The Marquess Tavern, Canonbury, N1

Official site of The Marquess Tavern - www.rampubcompany.co.uk

Official site of The Marquess Tavern - www.rampubcompany.co.uk

Imposing Young's pub with their usual ale selection. One room with bar in the centre. Seats out front and a beer garden to the rear, with a giraffe in its midst. Not a real one, I hasten to add!

A Young's (Ram) pub in an imposing building beside the New River path. The handsome (if much altered) interior features a substantial 'L'-shaped bar / dining area, with the main counter opposite the front entrance and a smaller seating area on the other side (with another compact room beyond). All quite upmarket, with most tables set aside for dining. Patio beer garden to the rear. Disappointingly, just Ordinary (£3.80) and Special from a bank of five handpumps.

This pub dates from the 1860s and came into being along with the rest of this very elegant residential area in the backstreets of Canonbury. This really is a most magnificent example of early to mid-Victorian pub architecture, being a stand alone edifice dominating (as it was intended to do) the junction where it stands, surrounded by leafy streets. It’s Grade II listed of course. But the interior now boasts little if anything of its magnificent heritage, having been completely opened up over the years. At the back on the left is an area with tables laid for diners, and unusually other tables laid for diners are interspersed by others not so laid. The “dining room”is is a very light room, as it has a skylight and looks like the sort of room that might have been a billiards room. The rest of the pub is similarly plushly appointed with comfortable sofas and good quality normal tables and chairs. There are shelves with knick knacks on them, and where we were sitting the wall décor included George Orwell themed prints, and others with a porcine them – possibly related. At the front is some seating in an enclosed area. Unfortunately the only ales on were Young’s Special and Young’s Bitter (£3.80 a pint). The ale choice presumably reflects the fact that this used to be a Young’s pub, though I believe it is now privately owned. I didn’t see a menu, but food is clearly available. This one is worth a visit if only to see a magnificent purpose built mid-Victorian pub – but not for the beer. I expect to visit again.