Classic pub on a corner of a quint 'hood. Guinness was good I just wished they had more local pilsners. Outside is perfect for a sunny london day. read more

The Hemingford Arms - Bar - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Super cool bar. Quirky art inside, very instagramable. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Bartenders are very friendly. To top it off, drinks are super cheap. 4.50 pounds for gin and tonic. read more

Practically the last really lovely pub in this part of Barnsbury not to suffer from an unfortunate revamp, The Hemingford has retained all its quirky charm and original regulars without becoming a sad, deserted has-been. Covered with hanging baskets and climbing plants outside for at least the past twenty years, its facade has become so overgrown that the sign is no longer legible through the greenery. This makes it a lovely place to sit and watch the traffic go by in the summer, at one of the outside tables and a perfectly decent place for hardy smokers to fill their lungs in the winter. Inside, the atmosphere is wonderfully cosy with its rosy lighting, film posters, books and bonkers bric-a-brac providing vaguely Dada-esque decor. There is a wood-fire in the winter which increases the impulse to hunker down with a pint in the corner. In the summer this can all get a little overwhelming and so if you can't get a table outside, you're probably better off heading upstairs to the tall-windowed, airy dining room which is also where they hold their friendly quiz every Tuesday. Drinks are a fairly bog standard selection of lagers and a few bitters and fairly averagely priced at just over the £3 mark for most pints, fairly unusual nowadays in upscaled and gastro-pubbed Islington. Among other things it is probably this that has allowed The Hemingford to retain its attraction for a mixed and local clientele although for atmosphere it can't really be beaten. If you're lucky, you may also catch a band of folk musicians casually holding a sing-a-long around one of the tables. read more

The Hemingford Arms - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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This was my old local and this place is a real gem! Only known by locals (as it is off the beaten track a bit) this real atmospheric pub has it all: ale, beers, football/rugby (but not in an instrusive way - i hate sports bars), friendly staff and Thai food! They have a seperate kitchen run by Thais which is fantastic - try the Phad Thai! They also do music. I am not a fan of bands in pubs as it can ruin conversation, but here it isnt too loud - just right. Adlib folk players during the week and souly-sortof singer on Sunday night. About 10min walk from Highbury and Islington tube - definately worth the walk. Also has a outside seating in for the summer. read more

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Ahh, this is such a great little pub, Irish roots for sure! They sell Tayto crisps!!!! Lots of brikabrack things hanging all over the pub. The outside is cool, covered in Ivy! There are a few tables outside for those long summer evenings. Regular Irish folk trad sessions play here too! Thai food is awesome! Nice bunch of locals - recommend as a Paddys day pub! read more

What a great, truly British pub! I think I've fallen a little bit in love with this place - it reminded me of home! You have your regulars in one corner, your newbies outside on a bench and everyone else in between. The walls are lined with film and comical posters, all which you recognise and love! The outside of this pub is truly stunning, each wall covered in ivy and hanging baskets - just beautiful! Drinks are reasonably priced and bar tenders, lovely and friendly! A great pub whether it's summer or winter and I will definitely be back if in the area! read more

So this is my new local.. Stalkers, take note. And buy me a drink when you're up at the bar. I'd actually walked by here about a couple hundred times, it's always looked really lively with trendy types hanging out at the outside tables. Colourful hanging baskets, space to chat with friends and a relaxed vibe. Sounds like the perfect Islington hangout, right? Well inside it's just another traditional style pub, same old school decor, some football game on the big screen and an air of 70s depression. Nothing that says 'pick me as your local', beside proximity. I like my old man bars to be a bit more ironic, a dog in the corner, an old man reading the paper, or a dog reading the paper, Tayto crisps behind the bar. And absolutely no hipsters. The Sunday roast isn't amazing. Bless them for attempting seared tuna and more fool me for ordering it. I might go back for a lazy Sunday pint but with better Islington bars ten minutes away and no pear cider, who knows. read more

Really nice bartenders Fairly decent thai food served there by nice family. PUB QUIZ UPSTAIRS. Run by awesome lady. A pound to play. I haven't seen/heard it but there's live music on Sundays. read more

Really good, local pub. Much cheaper than some of the other pubs that you'll find in the area, and not pretentious either. The best bit about here though is definitely the Thai food, which you have to order separately behind the bar, through a wee hatch! They made mine extra spicy (on request) and boy it was hot! The chef personally came out to make sure I was OK. Lovely lovely food and some good real ales too. read more

