About This Pub
Oh, what a gem the Canonbury Tavern is, tucked away in that quaint part of Islington – it's one of those places you stumble upon and think, 'Why haven't I been here sooner?' From what I've gathered from the buzz around it, folks absolutely rave about the food; imagine tucking into perfectly crunchy chicken wings or a hearty smoked haddock kedgeree that leaves you wanting more. That Sunday roast is meant to be a standout, and the seafood shack brings a bit of coastal flair right to the heart of the city, which is just brilliant for a casual lunch or dinner. The garden's a real highlight too, especially on a sunny day when you're sipping on a refreshing spritz – it's made for those lazy afternoons catching up with friends. And if you're planning something special like a wedding, it sounds like they've got it sorted, with helpful staff making the whole thing feel effortless. With a solid 4.0 rating overall and recent reviews averaging 4.4, it's clear most people walk away chuffed. But let's be honest, it's not all perfect – I've heard a few tales of service hiccups, where the team seemed a bit green and things got a touch disorganised, which could spoil the mood if you're after seamless attention. Still, it's got that warm, community feel that's hard to beat, so if you're heading out for a pint or a meal, I'd say give it a go and keep your expectations in check for the little niggles. All in all, it's a solid choice for a good night out in London.
Pros and Cons
Pros
-
The food is absolutely spot on – from mouth-watering Sunday roasts to fresh seafood at the C Shack, it's a real treat for anyone popping in for a bite.
-
The garden is a lovely spot for soaking up the sunshine with a spritz or a pint, making it perfect for relaxed afternoons with mates.
-
It's brilliant for events like weddings or gatherings; the team helps make everything seamless, as one reviewer shared about their special day.
-
A great selection of drinks, including real ales, craft beers, and cocktails, means there's something to suit every taste and wash down those tasty dishes.
Cons
-
Service can be a bit inconsistent at times, with some staff seeming new and a tad unsure, which might put a dampener on your visit.
-
The garden sometimes closes earlier than you'd hope, like at 9:30pm, which can lead to the indoor area getting packed and a bit chaotic.
Contact Information
21 Canonbury Pl, London N1 2NS
+442077042887
Pub
Opens at 12:00
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Friday | 11:00 - 23:30 |
| Saturday (Today) | 12:00 - 23:30 |
| Sunday | 12:00 - 22:30 |
Recent Reviews
We hosted our wedding reception at the Canonbury Tavern, and it was genuinely one of the best decisions we made during our wedding planning. From start to finish, everything about the experience was seamless, relaxed, and absolutely wonderful.
The coordination in the lead-up to the day was smooth and easygoing. We were able to visit the venue several times in advance, which really helped us plan our decor and visualise how everything would come together. The staff was incredibly flexible and supportive — when rain changed our original plan for an outdoor reception, they pivoted effortlessly and set everything up inside the beautiful Spencer Room without a hitch.
The venue itself is stunning. We received so many compliments from our guests about how gorgeous the space was, and we were able to take some truly amazing photos indoors. The food was absolutely delicious — people are still talking about it — and the service throughout the evening was attentive and warm.
We danced the night away and couldn't have imagined a better setting or team to help us celebrate. A massive thank you to Emma and Ross for making our wedding day unforgettable. We’re beyond grateful!
Highly recommend the Canonbury Tavern for any special occasion — it's a gem.
The venue and garden is lovely and the food and drink offerings were great, however the staff really let the place down. (Cannot fault the host, she was great) But all other staff had no idea what was going on, it appeared to be everyone’s first day. We had reserved a table for lunch on Saturday, we asked a waiter to move into a shady spot as we were quite hot. He very casually said ‘yeah every man for himself’ without breaking his stride. Once we had moved we were advised by the host that the table we had moved to was reserved and we would have to leave, despite having full plates of food which had just arrived. By this point our original table had also been taken. When ordering our cocktails, the bar staff had no idea that these were available (despite having a full spritz menu and being posted on their social media). The 3 staff that served us on separate occasions all had to find the menu to learn how to make them while serving us. The third waiter walked away for 5 minutes after ordering to then advise they were out of ‘basically all’ the ingredients for our drinks (a Hugo spritz and strawberries and cream spritz). It’s a shame because the venue is lovely but there needs to be more consistency with staff. When I was recommended to visit, I was warned about the staff not knowing what they’re doing so unfortunately this isn’t a first. I had brought friends here as it was my birthday and sadly everyone said they wouldn’t return.
Visited today for a work colleague leaving lunch, our group of 7 enjoyed a drink and lunch.
Food was fresh and plentiful, I personally opted for Smoked haddock kedgeree from the lunch menu, never had this before but would certainly have again.
Enjoyed this place so much, my partner and I are planning to visit over summer away from work, for drinks and to hopefully meet again the staff and especially the pub dog, which was a real treat.
Thanks again team and see you soon.
Great venue with lots of outdoor seating make this a busy spot, but also serves a surprisingly decent pint of Guinness.
Hopefully they can keep the garden open for longer over the summer (9:30pm) when I was there which meant the indoor area was packed.
The sticky chicken wings and chips were perfectly crunchy with a soft center, the mayo had some secret condiment magic going on that took everything to the next level.
For desert I had the vanilla and salted caramel ice cream.
Great service as well definitely a 10/10 for me😊
Would I come back? Try and stop me!
Nearby Pubs - Perfect Pub Crawl
Discover the 5 closest pubs to this location for an ideal pub crawl experience.
83 St Paul's Rd, Greater, London N1 2LY
84/100
0.1mi
32 Canonbury St, London N1 2TB
86/100
0.2mi
52 Canonbury Rd, London N1 2HS
88/100
0.2mi
63-69 Canonbury Rd, London N1 2DG
84/100
0.2mi
2A Corsica St, London N5 1JJ
86/100
0.3mi