Gemma R.

Review of Royal George

14 Apr 08, 15:26

A royal alternative

My heart used to sink into my boots when friends suggested meeting up in the centre of London, as it usually meant sitting in a noisy All Bar One wishing I was somewhere else. You know, somewhere cool. Then, happily, I discovered the Royal George. Squat and concrete, it doesn't look too promising but once you're inside it's a whole different story. The decor is pleasingly eclectic, with fairy lights and junkshop chairs and walls papered with old comic strips. There are some tasty beers on tap - I'd particularly recommend the Budvar Black - and they serve good food to soak up the booze. Downstairs is a tiki bar which can be hired for private parties - the last time I went there was a ukelele jam session going on down there, which sort of sums the place up really. So if the idea of going out drinking in the West End brings you out in hives, then the Royal George is definitely the place for you.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Landseer

14 Apr 08, 14:22

Make this place your new local (but go elsewhere for food)

This is a great pub to have on your doorstep. Lovely-looking and somehow combining airiness and cosiness in equal measure, The Landseer is the ideal place to meet friends for a convivial evening spent lounging on big squashy sofas with a bottle (or three) of good wine and a game of Trivial Pursuit. The food can be a bit hit-and-miss at times, though, to such an extent that I've stopped going there to eat (preferring the cheaper and far superior fare served up round the corner at North Nineteen). That said, as a place to hang out on a sunny summer evening The Landseer is hard to beat.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Crown

04 Apr 08, 12:12

A dying breed

This is the sort of North London Irish alehouse that is, sadly, on the endangered list. Make no mistake, this is a proper old man's pub - go elsewhere if you want trendy imported continental lagers or gastropub fat chips. A pint of beer and a packet of crisps is the order of the day here. And why not? Sometimes you just need a nice friendly place to pop into for a swift one (or three) while you watch the football. Be warned, though: the ladies' loos are always freezing cold, so wrap up warm if you're indending on using the facilities.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of North Nineteen

03 Apr 08, 11:00

Lovely new local

Tucked away on a quiet street off the Holloway Road, North Nineteen is a real find. The landlord is a very friendly chap who obviously cares about his pub, and this is reflected in every aspect of the place. There are some excellent ales on tap (including a lovely Timothy Taylor last time I went) and a well-chosen wine list. The food is great as well - a ribeye steak came bloody as hell, as per my request (finally, somewhere that knows rare should mean rare!), accompanied by fat chips and some delicious fried red onion rings. A pumpkin risotto was also terrific, creamy and oozing with flavour.

This is not just another gastropub, though. This is a place that bends over backwards to ensure that you have a good time. There is a real ale festival in April, and the promise of regular wine tasting sessions. There's a quiz on Monday nights, open mic sessions, poker nights, live music... oh, and free wifi too. With so much to offer, North Nineteen is definitely a welcome addition to Holloway's pub scene.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Quays

27 Mar 08, 13:38

Strange place, good grub

The Quays seems to suffer from multiple-personality disorder. Once you've got past the electric blue facade you find yourself in a traditional Irish boozer, complete with old men supping Guinness and Gaelic football on the telly. Then turn the corner and you're in a strange Gothic dungeon with chains everywhere. Go upstairs and there's a sleek, modern bar-cum-restaurant. Basically, the decor is what I imagine the inside of Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen's head looks like. Still, despite the hodge-podge interior, this is a nice pub (though it looks like it might get rowdy on Saturday nights). They do good comfort food too - the bacon and cabbage is a particularly good hangover cure.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Swimmer At The Grafton Arms

27 Mar 08, 12:48

Go on, dive in

This is a delightful little pub which is a real refuge from the chicken shops and grime of the Holloway Road. The food is particularly good - they do excellent chips, and my friend's burger was a thing of beauty. Definitely a pub to cherish.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.