The North Pole, Canary Wharf

A true oasis.

14 Mar 2008 15:22

The New Rose, Islington

This place rocks. Love the bar staff. The London Pride is well kept (and another guest beer promised soon if the landlord Matt is not telling porkies). Staro also keeps the 'connoisseur' lager drinkers quiet. Jack the chef serves up mean fodder too. It's a lovely place and never too packed or moody like its neighbour the Queen's Head. It is just far enough up Essex Road to keep the tourists away. A hidden gem.

27 Feb 2008 20:23

The Drapers Arms, Barnsbury

I will never go back and recommend that you do not go there until they sort themselves out. This is a fancy gastro pub but they are so up themselves it ruins the possibilities of the nice interior and position. The beer is average, the food just OK for the price, the bar staff variable, and the waitresses in the restaurant upstairs incredibly surly and rude. Last night they argued with me because I refused to pay the full 12.5% service charge that had automatically been added to my bill. Bearing in mind half the bill was bottles of wine that we had to serve ourselves to I thought my 20% tip on the food was enough. But these moody mares thought not and told me I had not paid enough. Awful.

23 Feb 2008 10:19