Island Queen in Islington

I wish I had looked at the recent reviews. Staff really need to be trained in customer service as they don’t seem to care about the customer at all. Sunday roasts were average and lukewarm. Best thing is the decor. Could be so much better.

I don’t even remember how I managed to get here and went home from here after the 11-hour overnight flight from San Francisco to London. It was nice to catch up with some friends here, though. I was starving after the long flight, so I ordered a steak, and we sat on the second floor, which was quiet and private, just for our group of 8 people. The live music was great—recommended

Lovely pub, shame about the service. Roast dinner was lukewarm, there was no coffee or sticky toffee pudding available. No ‘is everything ok?’ or apology when the lukewarm apple crumble (with lumpy custard) arrived an hour after ordering. Service charge left on the bill.

Popped in for some food and a drink. It’s a nice pub but the food was not great, only simple options, some were unavailable, and they were small portions for the price - it doesn’t compare to what you’d expect. The music was muffled to the point of being distracting, and I agree with the comments about this being the most expensive pint in the area.

Highly overpriced food for a mediocre pub

An average pub, with a good atmosphere and horrible food. In general it's not great but it's not terrible either 🍻

Nice interior, however the drinks are probably the most expensive of any pub in the area. Went for the roast and it too was expensive and wasn’t that good. Staff were quite rude and unhelpful when it came to allergies.

The Pub itself is lovely decorated. Although the saffron aioli has no saffron in it, the starters we had were good. Unfortunately I received the worst beer pour in my life. Only half of the 440ml can beer successfully made it into my glass. The waiter even had accidental eye contact with me while he poured the foam into the sink, but insisted the beer „was fine“.

they only bloody ran out of roast before 2:30. No pies, no steak, no bangers and mash. Who’s running this joint. Avoid if hungry.

Adore you Island Queen. Been a staple in my pub trips for the last 4 years and never disappoints at all. Prices are slightly ridiculous now but a central Angel quirky pub is worth paying for.

Hi Island Queen, I had my 60th birthday party in your Gin Lounge upstairs from 1-6pm, 11th August. There were about 60 people that attended throughout the afternoon. The room was lovely, as was the food. Everyone had a good time. A few things could have been better. You had a staff member assigned to look after us but she did not introduce herself to me, so I didn't know who I had to be looking for if things needed doing. We kept running out of glasses and when we asked for more, we were told that was all there were. More could have been had if used ones were cleared and washed as they were clearly accumulating. Plates were also accumulating also from the buffet and not cleared away. We also had to plead for more ice for drinks as if it was something unreasonable to ask for. Generally, the feeling was that everything was provided up front and then we were just left to fend for ourselves. Given the large amount spent on hospitality, more attention could have been paid to us during the event itself. That the party went off well was partly due to a guest of mine who worked in hospitality and took it upon himself to direct your staff what needed to be done. This allowed me to enjoy my party. The drinks packages were out of date and did not provide an accurate list of what you provided. Luckily the substitutes were fine. In summary, a manager to liaise closely with through the event to make sure the hospitality was seamless would have been good. Lawrence

My favourite pub! Celebrated my hen party in the upstairs private room and it was the perfect size and feel - custom playlist, cool decoration, delicious food. Highly recommend TIQ.

We recently hired the gin lounge for my sister's hen do. Just wanted to say how amazing the staff were! They helped us with decorations, dealt with our annoying requests, let us leave some bits there when we moved on, made giant rounds of baby Guinness and were just generally very accommodating. Thanks for having us!

Great place for a drink, nice atmosphere and friendly. Cannot advise eating there however. I regularly go to pubs in London and am no stranger to the completely average £15 burger, but this was poor even by those standards. The burger was small and looked like a supermarket burger had just been slapped in a microwave-defrosted bun. My friend had the fish and chips which looked and tasted like an oven-cooked Iceland special (the shop, not the country). Go for the beer but eat somewhere else!

