North Nineteen

Steakhouse Islington, Steakhouse N19, Steakhouse Holloway

Steak and ale house Islington, Steakhouse N19

http://www.northnineteen.co.uk

North Nineteen in Archway, London Pub Review and Details

North Nineteen is a charming, refurbished pub on the back streets off the Holloway Road.

The post-war building is attractive enough and the decor considerate to the building: the two separate bars remain, while a back area with heavy flock wallpaper adds character.

Being sandwiched between a cluster of council estates and Holloway's Victorian flatshareland, there was a genuinely (and surprisingly) mixed crowd.

It helps that both the landlord and everyone else behind the bar are consummate hosts and clearly do their best to make this a welcoming pub.

There is also an excellent selection of whiskeys to enjoy, which you can sup in the recently improved second bar, away from the football which can sometimes dominate proceedings in the main bar.

North Nineteen | Bars and pubs in Holloway, London

The main bar adds a fireplace, a TV and a space for open-mic sessions to a counter offering the likes of Timothy Taylor Landlord, guest ales and beers from Skinner’s in Truro (Cornish Knocker golden ale, Betty Stogs bitter); a chalkboard and an array of beermats testify to the presence of regular guest ales.

Another bar, accessed via the dog-leg front terrace or through the gents’, best suits the convivial enjoyment of superior pub grub (Irish stew, chargrilled chicken sandwiches and so on).

Whiskies, too, are a strong point: there are 26 in all, ‘plus six off-menu’, according to Tony, the landlord, who’ll be playing darts in the side games room on rare quiet moments.