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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Saturday, 9th March 2019
With picture contributions to 9808 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The George & Monkey, EC1
EC1
EC1R 1UU
Served areas
Reviews of The George & Monkey (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The George & Monkey
This is a backstreet pub with a modest location about 5 minutes walk from Angel station, but in the opposite direction to the majority of Islington’s pubs and bars. It’s a pleasant enough two room pub and its inconspicuous location didn’t seem to be a problem, as the place was absolutely packed when I visited on a midweek evening. The front room has distressed floorboards, low wood panelled wall and neutral shaded upper sections, making it all feel a little plain and generic. The bar is down the left-hand wall and has a basic wood panel counter front and simple bar back with some brick-print wallpaper and modern shelving units topped with a stuffed vervet monkey in a bow tie, plus an impressive amount of potted plants, with a grandly framed, oval mirror over to one side. Tables and chairs fill a modest sized open space to the right - the only seating options in this room apart from a few bar stools along the servery. The rear room was unbelievably busy - easily the busiest of any pub I’ve been to since the start of the pandemic - which made it very difficult to even enter the room, never mind exploring it. From what I could see, it’s a similarly decorated space with a good amount of chair and banquette seating, again mainly over to the right. I couldn’t work out if the room was being used for a private function or if it just happens to be a very popular pub, but I didn’t get a chance to nose around as a result. A good 70’s soundtrack was playing in the background and unsurprisingly, with such a full house, there was a decent atmosphere.
The bar houses three handpulls, but none of them were in action on this visit, leaving me to choose from their extensive craft keg range instead. Annoyingly, there is no beer boards, and with the pub so busy, bar blockers prevented me from seeing what exactly was on tap, so I plumped for one of the two I could actually make out - Kenal Pale at £5.90 a pint. This was a tasty drop and as time wore on. I was able to discern other options including beers from Beavertown, Wild Beer, Deya, Northern Monk and many more across a total of 14 taps.
This was a slightly underwhelming visit, partly due to not being able to move around the pub, partly due to not being able to figure out the beer range and partly because it’s a pretty bland identikit pub with no stand-out features. I’d say this might be of interest to those looking for a wide selection of craft beers in this part of town, but there wasn’t too much that suggested I’d be rewarded by a repeat visit.
On 17th February 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The George & Monkey
Originally called the Fountain, and more latterly the Amwell Arms and Filthy McNasty's. I've no idea why it should be called the George and Monkey, but there it is. Harvey's Best was the only ale on, with a second pump unclipped. There were masses of keg fonts as well, with most advertising "craft" beers of which I've never heard. They obviously do food as we saw another group tucking into some grub, but I didn't see a menu.
The bar counter's in the front room (with monkey nuts available of course), and through an arch there's another room at the back. Furnishings favour recycled church chairs, and large tables. In fact all but two or three tables were for large parties of six or more, or possibly they envisage communal dining such as I've seen in some clubs. It's all quite minimalist and the most interesting decor was to be found in the gents toilet which featured several prints of Regency pornography. Not seen that in a pub before; wonder what they featured in the ladies? I didn't like to ask a lady coming out of there as my interest could easily have been misconstrued.
I found this pub to be a bit cold and impersonal. But my Harvey's Best was in good shape though.
On 9th February 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The George & Monkey
Block-like corner pub with striped awnings on both facades that would otherwise be quite austere. The interior is quite plain too, with just two tables (and one of those rather long and thus unsuited to smaller groups) in the bar and dark green / cream paintwork which helps give a gloomy look. The side dining room is more fully furnished but shares the same colour scheme. Further seating is available outside on wooden benches along both frontages. It's also worth noting that the etchings in the gents toilets are rather more raunchy than one might expect from an otherwise staid establishment... Just one of the three handpumps was in use, although this thankfully produced a fine pint of Harvey's (£4.80), and there is a reasonable selection of craft and standard keg beers from up to 14 taps. So a mixed bag, but the atmosphere seemed friendly and relaxed.
On 10th March 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
View more reviews of The George & Monkey (6)
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- Official site of The George & Monkey - georgeandmonkey.co.uk
- Facebook - The George & Monkey
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The George & Monkey - whatpub.com
Farringdon (London), 0.81 miles, 15 min walk (show)
London St Pancras International, 0.9 miles, 17 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 17 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : Yes last updated 17 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes - Pizza-orientated. - last updated 18 July 2018 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes last updated 17 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 17 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
- Real Ale : No last updated 03 April 2022 by Rex Rattus
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 17 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : Yes last updated 16 July 2018 by Tris C
