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Islington Arts Club, N1
N1
N1 1RU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about Islington Arts Club
Notes this venue had swapped to the intriguingly named Islington Arts Club so thought I would revisit in its new guise.
First thing you notice is how austere the interior is. Retained the wall panelling but now all painted white with some dim wall lights. The bar lights are pretty dim also and it felt pretty dark inside even on a bright evening. The dark wood furniture adds to the gloom inside, literally nothing on any of the tables to punctuate the blandness of the decor. Indeed only feature is the fire grate on the wall at the far point from the door with a simple mirror on the wall above. Appears to have a screen in front of said wall presumably pulled down for live sport, or given the name, maybe a live screening of a NT or Globe production.
The two hand pumps appear non functional and so just a half a dozen or so taps Kicking out fairly standard pub offering. I plumped for a pint of Guinness as it felt appropriate on a chilly evening.
On 17th April 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 108 recommendations about 108 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Library
Corner pub decked out in dark panelling, giving a laid-back feel, added to by the jazzy background music, although the limited furnishings and prominent fire doors do not add much. The small bar at the back has a few craft taps and a couple of handpumps, usually alternating between Hog's Back TEA and Sambrook's Pumphouse Pale. Boxed cider available also. At the front is a small stage, occasionally used for live music. It might have a bit of atmosphere when busy, but was rather lacking at a quiet lunchtime.
On 4th December 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Library
Rebuilt probably in the 1930s, this was once the Angel & Crown dating back to at least the late 18th century. The website doesn't advertise what's on here which is reasonable as indeed nothing does go on here. It's gloomy; some of the light fittings are falling out. Bare boarded with conventional furniture with lots of green leatherette including banquettes which are very badly worn. There's a fireplace at the end but I doubt it's used. Split levels are employed with a dark blue/grey colour scheme. Surprisingly full, with a mainly young female crowd.
It's the lavatories though where this pub scores lowest: bedecked with graffiti, there's a hole in the ceiling and no lock on the cubicle; they are an absolute disgrace.
Ales: none and not just none, but a half of Beck's costing £2.25 and served in a flimsy plastic cup.
I won't be returning in a month of Sundays.
On 20th October 2016
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Library
I read the previous reviews with a bit of a wry smile and know exactly where they are coming from, and for the pub traditionalist, what they have done to this former Victorian corner pub is a complete travesty.
But this is trendy Upper Street, full in the teeth of the gentrification which has swept through Islington and made Upper Street completely unrecognisable from the street which still holds the record of providing the most frightening evening of my life back in 1981 when I was caught up in all the silliness at the height of the riots sweeping the UK.
So the trick with a lot of the establishments on Upper Street is to consider them to be trendy cocktail and wine bars and then you will get The Library.
Whilst walking back to the tube station we were attracted in by the blackboard proclaiming half price Happy Hour on all cocktails and I entered with no preconceptions of this being a normal pub visit.
As others report this is the place to take your good lady to and gaze into her eyes across the Tee light candles, if you can see where her eyes are in the gloom of the dark interior. Or for the young and trendy things of Islington Borough to meet in after work and make a couple of bottles of Pinot Grigio disappear.
But for someone who the expression of young and trendy has not been applied for many moons I did find something of interest when approaching the bar. Although there is still nothing interesting on the taps they have caught the Craft Ale fever and a large chalk board above the bar details a decent range of bottled beers now available. These included brews from Bristol beer factory, Brewdog and the local Beaver Town Brewery.
The wife was happy with her two half priced cocktails and I was happy with a couple of bottles of Punk IPA and BBF Independence, so the dim ambience and wine bar feel of the Library was fit for purpose for our visit, but suffice to say not one I will be dragging the lads back to for a session..
On 17th April 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Library
Originally the Angel & Crown but having had a series of trendy name changes (the Cedar Room, the Lush Bar, Independence) it has now settled on the Library which was quite apt given my previous visit here when the bum to seat ratio came out firmly in favour of the seats.
My recent visit found it populated enough not to get a seat but not over packed although a couple at the bar before me walked out, clearly fed up with the wait to be served. There loss was my gain as I was served immediately upon their departure although given the choice at the bar, this may not have been a good thing. Being an ale free zone, I decided to go adventurous and opted for a pint of Leffe Blonde for which my fiver was still 6 bob short and since I don’t normally drink the stuff I can’t say whether this was good value or not but my general feeling suggests the latter.
The interior has little going for it, in fact it is quite a dingy place consisting of a knocked through room with bar at the far end. At the front is a raised stage area (in the process of being set up for some live music) and by the main door, a DJ Booth.
To be honest, I only popped in as my previous visit was some time ago and didn’t warrant a review and I wanted to get an update to present a fair and current reflection of the place. I can now say it’s still as dismal as before.
On 22nd May 2012
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Library
This pub is on the busy upper street but once inside here it was very quiet just like a library so they got the name right.
Getting served here was easy as there were about 7 bar staff and one customer,there were no real ales on here with the only bitter being John Smiths smooth rubbish so i had a Guinness.
This is not my sort of pub.
On 7th February 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Library
This place is now called the Library and during my week night visit I felt like I had actually walked into one. This is a place for people who don't do pubs. My change was returned on a tray and it was dark and depressing.
I left whilst I still had some energy left.
On 24th August 2009
- rating: 3
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]