First visit, great interior and decor which everone liked. Staff greeted us as soon as we entered, food was good honest pub food, which was what we wanted, and service was good and friendly. Overall a good experience.

Solid local. Bit of a wanky vibe at times, but what do you expect in Islington

Lovely pub, and great staff. The guy with dreads and glasses is so friendly and happy consistently every time, and remembers chats we had all forgotten each time we pop in for cheeky lunchtime work drinks. So we want to give him his props as nice to not to see a moody barman. Good team, good service!

I went here for food and drinks recently with a bunch of friends, had really great service and the place had a great vibe, would definitely return

10/10 experience every-time, lovely staff and vibe is great

Atmosphere great and a lovely pub. Food needs a defo improvement, very dry and lacking in flavour. And the pints are quite expensive!

Lovely pub, love the decor. A little out of the way, but worth it. Staff are very friendly, great service. Not overcrowded. I had the plant based burger served with fries. It was lovely. Average prices for the area. Cocktails are around £12. I would definitely go back.

Great pub lovely atmosphere and food. shout out too Rich for taking care of us!

Champion pub- full of energy and character! Thanks to Rich for being a super host!

We had a group of 15 for lunch and were sat at tables in our own corner downstairs. Food came out a bit randomly, but was good quality and decent value. Drinks kept coming with admirable efficiency and we were well looked after by the staff. The fact that lunch continued until 4 o'clock suggests that we were enjoying the visit to this well-looked after old pub.

Amazing Sunday roast. And great service from Cristian! Thank you

Friendly service, great range of products, Cristian in particular was super helpful

Great place for a pint of anything. Great character place and super friendly. Just had a drink here.

Delicious meal and great service!

A very nicely furnished pub in Angel, on this Friday afternoon it is quite empty. The menu offers main courses between £15 and £27. I choose the "Steak, Shin & Pale Ale Pie (slow-cooked steak & beef shin in a rich St Austell Brewery Tribute gravy, clotted cream mash, pangrattato crumb, buttered leeks, savoy cabbage, bordelaise sauce)". The lid of the pie is rock hard and can hardly be divided with the cutlery available. The meat underneath is tender and delicious. I can't detect the advertised "buttered leeks". The service is not having a good day. Even ordering a drink at the counter is a challenge: the staff member's condescending manner makes me feel tolerated rather than welcome as a guest. The young man who serves and clears my food also avoids eye contact as well as asking me if I've enjoyed my meal. The pub's handling of critical feedback on Google is similarly special: the video recordings are often used to cast doubt on the guests' statements. Category: Moderate Ambience: 5 stars Service: 1 star Cuisine: 4 stars Value for money: 3 stars Re-visit factor: 1 star

Read the wine list if you can find one at the bar. Cost of a pint and a glass of wine varies between £17-£20+ a round. Two pino grigio at different prices. Hard boiled customers won't share a spare seat at the end of a table they're not using.

A very nicely decorated pub in Angel, it's quite empty on this Friday afternoon. The menu offers main courses between £15 and £27. I choose "Steak, Shin & Pale Ale Pie (slow-cooked steak & beef shin in a rich St Austell Brewery Tribute gravy, clotted cream mash, pangrattato crumb, buttered leeks, savoy cabbage, bordelaise sauce)". The lid of the pie is rock hard and almost impossible to share with the cutlery available. The meat underneath is tender and delicious. I can't find the advertised "buttered leeks". The service is not having a good day. Even ordering drinks at the counter is a challenge: given the condescending manner of the employee, I don't feel welcome as a guest, but rather tolerated. The young man who serves and clears away my food also avoids both eye contact and asking whether it was tasty. The way the pub deals with critical feedback on Google is similarly special: the video recordings are often used to cast doubt on the information provided by the guests. Conclusion: Nice ambience, service and corporate communication need improvement. Category: Moderate Ambiance: 5 stars Service: 1 star Culinary: 4 stars Value for money: 3 stars Revisit factor: 1 star

Hidden gem and one of the nicest pubs in Islington. Located next to the canal in quiet neighbourhood! Excellent food and service

Very friendly professional staff, a cracking pint of Guinness.

