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Northgate, Islington

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user reviews of the Northgate, Islington

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

This pub is under new management - the name has changed to the De Beauvoir Arms.

First impression - looks good!
Bongofury - 17 Jun 2013 13:27
This is really nice. The staff are always delightful, which makes a real change. The food is great, sometimes the portions can be a bit less than you might expect, but the quality over the several times I have eaten here is consistently great. I have had the best salmon I have ever had in this country , here. Beers - Staropramen, Landlod, Addlestones, and changing ones, all good.
orangerevel - 28 Aug 2012 20:16
Nice pint of Deuchars IPA, but �3.40 is a bit much for Southgate Road.
elsie_pop - 27 Nov 2011 17:22
has reopened this week under new ownership, serving 3 real ales.
cmofish - 15 Dec 2010 16:46
Have heard that this pub is now in administration , not suprising , it's not my kind of place.
mr.toes.5_ - 5 Jun 2010 14:43
One of the best gastropubs in London.

Food selection and executionof dishes is always excellent. Extensive seasonal produce is used imaginatively with flair and skill. Large selection of beers and wines.

You'll pay a little more than in an ordinary establishment, but it is well worth it for a decent meal and an enjoyable lively atmosphere ('buzz'). In the Summer there are nicely positioned tables outside where you can watch the world go by. In the Winter there is a cozy atmosphere. Service nearly always friendly and helpful.

Only misgiving would be the toilets. They need some money spent on them.
StuK777 - 7 Dec 2009 17:25
I must confess I've only ever been in here for food, which was excellent. Wine was good and the service was charming too.
patrickjsm - 19 Jun 2009 18:36
Below average revamp of a pub that blotted its already unremarkable copybook by airing the entire Scouting for Girls album on our visit. Its owners are now scouring their drawers for the receipts relating to the hiring of the focus group - money back please. Saved by the barmy scenario of a full scale paint job being carried out on the loos on my visit - I know most would find this irksome, I saw it more as performance art.
BoehmBawerk - 14 Apr 2009 22:06
Thought I'd give the Northgate a go, as it has appeared in the 2009 GBG. I went in on a Saturday evening, and was expecting it to be much busier. There were plenty of spare tables with not too many people eating. Although the food did smell good. The guest ale was off, leaving the regular London Pride and Deuchars IPA. There were also around 15 different lagers plus Addlestones cider on draught. I'd be inclined to try this place again for food, but wouldn't be too fussed about returning for a drink. Will try The Scolt Head next time I'm in the area and see how this compares.
blue_scrumpy - 1 Mar 2009 21:20
Nothing great - its typical of the gastro open-plan style, the beer range is the usual (the guest of 6X was OK), and I guess the locals love it - very busy Sunday late afternoon. The Scolt Head was better and the streets to that are gorgeous.
mtaylor40 - 13 Jan 2009 21:43
God, I hate gastro pubs like this one. This used to be an honest-to-God local pub - the restaurant area at the back was once a rocking music room, where the likes of the Balham Alligators used to play. Was also venue for the Islington Folk Club at one time. Ah...sniff sniff...the good old days!
MadMick - 1 Jul 2008 15:59
I love this pub. The only downside is that it's quite expensive, but hey - that's Islington. The barstaff are friendly, the beer is well kept (considering that it has more of a wine-list clientele) and the food is excellent. I wouldn't usually pay more than a tenner for pub grub (I'm a tightwad), but I make an exception for this one because it's restaurant quality food. The big, squishy sofas are good too.
liz_a - 18 Oct 2007 14:07
This place is awful. The wine menus are ragged and stained - basically look like they have been pulled out of a rubbish bin. The glasses were so dirty I had to send my drink back twice. Food is totally overpriced - big portions but tastes crap. Don't bother going to this bar if you're looking for anything decent.
anonymous - 3 Mar 2007 17:22
Used to come here all the time but put off by staff getting further and further up their own ars*s. Recent change of faces has returned the place to the friendly, relaxed place it used to be - a great place to sink a few bottles of wine after work or with the papers at the weekend. Best food is Saturday late lunch or Sunday roast. Children allowed in restaurant but sadly, as in the rest of Islington, not in the pub.
jabd - 31 Jan 2007 13:44
I've visited the Northgate on many occasions and always found the food and drink to be excellent - especially Sunday lunch. The staff are attentive and friendly making it my favorite pub in the Islington area.
bazza_g - 21 Dec 2006 22:19
My local and we love it. Friendly staff, good atmosphere, outdoor seating in summer (though Southgate Road can be a bit noisy). Don't eat here that often, though the food is usually pretty good. Good wine selection too.
Catten - 28 Oct 2006 18:23
Nice drop of deuchars. The barman obviously liked it too. Nothing special otherwise but ok
mitomighty - 21 May 2006 15:51
The pub is pretty good, and the restaurant looked very promising. The trouble was 3 of our 4 meals were completely bland - looked good, well presented etc, but no flavour. The steak was perfect, but the risotto flavourless, and the "rare" tuna steak about as well done as it could be. When I sent it back, and reminded them I'd asked for "as rare as possible", the 2nd came back little better. In my experience this means the steak was several days old... shame because up until the 25% rating for the food, we thought we were onto a winner. Hopefully for them they will improve - until then, just stick to drinking
OCW - 3 Dec 2005 19:55
i have just discovered this pub and thought it was ace! not only is it chilled out (comfy sofas, fire etc) but there is a great selection of wines and beers (I was really chuffed to discover that they sell frulli beer :-) ) All the bar staff are really nice and not up themselves unlike other places in the area... oh and the food is great too!! I actually couldnt think of a bad word to say about the place!
anonymous - 1 Oct 2005 16:56
I love this pub! The staff and managers are really friendly and nice. There is a great selection of wine and beer so something for everyone.

