The Islington Town House, N1

As the Agricultural, this wasn’t a pub that I used particularly regularly when I workd in the area. Whilst there was never anything particularly wrong with it, it was always a bland and uninteresting pub with better options nearby. I was nevertheless quite shocked when I first noted its new incarnation as a blues and jazz bar. The bar is still in the same place albeit with a neon strip around the edge giving the place a bit of kitsch value. A couple of acoustic guitars span the wall behind and Jimi Hendrix peers over from one side. There is now a decent size stage at the pointy end of the pub with a good rota of blues and jazz artists on an almost nightly basis with many events being free admission. The seating is a bit of a problem with the built in leather seating opposite the door being particularly lumpy and even the most hardened posteriors may find an evening’s band watching a bit hard going for the rear end. In front of the stage are some cube pouffes that aren’t exactly built for an evenings comfort either. On the beer front, the 3 pumps dispensed Deuchars, Pride and Doom Bar, the former at £3.35 is a bit pricey but I suppose if you are getting the entertainment thrown in for nothing, then it works out at good value across the evening if you can catch a decent act. Food seems to be limited to arrange of 12” pizzas priced between £8 and £11. It isn’t generally my kind of place as far as pubs go but such pub venues are few and far between and it is certainly a more interesting place than it ever was. I certainly wouldn’t mind experiencing a decent music session in here, as long as I can find a comfy seat.

This place used to be called The Agricultural, but it is now known as Round Midnight and it is a jazz and blues bar. There is a stage area to the right of the entrance that was set up ready for some live music that hadn’t yet started when I visited at around 20:00 on Saturday evening. It is a single room establishment that I imagine gets very sweaty later in there evening so hopefully the bouncer on the door is there so that not too many people pack the place out. I found the staff to be friendly and along with an extensive cocktail menu there is a range of standard draught products and although one hand pump was unused Deuchars and Pride were both available. I’m not a big jazz and blues fan so I won’t be rushing back, but I would recommend to those who enjoy this genre of music as it is a relaxed and welcoming place.