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Bank of Friendship, Highbury, N5

224 Blackstock Road
N5
N5 1EA

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about Bank of Friendship

Dating from the late 19th century, but now probably an inter-war years', the pub has a very fine interwar-years interior which is on CAMRA’s heritage inventory due to it being of Regional Importance.
It’s certainly of interest: the pub was built for Courage, displaying the brewer’s name and that of the pub to a rare orange illuminated bar back parapet, to both sides as this is a two-roomed pub. Much of the interior seems to be pale wood and field panelled, with off-centre glass panes to the doors which looks very 1930s. There are fake black exposed rafters to the ceiling (see photo), wood floor and good period fireplaces with tiled surrounds, still in use with gas coal. There are plain wood dado and picture rails to white walls, lighting coming from hanging opaque glass lamps and tulip-style sconces. Furniture is plain with some partially upholstered benches, possibly original. There are tea lights in glass holders to tables and much of the décor is old Courage material. The pub is the closest to the old Arsenal stadium – Highbury. Matches could undoubtedly be heard from the substantial garden. Unsurprisingly, there’s much Arsenal stuff, such as old team photos, photos of the old stadium and some framed shirts, possibly signed.
Customers seemed to be fairly mixed professional Highbury types, making for a very good boozer vibe. Lavs are good, with Duchamp-style urinals but maybe not original.
Staff were friendly, the ale choice amounting to Pride, Hammerton’s N7 and Hophead at £4.70 a pint and in fine form.
This is the best pub in N5 and one of the best in Islington; I’d be happy to come here again if passing and would consider a detour to do so.

On 24th February 2022 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


paulof horsham left this review about Bank of Friendship

3 pumps were on the bar, but none in use, so an overpriced, and not particularly pleasant, pint of Hammerton Pale it was. A quiet beer garden keeping the traffic noise at bay was the only saving grace on a disappointing visit. Can't think of a good reason to return, even if I were to find myself in the vicinity.

On 28th August 2021 - rating: 4
[User has posted 449 recommendations about 421 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about Bank of Friendship

Like previous reviewers, I also found three real ales on, with London Pride, Hammerton N1, and Gritchie Moon Lore (£4.60 a pint) all on. I went for the latter as it was a new one on me, and it's branded as a new world pale ale, at 3.7%. It was OK without being anything special. No sign of food late afternoon on a Wednesday, although there were gin menus on the tables.

This pub is now on CAMRA's Regional Inventory of pubs with historic interiors. This must be because it still has two separate rooms, connected to each other at the back behind the servery, as well as some old Courage signage at the top of the bar back in the right hand room. The room on the left is more basic than the one on the right - bare-boarded compared to carpetted, and lacking the moody tea lights on the tables to which any customers in the right hand room are treated. There's a nice fireplace in the right hand room as well, with a gas coal-effect fire alight, and with the only real downside being that the tea lights don't provide enough light for anyone wishing to read. There's also a garden at the back.

This is a friendly, comfortable and welcoming pub. but probably best avoided when Arsenal are playing at home.

On 28th January 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Bank of Friendship

Bar and lounge served from a horseshoe shaped bar. 3 real ales served.

On 1st November 2014 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Bank of Friendship

This is a very nice pub with a friendly barman and a good local crowd, even when there is no match on which indicates that this pub doesn't rest on its laurels and just milk its location.

I had a very nice pint of Pride, but Greene King IPA and Seafarers were also available along with Amstel and a selection of standard lagers.

The public bar has a small portable TV up on the wall, but this was off as all the people that were watching the sport were in the other bar with the plasmas. There is a dartboard at the rear of this bar with plenty of space around it, so no stepping on each others toes!

I liked it in here and would gladly go back to listen to the funny old boys at the bar.

On 19th May 2009 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]