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The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, N1
N1
N1 7TA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Wenlock Arms
I have been a latecomer to The Wenlock because for a lad brought up in an area with a higher North London post code, the area of Hoxton, nestling between Islington and the City has traditionally been the bad lands which can be seen on a map as the area marked by ‘There be Dragons’.
But I made an initial visit early last summer and have made it back a few times since, usually diverting when cycling the nearby canal.
The Wenlock is best described as a traditional, no frills, unpretentious back street local in an area of council estates and factory buildings.
According to the pubs own web site, it was built in 1835, and opened as a pub in January 1836 and as a lot of the surrounding area was flattened in the Blitz, it is a lot older than many of the surrounding buildings.
Internally it’s an old fashioned fairly small single bar pub with the square serving area in the middle and the main pub area down either side. If honesty be told, it’s not the most becoming of pubs, being situated in a bit of a wasteland with an interior decor and fitments having an aura of decay, toilets that could well have been the inspiration behind the scene in Train Spotting, a carpet, or what’s left of it, that has things living in it that would make David Belamy salivate, and some of the locals can sometimes use colourful language. And if what was on offer was a single hand pump dispensing GK IPA then most would make a wide berth.
Instead, this Free House has nine hand pumps which provide a frequently changing range of beers and ciders from regional and microbreweries, usually all very well kept by the knowledgeable cellar man.
And it quite rightly has been a GBG regular in recent years and has won numerous awards from CAMRA. And the beers I tried on my recent visit last weekend were on top form.
The co owners also have a regular program of Jazz evenings and quiz nights meaning the Wenlock has a loyal following of regulars and CAMRA members and, despite some of the reservations mentioned above, it is still a must visit pub for the Real Ale enthusiast.
And due to there being ongoing speculation that one of the co-owners is looking to retire and that the pub will then be put up for sale, and with the surrounding area ripe for redevelopment a visit to the Wenlock sooner rather than later may be recommended.
On 14th July 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Wenlock Arms
A nice, traditional back street pub with a basic U-shaped room and an outstanding selection of ales. My recent visit saw all eight pumps in action including Fullers Hock, Toad Tadpole, Ale House Final Fling, Crouch Vale Apollo, Mighty Oak England's Pride, Rebellion Green Shoots and Cottage Deltic Diesel (£3). A large board in the corner of the room listed all these offerings with their prices which were linked to abv.
The bar area is home to hundreds of pumps clips including plenty of interesting old ones. There are some brewery mirrors dotted around the place as well, which helps to create a light feel to what is otherwise a bit of a dull interior.
The locals were pretty friendly and the place was starting to fill up by the time I had to leave. I enjoyed my stay here and would most certainly return - the pub makes for a great double header with the nearby Old Fountain.
On 15th June 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Wenlock Arms
This is a highly rated backstreet boozer that has numerous ales in good condition available from all over the country. It was very busy on my recent visit so I enjoyed a nice pint of Hophead on the pavement outside along with twenty or so others. I found the staff to be polite and the down to earth clientele seemed friendly enough. It’s a pretty basic place with no fancy viewing devices for any sports, but there is a dartboard which is placed in an odd position as the throw seemed to cross a side entrance.
I would recommend this place to others that enjoy good beer and conversation.
On 3rd September 2009
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Wenlock Arms
Live piano & sax jazz yesterday, followed by very good blues soundtrack. Arrived 17:30, a time when many pubs would experience that Sun pm lull but the place was busy, buzzy, chatty and, of course, beery. Oscar Wilde, Brewers Gold, Archers Golden, Itchen Valley Winchester, Slaters Premium, Brewsters Bathsheba, Adnams, Mighty Oak Buffer (ran out). Obviously a target for ale enthusiasts but also a strong community feel to the place. True, the loos are a bit hanging.
On 28th April 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Wenlock Arms
The Wenlock Arms is in an industrial area with not a lot of housing or people walking around here on a weekend.
Once inside the pub had one room with an island bar this was comfrotable enough and fairly quiet on my visit,there was a very good choice of beers on the bar i had a drink of Harveys bitter and this was a really nice drink i also noted a beer from Pitfield brewery and there was also another 6 real ales on the bar.
I thought this was a proper pub that is probably best visited during the day if on your own.
Pub visited 30/12/2006
On 30th December 2006
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Wenlock Arms
No nonsense,basic street corner boozer.Serves up to 8 real ales and there is usually something to suit all tastes.This is one of the better real ale pubs of Islington.10/15 mins from Old Street station.
On 16th December 2006
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]