Overall a great pub with attentive service and nice vibes, however, suggest to avoid the nachos at all cost. Everything else is top notch.

If you're going to Serve ok food you should make up for it with better than ok service. Why would you serve food to people at 7pm on a table thats reserved at 7.30pm with no mention of it? Or accept a last minute reservation on a table where people have just started eating? Was told to hurry up and move with chips left on our plates and an inch of our pints left. With no apology or acknowledgement that this was rude and an odd way to operate a food service. We'd have stayed for more drinks and dessert but went to the far more welcoming Wenlock Arms for post dinner drinks instead. Can't be bothered vibe from the staff which is a shame as the venue is gorgeous.

Terribly run pub. Don’t go here

Beer tasted like quavers.they changed it, for another bad pint. Burger; I'd sooner go to whether spoons. Paid £20, would rate a £7.99 worthy. Didn't match anything it said in 'burger wednesdays' (none of the ingredients we paid for) Good for a drink, bad for meal.

Nice, quiet pub to enjoy English pub culture, without all the outside noise.

Really nice old school pub. We went early in the afternoon for a catch-up with friends, and it was quiet. However, we did notice that all the tables had messages stating they were reserved from 17:30 onwards. Also, they had large screen TVs for watching the sports, these were turned off while we were there. It appeared to be an independent pub with a nice selection of beer and cider on draft. The food we had was nice, but the selection was limited.

Great little pub this one. Loads of character. Couple of celebs in there too.

I came to the pub on Saturday evening for my birthday celebrations and was overwhelmed with the welcome we received by the staff. The bar staff, obviously quite busy on a Saturday night, were both professional and attentive to all of us throughout the night. The kitchen staff went above and beyond, served some absolutely delicious meals and showed great respect for some of my groups more specific dietary requirements; making them feel cared for with every interaction. The pub itself is absolutely stunning and has a fantastic vibe but the respect and attention we received as a slightly larger group was the highlight of the evening.

Lovely pub but poor service (understaffed) when we last visited

Take a detour off the canal for this quaint English pub - worth your time. Fantastic gin selection.

Cozy London pub with a great atmosphere. Unfortunately there was no Sunday roasts left when we arrived at 6pm, but the meals we ended up ordering were flawless in themselves. Great bar staff were welcoming and efficient.

A hidden gem in Angel with a great Guinness! All the food we tried was spot on, the pub has such a chilled and comfortable atmosphere, with a real sense of community and friendly and welcoming staff.

Great spot that I’ve only just discovered but absolutely will visit again - brilliant food (fried chicken is top tier) and a relaxed local pub kind of atmosphere, what more can you want, only issue is I don’t live closer to it.

Local pub, it had nice interiors and good range of drinks. Booked for a large group (10+) for Sunday birthday dinner. Arrived and they had only set aside a table for 4. No Sunday roasts available either, despite pre booking a week out for a large group. Ordered from the regular menu and 3 meals arrived quickly, the others took another hour. It was at least 30mins before we were informed they ran out of chips, so had to go to the shops. Food for the rest of our table took much longer. The food was average, not worth the extended wait times, and a pity about the lack of roast available on a Sunday - needs some more pre-planning from the kitchen based on numbers booked and better communication. I wouldn’t recommend this pub - lots of better options in the area.

One of London's many pretty Victorian pubs, this one a converted gin palace. An historic but tasteful Caribbean theme abounds. The interior is complete with decorated glass and nice cushions. Decent selection of beers and spirits. The food portions are awfully light, especially considering the price (even for Islington). I didn't have problems with the service, but I noted that had to wait longer to get their grub after ordering.

Haven't been to this pub in a long time, but had such a great night with my partner. We didn't even know there was such a gorgeous room upstairs, so cosy, and the staff were so friendly everytime they brought our drinks up that we ordered on the app, even with all the stairs. Our new date night spot for sure!

