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Detail Pages
The George & Monkey, EC1
EC1
EC1R 1UU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The George & Monkey
This is a backstreet pub with a modest location about 5 minutes walk from Angel station, but in the opposite direction to the majority of Islington’s pubs and bars. It’s a pleasant enough two room pub and its inconspicuous location didn’t seem to be a problem, as the place was absolutely packed when I visited on a midweek evening. The front room has distressed floorboards, low wood panelled wall and neutral shaded upper sections, making it all feel a little plain and generic. The bar is down the left-hand wall and has a basic wood panel counter front and simple bar back with some brick-print wallpaper and modern shelving units topped with a stuffed vervet monkey in a bow tie, plus an impressive amount of potted plants, with a grandly framed, oval mirror over to one side. Tables and chairs fill a modest sized open space to the right - the only seating options in this room apart from a few bar stools along the servery. The rear room was unbelievably busy - easily the busiest of any pub I’ve been to since the start of the pandemic - which made it very difficult to even enter the room, never mind exploring it. From what I could see, it’s a similarly decorated space with a good amount of chair and banquette seating, again mainly over to the right. I couldn’t work out if the room was being used for a private function or if it just happens to be a very popular pub, but I didn’t get a chance to nose around as a result. A good 70’s soundtrack was playing in the background and unsurprisingly, with such a full house, there was a decent atmosphere.
The bar houses three handpulls, but none of them were in action on this visit, leaving me to choose from their extensive craft keg range instead. Annoyingly, there is no beer boards, and with the pub so busy, bar blockers prevented me from seeing what exactly was on tap, so I plumped for one of the two I could actually make out - Kenal Pale at £5.90 a pint. This was a tasty drop and as time wore on. I was able to discern other options including beers from Beavertown, Wild Beer, Deya, Northern Monk and many more across a total of 14 taps.
This was a slightly underwhelming visit, partly due to not being able to move around the pub, partly due to not being able to figure out the beer range and partly because it’s a pretty bland identikit pub with no stand-out features. I’d say this might be of interest to those looking for a wide selection of craft beers in this part of town, but there wasn’t too much that suggested I’d be rewarded by a repeat visit.
On 17th February 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The George & Monkey
Originally called the Fountain, and more latterly the Amwell Arms and Filthy McNasty's. I've no idea why it should be called the George and Monkey, but there it is. Harvey's Best was the only ale on, with a second pump unclipped. There were masses of keg fonts as well, with most advertising "craft" beers of which I've never heard. They obviously do food as we saw another group tucking into some grub, but I didn't see a menu.
The bar counter's in the front room (with monkey nuts available of course), and through an arch there's another room at the back. Furnishings favour recycled church chairs, and large tables. In fact all but two or three tables were for large parties of six or more, or possibly they envisage communal dining such as I've seen in some clubs. It's all quite minimalist and the most interesting decor was to be found in the gents toilet which featured several prints of Regency pornography. Not seen that in a pub before; wonder what they featured in the ladies? I didn't like to ask a lady coming out of there as my interest could easily have been misconstrued.
I found this pub to be a bit cold and impersonal. But my Harvey's Best was in good shape though.
On 9th February 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The George & Monkey
Block-like corner pub with striped awnings on both facades that would otherwise be quite austere. The interior is quite plain too, with just two tables (and one of those rather long and thus unsuited to smaller groups) in the bar and dark green / cream paintwork which helps give a gloomy look. The side dining room is more fully furnished but shares the same colour scheme. Further seating is available outside on wooden benches along both frontages. It's also worth noting that the etchings in the gents toilets are rather more raunchy than one might expect from an otherwise staid establishment... Just one of the three handpumps was in use, although this thankfully produced a fine pint of Harvey's (£4.80), and there is a reasonable selection of craft and standard keg beers from up to 14 taps. So a mixed bag, but the atmosphere seemed friendly and relaxed.
