What a great pub! Fantastic selection of cask ale (8 pumps), keg ales & ciders. The small pub is beautifully layed out for conversation at the bar, and on a number of tables - tastefully decorated like a proper, traditional London pub of old - not fancy, but inviting. This is NOT really a food establishment - beer the champion, but they do have a few limited bar snacks like pasties, sausage rolls, pickled eggs, pork pies and so on - which is above the usual crisps or peanuts.
Very much like it's sister pub The Southampton Arms, this new boozer delivers on every level. Loads of decent cask ales and real ciders, crackly vinyl playing in the background, light pouring in through large front windows, and decent prices - just over £5 for a 4.5% ale, more for stronger ales. Mad Decent! 👍
🚇 Highbury & Islington
🍺 £5.57 Barley Pop Lager
The Pocket is located just off the Highbury Corner end of Upper Street in Islington, North London. The nearest Tube is Highbury & Islington.
This pub was formerly known as The Four Sisters which closed its doors in 2021. The pub reopened as The Pocket a few weeks back and is run by the same people as the magnificent Southampton Arms in NW5 and the excellent Cock Tavern in E8.
This is a traditionally decorated one bar pub that has a lot of similarities to The Southampton. The servery is located on the left hand side, and looks as if pints have crossed its counter for many a year. To left of the servery is a seating area with a handful of tables and a nice view across to a Victorian terrace. Just by the door is a Bechstein piano which was bought from Harrod’s in 1874. Opposite the servery is a sturdy drinking ledge with beautiful mahogany wall panels. At the rear of the bar is a cosy snug with some pews, some eclectic artworks and a nice alcove with a vintage Charrington’s mirror.
The beer selection is outstanding and offers a range of eight cask ales, ten keg taps and six ciders. I decided on a Barley Pop Lager by the owners @howlinghops . My pint was great and reasonably priced at £5.57. The beer pricing here depends on the strength/ABV (alcohol by volume) of your beer, the stronger your beer, you pay a bit extra.
Food-wise, it’s hot Cornish pasties, sausage rolls, pork pies, vegan mushroom rolls, pickled eggs and pickled onions, yum!
I arrived just after 3pm on a sunny Saturday afternoon in April. There were a dozen or so punters in attendance dotted around the pub. The atmosphere was calm, relaxed and convivial, and all set to a vinyl soundtrack. The service is first class, the friendly team helped me navigate the taps to help me choose the perfect pint.
It’s always great to see a new pub open, even more so when you see a pub of this high standard. I absolutely loved my time here, I can’t recommend a visit highly enough.
Follow @thepocketn1 for updates.
📅 5th April 2025
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A really wonderful addition to the London pub scene. Light pours in through the large front facing windows and the interior oozes atmosphere. Wood panelling adorns the walls and there is an overall clean yet classic aesthetic . It's very much in the vein of their other pubs with the focus being on quality ales and ciders from independent producers. Sorry you won't find any big brand nonsense in here. They have a simple food offering of pork pies, sausage rolls and Cornish pasties. All served on white enamel plates with a healthy dollop of Coleman's mustard on the side. Perfect for soaking up those pints. The atmosphere at the time of my visit was bustling and convivial . The lack of soft furnishings does mean the acoustics can be unrelenting at times especially if you're sat adjacent to Brian Blessed. The location is super convenient being only a short walk from Highbury and Islington underground station. If you're after fresh cask ale that is well kept and presented then look no further . I can see myself becoming a regular here. Long may it last
Lots of keg and cask taps with a wide range of quality beer and cider. Reasonable prices. Helpful and friendly staff. Vinyl records and then a jazz trio providing the music. What's not to like?