The food is amazing (espec sunday lunch!) and as someone else mentioned, I loved the fact you can eat in the pub or in a resturanty area.

Would thoroughly reccommend this to anyone in the area!
stassy - 14 Jun 2005 13:31
Excellent pub! Very pleased this is my local. Good atmosphere, clean, nice beer, good wine selection, fire and couches. Tasty and surprisingly good value snacks too: olives, nuts, bread, yum.

Food is consistently fantastic and the menu changes often. You can eat in the main pub area or in the dining section which feels more like a restaurant and helps to justify the slightly high food prices.

Outdoor tables are great in summer although right next to the street so it isn't exactly a quiet garden.
R - 23 Oct 2004 20:43
Sometimes very good(on the food front especially) but other times I resent the arrogance and the prices for no slimline tonic(try the shop next door )and the flippant reply to the worst "real ale" I have ever tasted "well it's weak". I got a different pint but no hint of an apology or concern that anything was wrong.

Jim Moloney - 14 Oct 2004 22:56
we've been regulars since it opened and we've always loved it -- a very good sign that many of the same staff are still there as well -- food is great, and good selection of wines and beers.
darrell - 3 Oct 2004 14:13
Ignore the below comment. I went for a meal just last week (had the bream) and it was spectacular. The sevice was friendly and prompt. And the desert wine is one of the best I've tasted in a long time...Enjoy this place and its environs.
anonymous - 21 Sep 2004 13:23
Great for a quiet used to frequent this pub regularly (since moved away). Had two meals there and both were very disappointing. Good ales although a couple of times they have been "off" resulting in the manager being quite rude.
anonymous - 17 Aug 2004 11:05
Great pub, our local for a couple of years and the staff, food,. art, atmos is always friendly and lively. Our dog, Bill also loves it.
Nina - 21 Jul 2004 11:56
Great pub, good food, excellent wine, fabby art and wonderfully attentive bar staff.
Juanita - 5 Feb 2004 17:49
it's not a pub, it's a gastro wine bar
Pauly - 31 Jan 2004 11:22
Great relaxed atmosphere and a good place to talk, especially on the couch whilst admiring the art work.
Ollie - [email protected] - 29 Jan 2004 01:03
Great pub. Well kept and reasonably priced real ale. Friendly bar staff. EXCELLENT food.
scissorkicks - 26 Jan 2004 23:03
The beer in this pub is outstanding.
ck - 24 Dec 2003 13:24
This is ou favourite oub in Islington. GREAT food, GREAT service and great atmosphere. Perfect pints. Perfect evenings. Perfect days.

A joy
Kosso - 18 Nov 2003 15:01
Very laid back gastro pub, dining room at the back, very friendly staff. Food excellent, menu changes every day. Well kept real ales.
Janice - 4 Nov 2003 16:27

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