The Albion, Barnsbury, N1

This old pub has been thoroughly modernised in its journey down the gastropub route. There’s a deceptively large, but stylish and well appointed, dining room at the back on the right, and a room behind the bar counter area on the left contains armchairs and the like, which I guess is just the job for your post dinner coffee. However, the front room as you enter is the main bar area, furnished with some solid wood settles and normal tables and chairs. There were a couple of ales on handpump – Ringwood Bitter and Deuchars IPA. There weren’t any menus on the tables in the bar area where I sat, and I didn’t venture into the dining room, but there was a chalkboard on the wall advertising the steak specials, which gives a good clue as to the pricing policy. All the steaks were for two people, with the cheapest being the 700g rib of beef at £40, and the most expensive being the chateaubriand at £65. On moving outside to sit in sun at the front of the pub I did see that there some cheaper items on the menu posted on the wall, but I wouldn’t exactly call it pub grub. But this is an enticing pub as you walk up to it, set in an elegant and very quiet part of Islington. The front of the building is covered in wisteria which must look absolutely stunning when it is in flower, as well as well-tended hanging baskets. There are a few picnic benches in an enclosed area at the front of the pub, and a surprisingly large garden at the rear past the restaurant. As gastropubs go this is one of the better examples that I have encountered. I felt very relaxed sitting out in the front in the early Autumn sunshine, and I really wouldn’t mind dropping in for a pint if I was in this area again.

Attractive-looking building, with a vegetated exterior and some benches out front. However, the sign states "Public House with Garden", and it is the latter feature that is the main point of interest - the neat rear beer garden (with a patch of home-grown vegetables alongside) really is quite a nice spot. The interior is all gastro-pub, with annoying tea lights and separate upmarket seating and dining areas behind the main bar. There is also an second (disused) small bar counter with unusual glazed screens in the dining area. Two real ales on handpump - Deuchars IPA and Ringwood Best Bitter (steeply priced at £3.80).

It was very busy in here late on Saturday evening as there was some sort of function going on and the front right hand side of the pub was reserved with the tables pushed together to create two long tables for the large group that were drinking in the back room which was also out of bounds. The rear right hand side is a restaurant area which wasn’t as busy, but obviously not a great space to sit in and have a pint. Thankfully I was able to sit in the large beer garden at the rear to drink my well poured pint of Guinness in relative peace. I found the staff to be friendly enough and they seemed to be dealing with the rush reasonably well. The two hand pumps on the bar were drawing Black Sheep and Greene King IPA and there was also a selection of premium and standard draught products This is a food led pub aimed at an affluent older crowd and private parties that are drawn in by the food and upstairs function room so I cannot see myself returning.