in table football. This plus cheap continental bottled beer during happy hours makes for an enjoyably rowdy atmosphere.

The Marquess Tavern - by joslyoung

joslyoung — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:41:23 +0000

Review by joslyoung

Rating: 0.00

Phone: 020 7354 2975

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

Tags: gastro pub, relaxed, food

Yet another review I wrote that the site deleted instead of saving. Grrr. Anyway the much shorter version of what I was saying about this pub is: why the hell doesn't it open on a Saturday lunchtime?! They must be losing a fortune in potential business, while every other pub and restaurant on Upper St and Essex Road makes a weekend killing. It's their loss I suppose, but it seems a shame. I've eaten dinner here a couple of times and would love to pop by for lunch, but twice now I've tried to visit at the weekend and found it closed (with members of staff sitting around outside smoking fags. S'funny, they're THERE, they're just not working!). The food's good, the prices are toppy but not hideous, and apart from the hideously loud acoustics in the dining room, I couldn't fault anything else about the place. Like the other reviewer, I really would love to love it - they've got good food and outside tables, I've got an appetite and a dog. I just want them to make me lunch at the weekend, damn it!Yet another review I wrote that the site deleted instead of saving. Grrr. Anyway the much shorter version of what I was saying about this pub is: why the hell doesn't it open on a Saturday lunchtime?! They must be losing a fortune in potential business, while every other pub and restaurant on Upper St and Essex Road makes a weekend killing. It's their loss I suppose, but it seems a shame. I've eaten dinner here a couple of times and would love to pop by for lunch, but twice now I've tried to visit at the weekend and found it closed (with members of staff sitting around outside smoking fags. S'funny, they're THERE, they're just not working!). The food's good, the prices are toppy but not hideous, and apart from the hideously loud acoustics in the dining room, I couldn't fault anything else about the place. Like the other reviewer, I really would love to love it - they've got good food and outside tables, I've got an appetite and a dog. I just want them to make me lunch at the weekend, damn it!

The Living Room - Try the edinburgh branch by tapdancingcat

tapdancingcat — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:37:36 +0000

Review by tapdancingcat

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 0870 442 2712

Website: http://www.thelivingroom.uk.com

Tags: bar, smoking, lunch

Having found this cahn in edinurgh an d loving i i thought i'd like this one, but found it disappointingHaving found this cahn in edinurgh an d loving i i thought i'd like this one, but found it disappointing

The House - by k_thrn

k_thrn — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:56:51 +0000

Review by k_thrn

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7704 7410

Website: http://www.inthehouse.biz

Tags: bar, terrace, breakfast

The House now do breakfast - Everything from big ass fry up to light salmon and scramblies! The bread basket is reasonably priced and would be enough for two people with normal size appetites. (We had the fry up as well and were pleasantly plump for the rest of the day) Pain o' chocolate and croissants were made fresh by their pastry chef at The Bull and were delicious!The House now do breakfast - Everything from big ass fry up to light salmon and scramblies! The bread basket is reasonably priced and would be enough for two people with normal size appetites. (We had the fry up as well and were pleasantly plump for the rest of the day) Pain o' chocolate and croissants were made fresh by their pastry chef at The Bull and were delicious!