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Picture of Islington Arts Club
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Thursday, 5th December 2019
With picture contributions to 5110 other pubs
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Requested be closed with reason - Other: Opened then closed with the promise of 'coming soon'.

Islington Arts Club, N1

235 Upper Street
N1
N1 1RU
Correct details

Reviews of Islington Arts Club (Average Rating: 4 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

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 3322 recommendations about 3259 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 1956 recommendations about 1923 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 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


View more reviews of Islington Arts Club (6)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Steve C
Highbury & Islington, 0.19 miles, 3 min walk (show)
Highbury & Islington, 0.19 miles, 3 min walk (show)
Essex Road, 0.5 miles, 9 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for Islington Arts Club, N1
13th Jan 2024, 19:38
Request to mark pub as closed by Tris C approved
 
13th Jan 2024, 19:36
Request to mark pub as closed submitted by Tris C, with included notes: Other: Opened then closed with the promise of 'coming soon'.

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 17 April 2015 by Tris C
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 30 April 2018 by Komakino .
  • Car Park : No last updated 17 April 2015 by Tris C
  • Child Friendly : No last updated 30 April 2018 by Komakino .
  • Darts : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Dog Friendly : No last updated 30 April 2018 by Komakino .
  • Function Room : No last updated 30 April 2018 by Komakino .
  • Hot Food : Yes - limited - last updated 04 December 2019 by Graham Coombs
  • Jukebox : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Karaoke : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Live Music : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Micropub : No last updated 17 April 2015 by Tris C
  • Pinball : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Pool Table : No last updated 30 April 2018 by Komakino .
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • Real Ale : No last updated 07 December 2022 by Rex Rattus
  • Real Cider : Yes last updated 04 December 2019 by Graham Coombs
  • Wheelchair Access : No - WCs downstairs. - last updated 20 October 2016 by Tris C
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 30 April 2018 by Komakino .
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