This is quite a quirky little pub that we stumbled upon by accident. The outside is covered in plants and shrubbery - it looks so pretty with plenty of outdoor benches and umbrellas. The surrounding area is quiet and residential so although you are sat by a road, it's quite peaceful to watch the world go by. The inside is filled with strange ornaments and posters, which was a bit random however we sat outside anyway during our visit. There was a decent selection of beer on tap and there is a Thai food menu served in evenings - unfortunately we didn't get to try this. The barman was friendly enough but I got the impression that the crowd are mostly regulars. Would recommend a visit if you are in the area! read more

The Hemingford Arms - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Completely ivy clad exterior with abundant flowers in the summer. Inside a nice cosy pub with quirky items on the walls and ceiling. Perfect for those dark winter evenings. A mixed crowd of locals. Friendly bartenders, as others have noted. We tried the Thai food and happy to report it was really good. Quickly prepared and fresh. Good green curry and excellent dry noodle stir fry dish. Great prices too. I would return for the food alone! read more

It's a cute sports pub. I recommend it for the last stop on a date night before ending the evening. Our food was prepared rather quickly..we waited 10-12 minutes to be served. I ordered the Chicken Satay & Mushroom soup..very delicious read more

The Hemingford Arms - Chicken Satay & Mushroom Soup - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This place was a bitter disappointment (no pun intended) after seeing it recommended on here. Of 3 real ales. 2 were off and the third, London Pride, was drinkable but not in good condition either. This was such a shame as I expected to like this pub especially as the big tables outside seemed a pleasant place to hang out and I really liked the dim, red lit interior and all the junk that was hanging down from the roof. When real ale is your drink though, such poor management of it is unforgiveable. read more

If you want a traditional pub with a good old fashioned atmosphere, this is your place. The kind of place you might visit for a drink over Christmas time when it is cold outside. This pub has character and from what I heard from a friend, has seen its dose of celebrities including Kate Moss. There are plenty of picnic tables around the outside but again ruined by the smoking during busy times. Inside it has antique stuff literally hanging from the ceiling and a real fireplace although it was not alight when we went there. The menu has the traditional pub burgers and pies although there is also a Thai restaurant that opens during the evening although I have yet to try either. Check this place out, it is hidden from the bustling Upper Street but well worth the diversion. read more

Beautifully located in one of those parts of Islington you really, really want to live in but will never, never ever be able to afford to, this pub has a unique outside appearance. Ivy covers its lower half and extravagant pink flowers fill large hanging baskets, making it like no other pub. The last time I went was a busy Friday evening, the bar was crowded with very good looking women and less good looking men, and a little group of musicians was playing folk music, taking up one of the booths I could have sat in. Red light permeated the bar, making it seem like Mean Streets. However, this pub is nothing like New York. It is a bit like if Steptoe and Son suddenly realised that they'd have much more living room if they stored everything on the ceiling and walls. The place is a virtual Aladdin's cave of antiques and theatrical memorabilia, old books, kettles, baskets, barrels, musical instruments, posters, signs, and so on. I was stood at the bar underneath a female mannequin with her legs suggestively spread apart. My real ale that evening was a half of Doom Bar, the award winning beer, but they also have Adnam's (possibly Explorer) Best, London Pride, as well as all the usual lagers and Guinness. A very good range of beers, and at £1.40 for a half rather good value, particularly for Islington. The barmaids were all very young and very pretty, in the kind of way that breaks your heart just a little bit more as you realise those girls are lost to you forever, and the food looked good and smelled delicious. Went recently, there was a four piece band strumming blues music, then three other musicians came in, so they were the 'magnificent seven' as I dubbed it, and it sounded fantastic, bit of slide guitar, some kind of mandolin. Also to get here: It is on Hemingford Road, walk up from Caledonian Road where the big maroon pub with Islington sprayed on it is, then turn left down Hemingford Road til you get there. read more

The Hemingford Arms - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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A little treasure, especially when the band is having a gig on with their and mandarins and harmonicas banging away. If u want a pub with a eclectic mix, then try this little beauty read more

