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The Marquess Tavern, Canonbury, N1

32 Canonbury Street
N1
N1 2TB
Phone: 02073542975

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Marquess Tavern

A very imposing building on the apex of two roads in a residential part of Canonbury and close to the New River.The interior has lots to offer with a traditional bar in front, a section on the right with traditional furniture and then a lower snug with bench seating in velour.To the left of the bar are a series of high tables leading to a rear former billiards room with a large sky light,these days it has the feel of a dining area and long flex lighting hangs down from the sky light.Lots of wood panelling all around the interior.
So far so good ,and there were 4 real ales available on my trip in Doom Bar,TT Landlord,St Austell Tribute and New River London Tap (musty,or is that the brewers intent,unpleasant NBSS 1.5) .No longer a Young's house,now owned by Punch.The pub was very quiet ,maybe no one cares too much.Good looking pub,but bad pub experience.

On 4th June 2022 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


custodian 42 left this review about The Marquess Tavern

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!

On 24th June 2018 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Marquess Tavern

This is a magnificent looking pub which stands deliberately alone and taller than the remaining housing of the same age in this pleasant part of Canonbury. In common with other buildings in the immediate area, unusually several windows are either false or have been bricked up. As the window tax was repealed in I believe 1851 this doesn't stack up so I intend to try and find out why.
I entered with some trepidation having read a review below, lights on, but no signs of life around 2pm on Wednesday. I snooped about a bit then suddenly a young woman with dyed purple hair glided silently into view from the other side of the pub. I stepped to the bar and she then asked if I was only in for a drink. Well I was so said so but my proposed pint had already been reduced to a half as I recalculated. Was this Tris C's barmaid/owner, who knows? No one else was in.
Inside there is a sort of island bar, the front area is better both sides, the rear has an overly ostentatious area with peculiar dangling lights, a model giraffe statue, a large rooflight and garishly coloured cornices and pilasters.
I settled in an armchair to the front corner with my half of Young's Special (£2.20) while the bar lady suspiciously continued her essential pub jobs now in my vicinity instead of at the rear. Opposite my seat a wooden chair with arms is affixed to the wall with a statement in memory of obviously a former customer, nice touch if they have "retired" his favourite chair. Beyond here is a small separate snug-like area then again a garden.
A lovely building, sadly without the interior reflecting the exterior. Hopefully I was being paranoid but I don't know, if ownership still remains private, the Ram Pubco signage and Young's badging remains.

On 25th January 2018 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Marquess Tavern

A return visit since our first, documented below.
We were accosted by a young landlady who treated us as if we were a bad smell, asking us if we wanted drinks and that the 'pub' offered table service, as if ordering a drink without food is a capital crime. She retreated behind the bar and pulled me the shortest pint I've ever seen, with probably more than an inch of head. Having grudgingly told us that we could sit at the coffee table round the back (several large tables were available, late evening mind), we obediently took out place to the stygian rear, social lepers that we were made to feel.
I've never been treated so shabbily in a pub before (The Warrington, W9 comes close) and am seriously considering writing a letter of complaint to the manager - a first. I won't be going back here again until it undergoes a change of management, and the now much improved Canonbury Tavern renders a visit here otiose.

21st April 2016.

A first in this imposing pub, formerly Young's but recently sold to a local collective. This is no longer the downmarket boozer which I used to pass - and demur from entering. Clearly it's had an upmarket refit which gives the gastro appearance, though I wouldn't really describe it as a gastropub. It's still a boozer, albeit an upmarket one and preferable to the Canonbury not far from here.
There's muted music and some soft upholstered furnishings. The barman was friendly enough and ales on were: two unused pumps which was a shame, thereafter Young's Bitter and Special at £4.15 a pint which is fair for the area.

I'd come here again if passing as the garden appeals but I wouldn't make a detour. A couple of extra and interesting ales may act as an incentive though...

On 4th June 2016 - rating: 1
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Marquess Tavern

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.

On 10th May 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


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Rex Rattus left this review about The Marquess Tavern

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.

On 24th June 2014 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Marquess Tavern

This place is ok, if maybe a little subdued due to the leaning towards food with the restaurant at the rear.

Youngs Ordinary, Special and Kew were available alongside a standard draught selection and an interesting range of bottled beers. I found the two barmen that served me to be very friendly.

I would pop in here again if I was passing, but I wouldn't go out of my way.

On 8th September 2009 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]