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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
Flight Club, Islington, N1
N1
N1 0NY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 3 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Flight Club
Originally known as the Three Wheatsheaves, this pub dates to at least the late 18th century, the current structure rebuilt around 1863 with the name clearly visible to the parapet. What’s also now visible as a result of conversion into the current incarnation, is the fantastic raised ceramic fascia, bearing the legend Barclay Perkins & Co. Surviving Perkins', regalia is exceptionally rare, there being only about six surviving examples, all but one in N1.
On entering, you’re struck by the wonderful glazed Victorian tiled wall mosaic, but closer inspection reveals that it’s a modern reproduction, referencing the pub’s current owner and use. There’s a modern boarded floor and metal topped bar to the left with a multitude of chrome founts but sadly no real ale. Indeed, my Beavertown’s Neck Oil was wrong clipped, so I don’t know what I got but it was quite decent for lager; I didn’t catch the price, but I’ll bet it was dear.
Essentially this pub resembles some sort of recreation Victorian gin palace meets Barnum & Bailey-cum-amusement arcade with elements from a period fairground in the form of a merry-go-round wooden horse with golden rising pole. Wallpaper is also fake 19th century and deliberately distressed. Where there’s no paper, there’s dark wood field panelling, illuminated by fairground lights, suspended from a wooden beamed black ceiling which also exhibits some exposed RSJs. Décor comes in the form of more Victoriana knick-knacks, such as old clocks, Staffordshire porcelain and brassy things such as an old bedpan and fire tongs; Victorian-style prints with brass picture lights are also on show; waist-level lighting comes from Tiffany lamps.
Tables are a bit booth-like, with rear tables being tall metal topped elongated octagonal affairs with pushbuttons to summon service; surrounding stools are conventional and tall.
It’s the unconventional darts theme though that is this pub’s USP: there are five throws, the dartboards sited in slightly recessed circular tunnels and clearly with some sort of sensor system as the score, location of dart on the board and players’ names immediately appear on a visually immersive high-tech overhead display screen, looking like some weapons’ targeting system; it’s less The Indoor League and more a 21st-century take on The Golden Shot meets Nintendo. A further display shows in real-time every dart thrown at all branches and the global total, 115,424,656 at the time of departure. Not a beer belly in site, matches were being played by extremely exuberant groups of men and women, none of whom appeared to be over 25 which is probably the age group best placed to appreciate the pounding dance anthems, rolled out by a DJ with his digital gramophone.
In all, I found this place to be a bit of an assault on the senses and with the lack of real ale, I don’t envisage a return visit, but I wish the budding Jocky Wilsons all the best.
On 20th November 2019
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Rattlesnake
Being converted to a Brazilian steak restaurant
On 12th November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]