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Detail Pages
The Smokehouse, Canonbury, N1
N1
N1 2DG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Smokehouse
An undistinguished inter war building looking out of place compared with the villas close by,I walked into what appeared to be a restaurant but with a bar directly infront.Either side of the servery tables were set mainly for dining and on ordering a beer ,I was asked if I was going to dine ,and then slightly hassled to consider a bar snack or a ludicrously priced side when I said I wasn't looking for a large meal.I could have sat inside at an unlaid table,but the beer garden appeared more receptive on a sunny day ,have faced the Spanish Inquisition !
Two unused handpumps but lots of keg taps set in the wall offering schooners of a sparkling cider,a stout,three lagers,4 pale ales and one NEIPA in the form of Deya Glue at £6.70.I didn't want to like this place but as the NEIPA sank down I have to admit it was very good,not cold at all and lightly carbonated.So you may get lucky here on the craft keg front,otherwise I can't really recommend a visit.
On 4th June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2745 recommendations about 2745 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Smokehouse
Looked shut when we approached it, but it wasn't. Decent sized room with bar to left and middle. Big selection of craft type ale but it came in schooners, not halves, which was a bit disappointing cost wise.
On 24th June 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Smokehouse
This pub, once the Castle and later the Belinda Castle, dates back to at least the early 19th century but was clearly rebuilt in the 1930s. It's quite an attractive junction pub situated in leafy and generally lovely (less so this part) Canonbury.
The interior is unbelievably spartan. Tables - topped with tea lights - and chairs are of the conventional old school type and all the more attractive for that, but there's virtually no décor at all, save for a few sets of small antlers mounted to the walls. There are overhead ceiling fans and the walls are part t 'n' g-clad to around waist height and painted pale grey, thereon up the walls are white with a white ceiling; the floor is bare boarded. The bar is central and fronted with more t 'n' g. To one end, there's a wood burning stove in the fireplace and at the other side, is the kitchen servery.
An overly loud reggae soundtrack played, which contributed to the disorientation as there's virtually no light in here. I've been in some gloomy pubs in my time but this takes the biscuit and by quite some way. I've never been in a pub where most of the artificial light comes from candles; I could barely see a thing.
Ales? I was proffered an all-singing, all-dancing drinks menu at the bar which I couldn't be bothered to read and probably couldn't have done anyway given the impenetrable gloom so asked for a half of lager. There were just two pump founts, but what they were serving is anyone's guess as they weren't clipped. Whatever lager it was, was fine and probably very expensive though I didn't clock the price.
The place has an attractive semi-circular beer garden which is a plus, but otherwise I simply can't bring myself to describe this venue as a pub. A restaurant in which you can buy an anonymous beer perhaps, but a pub? Not really.
On 21st June 2017
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2005 recommendations about 1971 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The House
Now called the Smokehouse and if you approach from downwind you will realise why.Specialises in Smoked food.Smallish pub but a good outside area.3 handpumps with Fyne ,Sambrookes and Hackney beer on.They also have 30 keg taps behind the bar but you need to consult the beer menu to find what,s on.Twenty beers on and my Schremster ?-pilsner was very good.Friendly staff and a nice pub that I will re-visit.
On 26th October 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The House
Looks like a pub from the street, with a front patio beer garden supplemented by some wooden tables along one side of the building. However, as you approach the main doors, you begin to see that almost all the inside tables are fully laid up with table cloths, nakpins, wine glasses, etc. Beer-wise, there are two handpumps offering Doom Bar and Bombardier (£3.80, and not in the freshest condition). Unfortunately, the few bar stools were all taken, as were the two small plain tables by the doors, so I moved back outside. Probably OK on a nice summer day, but not so clever on a cool November evening.
On 27th November 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8149 recommendations about 8149 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The House
This is a pleasant enough place with Adnams, premium lagers and a limited standard draught selection. The barman was friendly enough and it was nice sitting outside have my pint, but this is more a restaurant so I wouldn't go back here again just for a beer.
On 6th September 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5288 recommendations about 5256 pubs]