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Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Sunday, 7th December 2025
With picture contributions to 11808 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (36 more images)
Detail Pages
The Pocket, N1
N1
N1 2AS
Reviews of The Pocket (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Pocket
Terrific cask range of Thornbridge Jaipur, Series Strata pale from Howling Hops, the Arbor Mosaic pale, Sonoma pale from Track, the Manchester Bitter from Marble, the Small Batch Special dark mild from Howling Hops, the Titanic Plum Porter and the Shadow Boxing Brown ale also from Howling Hops. The keg range also was pretty damn impressive and consisted of Pilot from Ascension, the Fresh from Cloudwater, the Life Coach stout from Howling Hops, Millions of Peaches peach & basil sour from Hackney Brewery, Burst into Bright hazy pale from Queer Brewing, the Galaxies Apart NEIPA from Gravity Well, the Pale Fire pale ale from Pressure Drop, the Tropical Deluxe session pale and the Barley Pop Helles lager both from Howling Hops. These were just the taps on the bar counter. The six taps on the rear wall offered a range of cider that would satisfy the biggest cider enthusiast (sticking my neck out there as a non-cider drinker, well mostly).
The venue is a stunner in every aspect. I never visited the previous incarnation but passed it many times around and immediately after pandemic as a sadly boarded up probably never to come back venue. It was worth the wait. It is a long rectangle from the glass front, bare boarded throughout with the bar counter along left hand wall mid venue, with its white tiles on the wall behind to half height of the venue. There is a good amount of dark wood panelling on the walls to the left of the entrance and on the wall opposite the entrance. Seating at the front of the venue consisted of a long pine bench around the front window and some small regular tables. There were some tall stools at the bar counter and the same at the ledge opposite the bar counter. A fire grate sat on the wall the other side of the bar counter with a large mirror above and there was a collection of tables in the small rear part of the space. It was very busy but in a manageable sense on my mid evening early week visit. The room was of a nice height, with white walls (apart from the wood panelling) and dark painted anaglypta ceiling with non-rotating ceiling fans (after a swift walk here could have done with them being operational). I have visited all venues on here in N1, I don't need to check my notes to say this is undoubtedly the finest, and there are some other very good venues. An absolute must venue to make a bee line to and continue returning to.
PS just max of 4 doors to the gents, some of which are propped open!
On 5th November 2026
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2153 recommendations about 2103 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Pocket
With far fewer doors to be negotiated than mentioned below, the main problem is the cask selection here. Having made more than a dozen trips here - the latest last night - the cask ales all have a slightly metallic or burnt taste to them; is this due to heat stress as the basement is like a sauna.
On 30th September 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2353 recommendations about 2290 pubs]
The Chairman left this review about The Pocket
My first visit here was on the day of the publication of the 2027 GBG and the Pocket's debut as a GBG pub - and it did not disappoint. A good selection of cask beers on offer with a few ciders offered as well, it is definitely a place worth visiting. As I was there very, very soon after opening the pub wasn't overly busy and the group found a comfortable area to sit at the back of the pub. The pne thing to be warned of is that the toilets are downstairs, and they are fairly steep, with something of a maze to be negotiated at the bottom - I reckon there were 5 or 6 doors between the gents and the bar!
A great pub and well worth a visit.
On 30th September 2026
- rating: 9
[User has posted 126 recommendations about 121 pubs]
View more reviews of The Pocket (9)
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Pocket - whatpub.com
Highbury & Islington, 0.3 miles, 5 min walk (show)
Essex Road, 0.37 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No - Hot bar snacks. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes - Jazz piano on Wednesdays. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Second and fourth Mondays. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Real Cider : Yes - Not all CAMRA-approved. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
