please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The old 'Tap' is now fully open as the Pig and Butcher.
It's one of those 'gastro-ish' places with a seperate dining area and an open kitchen. There are three handpumps, but only one working on my visit, so just the ubiquitous Doombar. I was told that Wandle and Bath are cellared. I rather like the place; it's not so full of the 'Gilded Youth' crowd found on Upper Street, and most importantly, they have a cellarman who knows his beer.
(Cellar at 11 degrees, I was told, with jacketed beer-lines)
Any football afficionados who used the old pub en route to Arsenal are in for a shock when they see what's become of the 'Tap' ! No rating yet, let's see some more beers on first.
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This pub is currrently undergoing a refurbishment. It has been taken on by the people who run the 'Lady Ottoline' and the 'Princess of Shoreditch' and like them, is 'gastro-ish', but welcomes beer-drinkers also. It opens sometime end of July.
More anon.
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Lovely interior with plenty of tables. Our group visited for lunch. Wish we hadn't. The WORST pub food we have ever had. The chef had to ask the bar staff what meat was available for the carvery. The carvery had fried slices of tough beef, no Roast potatoes until asked for. They were microwaved when they arrived. The chicken carvery was a whole chicken sliced in half down the middle. Others in our group had a tomato salad that was fishy, a tasteless pasta dish and undercooked fish. All served with a trough of Mayo that was from a bucket as the waiter informed us. Neither the chef or staff were very switched on and were not interested in feedback. The chef was only 6 weeks new according to the bar man. VERY expensive for mainy frozen, unfresh and inedible food. Stick to the better and cheaper alternatives nearby.
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How unwise of me to enter this pub on a football night. It was crowded and full of people offering heartfelt advice to overpaid ball wranglers hundreds of miles away who were, unless I am much mistaken, unequiped with the necessary auditory equipment to hear and react to the tendered advice, even were they inclined to do so. It took me fifteen minutes to get served and I thought my manoeuvres in getting to the bar so quickly were worthy of those of the millionaires throwing themselves onto the grass to the embarassment of none on the big screens nearby. There were two bitters available at first, swiftly reduced to one when some cheeky non-conformist decided to order a pint of one (I think it was Black Sheep). This just left the London Pride which I enjoyed, perhaps a touch to much - did I detect some sort of creamer? Possibly, but shouldn't carp as I then had a second pint from someone who had had the forethought to set up a base camp near the dirty glasses tray. What I saw of the furniture was the usual mixed bag of hefty country kitchen style tables and soft charity shop style sofas, laid together like chalk and permanent marker. I spent most of my time here outside assesing the Tardis like properties of the inside and recovering from my Joe Simpson moment at the bar. I think the ratio of staff to punter was about 1:70. Hot tip - if you need to expel urine whilst at this venue, pop outside and walk round to the north entrance (I think on Old Royal Free Square). You will avoid crowds.
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Nice pub generally although perhaps unlikely to get the heart racing:
- Big, roomy, airy, light, very comfortable
- Lots of nice wooden seating
- Decent beer (TT Landlord, London Pride)
- Live sport
- Good food
- Outside space (albeit on the road side)
- Good location (5 mins from Angel)
Pub is often a lot quieter than I feel it should be but then maybe if it was busy it'd just annoy me??
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Strange pub at lunchtime. One never knows if its open or not. Went there today at about 1:30. Doors open, tables ready outside, chef busily doing chef things. Waited 8 minutes and eventually a bemused chap said "we are not open 'til 3". "couldn't you let us know?" "Its not our policy". OK short trip to the better and more friendly Prince Regent.
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Large open single-room style place, good food and a good place to watch the footie IF you can get a seat. Staff always pleasant but sometimes overwhelmed. Lacks somewhat in atmosphere. Reviewer below was fortunate to visit on a day when there were "no idiots or lager louts in" - there usually are.
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Ireally enjoyed this pub. I went in for a quick with a work friend on a friday evening but ended up staying for a while because the atmosphere was no nice. Nice candles lighting all tables, back ground music just right, you can hear it but can also hear yourself talk, good pub for the conversationalists!!
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Just heard that the pub has been sold to a Russian company so watch this space for changes
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Re Last entry, the manager must have had a bad day because I have always found him affable and interested. I don't go in the evening so it may be the atmosphere changes at night. I agree about the price of the food.
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The food here was quite good if a little on the pricey side - likewise the drinks, but the management were dreadful. Rude and arrogant would be a good decription of the manager and chief flunkey!
anonymous - 24 May 2007 16:29 |
what a good place ! sunday roast top noch and no idiots or lager louts in .lovely for sport with big screens and probably best quiz night in central london 63 people in 4 quiz last sunday . weel worth visit
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I remember when it was Minogues - run by the wonderful Ethel and the place to go on Sunday for brunch which always developed into an all day session.
celt7 - 23 Oct 2006 01:37 |
used to be a chain i think, but its ok. better than the crown that's for sure.
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I seem to spend a lot of lunchtimes here and it is a decent place to have a drink. Food is a bit pricey although par for the Islington course. Tables outside if you are happy to be killed by the Liverpool Road fumes.
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Lovely pub, friendly staff, awesome food, introducing regular theatre upstairs, along with quiz nights and screens to watch the football - well worth a visit.
anonymous - 21 May 2006 22:27 |
Don't go to this pub. It looks ok from the outside but don't be fooled by this - the barstaff (one in particular) act very friendly at first but then when you have been in a couple of times will gain an attitude and start making snide comments - who needs that with a sunday afternoon pint? Unless there is an FA Cup final on the place is usually dead with no atmosphere either - you are much better going tot he other end of Theberton St to the Bull - friendly service, better range of beers, better atmosphere...
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Watched the Rugby there on Saturday. Reasonable choice of beers but nothing special. But a good atmosphere and not too smoky. Also was enough space for everyone to comfortably move around.
Would recommend it.
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Awesome food! Some of the best you will get from a pub and compared to others in Angel, not that bad on the wallet at all! Nice layout, friendly staff and all up a little beaut! Can't be arguing about this one at all!
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A great little pub this - pricey, but you get what you pay for. Looks basic on the outside but once you get in there, the staff are welcoming and there are plenty of sofas dotted around the place to guarantee a comfortable drinking experience. Colourful place with traditional tiled floor, so at least there's some attempt to give the place character. Quite weird to be in there as it got dark, with the staff dashing around putting candles on every available windowsill, ledge and table with the gusto of circus performers!
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