The Hemingford Arms - Flying naked person, of course! - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Best pub in the world ever! Slightly off the beaten tracks of Upper Street and Camedonian road, is this awesome pub, with beautiful flowers and canopy of ivy. Inside, the candle lit, eccentrically decorated bar help to make you feel instantly comfortable. They regularly have bands playing in the corner, and their roast dinner is delicious and one of the cheapest in the area. Clientele are a pleasing mix of locals, trendies and batty old folk. Oh, and great ales too. And lovely thai food in the week. Thankfully it is my local, and I can't imagine moving away - where would I drink then?! read more

My favourite pub I had the fortune to have this as my local (to work) pub for over five years - and it became my trusted friend; for lunch time eats, after-work sloshing, leaving do's, quiet / chilled drinks - the lot. Tucked away in the backstreets of Highbury / Cally Road it has become a favoured haunt of the odd celeb too (Mighty Boosh, Frank Skinner - and I tell no lies I have bumped into Kate Moss in there - and Johnny Borrell took Kirsten Dunst in one time)- probably because it is an honest-to-goodness real pub. No pretence, proper beer - and none of this gastro bar nonsense. With all manner of bizarre antiques and oddities hanging from the ceiling and on the walls, real fire in the winter, TV for the sport, 'pub music', proper pub seating (i.e no leather sofas here!) and satisfyingly aloof bar staff; this is probably my favourite pub ever. Has a function room upstairs that they open when they can be arsed, the 'burger and pies' menu turns into a decent thai kitchen after 6pm, and they get traditional Irish musicians entertaining bewildered post-workees sometimes on a Friday night. Seek this little-known gem out if you are in the area - forget Upper Street. read more

This is my local pub and to be honest you couldn't get a better one. From its floral exterior in the summer and its warm cosy traditional feel inside. A great spot for some evening drinks in the sun. The staff are great and extremely friendly, they like to get on first name terms with people they see in there often. The landlady is a lovely Irish lady. There are great characters that are as quirky as the decor! Every night there is something going on from comedy, quiz nights, open mic, traditional Irish music etc. The Guinness is normal great. FANTASTIC thai food. No better place to spend a Friday night read more

Great little pub that also serves Thai food. Delicious delicious Thai food. There is an upstairs, though I've never seen it open, along with some outdoor tables to enjoy the sun. The Hemingford has an eclectic mix of patrons and an eclectic sense of style. The lighting is slightly too red for my taste, but everything else is perfectly wonderful. read more

This is a very cool pub, it has a massive bar area with loads of proper bar stools, mental stuff hanging from the ceiling for no apparent reason, and despite the fact that the football was on last night they had it on mute while the old people in the corner played their folk music read more

I really dislike this pub. Its grubby and dirty and i feel uncomfortable and cramped so sitting there on the hard chairs and benches is not good. the toilets are also unpleasant to use which puts you off eating there. Its a shame because from the outside it looks nice. read more

Small local pub, very old fashioned, which is why it's keep ifs appeal, very busy in summer time, nigh on impossible to get a bench outside. Cosy inside come winter, real fireplace. Ideal if your a local person or if your passing through and need a good friendly pint. read more

This serves as my local, since there are no great pubs in Highbury. I personally think it's a real gem, wonderful character (and characters!), well run, and great welcoming atmosphere. The Thai food isn't great though. read more

If you want a traditional pub with a good old fashioned atmosphere, this is your place. The kind of place you might visit for a drink over Christmas time when it is cold outside. This pub has character and from what I heard from a friend, has seen its dose of celebrities including Kate Moss. There are plenty of picnic tables around the outside but again ruined by the smoking during busy times. Inside it has antique stuff literally hanging from the ceiling and a real fireplace although it was not alight when we went there. The menu has the traditional pub burgers and pies although there is also a Thai restaurant that opens during the evening although I have yet to try either. Check this place out, it is hidden from the bustling Upper Street but well worth the diversion. read more

I have spent a few really lovely evenings here. It is a lovely place to be when it is warm, with a real atmosphere and city buzz to it. It really feels alive and humming but also laid back. Top city pub! read more

Great local. Always busy enough to have an atmosphere but rarely takes ages to get a pint. Thai food good and not too expensive. Really benefits from the smoking ban, in my view (as a non-smoker). Irish bands on a couple of nights a week. They also do non-Thai food at lunch times, but I haven't tried any. read more

A good local, but tends to be very busy. The Thai menu is mediocre at best, but good beer and atmosphere, including live music on some nights, compensates for this somewhat read more