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The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar, N1
N1
N1 2NA
Pub Type
Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
Despite the name, this is a cosy traditional pub, with mainly tall tables and a welcoming feel, with a pub theatre upstairs in the old pool room. The exterior is also nice, with hanging flowers and a good old illuminated Bass sign. Sadly the only ale on offer was London Pride, which was a little disappointing having waited for the place to open (evenings only Mon - Thurs).
On 4th December 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
This pub was absolutely heaving when I was in at about 6.30 PM on Wednesday. But we managed to get to the bar to see that they had Doom Bar, London Pride, and Adnam's Ghost Ship on handpump. Nothing as good as the selection the previous reviewer found in here, but the Ghost Ship tasted good. This was the last of several pubs to offer some little reader thing when we wanted to pay, but we used money anyway. But I did learn that one shouldn't stand in front of the card reader at the bar, because it's constantly in use.
It really is a theatre bar, so I guess gets busy with theatre patrons. I did notice the bit of old tiling by the corner, and the mirror above the fireplace was an attractive piece. Not so sure about the exposed brickwork, which when exposed in pubs is rough old stuff that was never meant to see the light of day. There were lots of (but not exclusively) tall tables/tall stool in order to maximise the limited space available. The crowd in there seemed to be having a jolly time, and it's good to see a well patronised pub in full swing. But of course it does have a very prominent corner-site location. It's OK, but not the best pub we visited in the area that day.
On 28th October 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
Right on the busy Highbury Corner,this theatre bar is quite small but has it's charm.A square room with armchairs infront of a fireplace ,a drinking shelf running under a front window,high tables opoposite the modest bar,and a raised booth to the side.There is some original internal glazed tiling around the apex door ,and the entrance to the theatre is roped off.Some very limited space outside for vertical drinking and smoking.
At the bar there are 3 handpumps offering on my trip Sharp's Manu Bay,Redcastle Red Lady and London Brewing Beer Street (ok condition but BBB).Pub grub mainly pizzas,standard kegs ,selection of gins it was proving popular on Saturday afternoon and had a decent boozer atmosphere but could easily get packed before Arsenal home games.
On 19th August 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
Decent enough one room pub with the bar to the rear. Three hand pumps with one at 5% ABV. Rest keg. Reasonable start to the afternoon crawl.
On 24th June 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
A very well kept pub, as the place is spotlessly clean and the barman was also very professional and knew his craft. The interior is a bit of a miss match of modern and traditional. The colour scheme was a mix of dark greens and reds with matching leather upholstered seating in corresponding red and dark green. The best feature for me was the original Victorian wall tiles surrounding the corner entrance, which is now out of use. Three pumps with two in use, London Pride and St Peters Golden Ale, so we went for the St Peters, which was ok for a quick half.
On 17th June 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
A small one roomed corner pub,the dark red walls and ceiling made it feel a little gloomy inside, three pumps on the bar with the choice ofDoom Bar and Elgoods Black Dog, needless to say I tried the latter and found it a little tired and earthy.I was the only punter in at around 12.30 on a Saturday afternoon and dare say there would be a better atmosphere with a few people in. It's Ok but I wouldn't go out of my way to return.
On 18th September 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
Not a bad little place and certainly more appealing than the Canonbury around the corner and vastly superior to the Famous Cock just up the road. Quite full, and heaving on Friday and Saturday nights. My only complaint is that the gent's loo (possibly the ladies too?) opens directly into the pub.
On 17th September 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
I was drawn to this pub by the large external Bass sign, visible from some distance, after a gig at the nearby Highbury Garage, and was pleased to find a decent little pub/theatre bar with a few interesting features. The pub has a fairly standard layout, with a single bare boarded room served by a bar along the rear wall. The seating is mostly in the form of high tables and stools, with a sofa and some pouffes under a window to one side of the room and some interesting high drinking ledges which protrude from the front wall creating small table-like platforms. The entrance in the front corner retains some impressive multi coloured tiling, the attractiveness of which is offset by a stupid twig-tree next to the door – an unnecessary addition, as is the renaming of the toilets to ‘Hens’ and ‘Roosters’. There is a simple fireplace on the left hand wall, above which hangs a large, elaborately decorated mirror whilst the servery has a few pump clips dotted around plus an encouraging ‘We Love Ale’ banner and a few stuffed chickens on the bar back. I noticed glitter balls in one corner of the room and disco lights in another, but there was nothing to suggest that late night partying is a regular occurrence, especially as there were only a handful of customers in on my late night mid-week visit. A passageway and staircase to the left of the bar counter leads up to the theatre, although I didn’t take a look myself. Decent music played throughout my stay at a reasonable volume.
There are three hand pumps here, but I seemingly got a bit unlucky in finding just one in operation, dispensing the ubiquitous Sharp’s Doom Bar. This was backed up by the usual keg stuff including Aspalls Cider which was supported by two bag-in-a-box ciders behind the bar. My Doom Bar was in good condition and had there been something else on alongside it, I’d have stayed for another pint.
This was a bit of a random, unplanned visit, so expectations were set fairly low, but I quite enjoyed the feel of the place and would give it consideration the next time I’m in the area – hopefully to find all three handpulls in operation.
On 15th September 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
Busy little bar on a monday night with 3 beers on from Roosters-Robinsons and Sharps.Beer in good condition as well.
On 15th May 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
Small corner bar with plain decor and a limited amount of furniture. Big Bass sign on one side of the building. Better atmosphere than many Islington pubs. Normally three real ales on handpump, athough only one was still operational towards the end of a busy Saturday night with an Arsenal home game. This also meant that plastic 'glasses' were in use, but my pint of Roosters Wild Mule (£3.50) was on fine form. Must try the upstairs theatre one day...
On 27th November 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]