On 10th March 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The George & Monkey
I came here twice before: once a long time back when it was Filthy McNasty’s which had a late licence and was rumoured to be the hangout for former Westminster public schoolboy, Shane McGowan. I returned a couple of years ago to what was briefly the Amwell Arms, named after the eponymous Hertfordshire village, source of the Hugh Myddleton-engineered New River, 1613, which flows through here. At that time, it was one of the most boring pubs I’d ever visited, with the poor barmaid sat behind the bar and reading her book.
The interior has been completely reordered, with the bar to the rear wall rather than being centrally located and what is in effect a two-room layout. There’s bare boarding of course with t ‘n’ g panelling to dado height painted a hackneyed shade of dark grey/blue, thereafter white walls and ceiling. Furniture is simple and wooden with décor comprising old framed prints and maps to the walls which also support sconce lights with filament bulbs, so gloomy that I couldn’t read the menu on the table. Music played at a sensible level and no TVs were in evidence, which bodes well. Lavatories are new and quite swanky, but the walls are lined with aquatint cartoons of hardcore Victorian pornography. I can handle this, but I think some punters could be quite offended and if this place is going to position itself as being child-friendly, would anyone want their children exposed to this? Is it even legal to expose them to this?
The barman was friendly, busying himself microwaving a piece of cheese onto a Jacobs Cream Cracker (?). Ales: two unused pumps, thereafter Thornbridge’s Peverel at an astonishing £3.00 a pint. I’d not had it before so wasn’t sure if it may have been a fraction stale, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps that’s why it was so cheap?
This is the best incarnation yet, despite the stupid name but they really need to turn the lights up in here and definitely get rid of the porn. Utilising the other two pumps would be a bonus too, but not if they are going to dispense Doom Bore.
On 18th July 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Filthy MacNasty's
This legendary Irish Pub is probably most noted for being Shane MacGowan’s regular hangout where it is said that he used to be carried into the pub first thing in the morning to start his daily bender.
My only previous visit was many years ago when I recall it being little more than a tatty bolt hole so I was quite surprised to find that it has been recently refurbished and now presents a trendily upmarket image with candlelit tables and little of the generic Irish pub that is found so often - no tricolours, pictures of toucans, inflatable Guinness glasses or photos of Croke Park to be found here.
The interior is split into a front and rear bar linked by a tiled corridor. Both have similar décor and furnishings with bare floors, solid seating. Some of its tattiness does renmain with tables showing the multiple works of various graffiti bandits and love birds (Ric + Remy + Christine certainly raised an eyebrow). The bar stools are also in desparate need of a bit of an overhaul but generally the pub is quite neat and tidy. The rear bar contains a piano and an interesting death list corner, a homage to musicians, writers and artists who are no longer with us but are celebrated once a month by a live perforamces of their work (although someone should perhaps mention that Phil “it wasn’t me” Spector isn’t actually dead yet).
The background music was an eclectic mix of old blues, jazz and country whilst there are Irish music sessions on Tuesdays and a quiz every Monday. Big Screens in both bars are present for major sprting events.
I was surprised not just to find ales on offer but, by Irish pub standards, a fairly decent selection across the 3 pumps – Wadworth 6X, Brains Rev James, & Woodforde Wherry. Prices were a bit higher than I would expect (aren’t they always) with the Wherry at £3.40 for a 3.8% strength beer being a bit OTT and, whilst perfectly drinkable, it didn’t strike me as being in the best of condition. There was a limited food menu with burgers and pie & mash seemingly the house specialities – prices around £6-10.
My visit was early evening and the pub was virtually deserted but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and would certainly call in again when I have time to kill.
On 7th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Filthy MacNasty's
I wouldn't normally venture into a Fithy McNasty's pub as I've found they usually are, but called in here as I was passing, purely in the interests of research and under the influence of a few already. I found an interesting pub, very music orientated and advertising live music 4 days a week. Not that busy so difficult to judge the clientele , although the couple in the corner playing Jenga was somewhat mesmeric. Becks, Red Stripe, Guinness, Stella and Strongbow were on offer along with a single hand pump that produced a pretty poor pint of Black Sheep. An interesting pub that no doubt has a large fan base and serves it well.
On 28th June 2009
- rating: 4
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]