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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 10th December 2023) with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Rex Rattus
Submitted on Saturday, 18th January 2020
With picture contributions to 1103 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (6 more images)
Detail Pages
Bank of Friendship, Highbury, N5
N5
N5 1EA
Served areas
Bank of Friendship
Open Sat 3pm, but....a few things.
Social distancing protocols in place.
Greatly reduced capacity
Entry limited to… https://t.co/R5GEwnTTSs
10:33 PM Jun 29th 2020 from Twitter for iPhone
Reviews of Bank of Friendship (Average Rating: 7 of 10) 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 1881 recommendations about 1851 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 435 recommendations about 407 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]
View more reviews of Bank of Friendship (5)
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- Official site of Bank of Friendship - www.bankoffriendship.com
- Facebook - Bank of Friendship
- Twitter - Bank of Friendship
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Bank of Friendship - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Drayton Park, 0.69 miles, 13 min walk (show)
Canonbury, 1.01 miles, 19 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 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10% guest beers only - last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : No - Over 21s only. - last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : No - Dog-free zone. - last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pinball : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 03 September 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : No last updated 18 October 2017 by ROB Camra