Beautiful old Victorian gin palace. Super tasty food and Steph drinks. Friendly staff, a cracking local pub

Our experience was, as it ALWAYS is with the Island Queen, superb! The staff were deeply helpful and perfect, the space is beautiful, and the food delicious - thank you!

Such a cute pub right by the canal. Cozy old pub looks, but modern vibes. Menu has everything from traditional Sunday roast to vegan arancini (yes!), staff is helpful and quick.

What a gem 🥰🥰 I only discovered the place recently as I'm new to the area. The food is incredible! Probably the best Sunday roast I've had in a while. The staff is supper attentive and helpful. I will definitely be a regular:)

Lovely staff. Lovely chicken. What’s not to love?

Such a great pub and vibe - great service and staff are super nice. Can't beat for a summer beer and meal.

Love this space. I come here occassionally for a few pints and pub grub. Went in the other day and spoke with the new manager - lovely guy.

Nice food and drinks. I liked the negroni. You can order via the app as well which is nice 😊 good options for vegetarians and pescatarians. Nice area, as well.

Gorgeous pub and great service. Food was a bit disappointing, roast potatoes were more like boiled and all gravy and sauces were pretty minimal, food generally not that hot. Was a shame really.

Came to this pub for the first time last week and I love it! Beautifully decorated, food was delicious, great atmosphere and the staff were wonderful.

Gorgeous pub and beautifully decorated. Really good atmosphere and food. Staff super friendly too. Will be back soon for sure

Really delicious good quality food!! Also really great that they permit dogs, nice cozy interior too 😊

Really gorgeous local pub with beautiful decor and an upstairs function room.

Staff were friendly and helpful. Food was awful. There was only half the menu available in the first place, this isn’t the first time this has happened. My veggie burger came out cold and still frozen in the middle.

Five stars for the Private Room upstairs. The team were accommodating for us to rearrange the tables into this long table for 25 people sit down. We had the best time. Incredible vibes for a birthday dinner! Thank you so much!

Amazing little pub I live it and looks great after a recent refurb. Cosy quiet drinks and a delicious roast. Would recommend.

They have Pepsi on tap (not derogatory) plus the guy who served me was lovely and the food was acc nice

Build a bridge over troubled waters and cast away your worries with a pint at The Island Queen. 5 star admirable service for all aboard, this ferry good establishment caters for every taste, even the most Pacific. Went to see the Rugby and disembarked with a lega-sea of good memories, knot one to be missed, the mast fun you'll have all year!

The pub offers a warm and inviting atmosphere with friendly staff and a wide selection of drinks . The food is delicious, offering both classic pub fare and more. Each aspect of the experience is a testament to the pursuit of excellence. The cozy ambiance makes it a great spot for gathering with friends or enjoying a quiet evening alone. Overall, a fantastic experience that keeps me coming back again and again and consistently delivers a memorable and elegant experience.

Speechless!!! Such an amazing hidden pub, just discovered today with my friends and have had an amazing time 😍 nice vibe, good food, warm atmosphere and friendly stuff, especially the guy called Conor, all around us whenever we needed something and make us feel home 🤍 Highly recommend and worth for people want to experience something different ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing bangers and mash and fish and chips. Very good Guinness and a good ale, Landlord. Super friendly staff, can't remember the name of our server. Will be back for sure 😉

Had my birthday there - Venue and atmosphere is great and the staff lovely

The Island Queen: classy shipwreck vibes, potent drinks, service that's a coin toss between charming and shiver me timbers.

I had been here for food, the food was excellent , the bar staff were very freindly

What an amazing pub. And the staff, OMG!! They are amazing. Everytime I'm in the area I pop in to have a nice meal and a good beer.

Staff were nice enough but the food was awful! Possibly the worst vegetarian nut roast we've ever had. Soggy nut roast, the " roast potatoes" were scraps of damp , boiled potatoes. The carrots and parsnips were gross- hard and tasteless! They don't offer any children's menu, which was disappointing. As the main was so unappetising , we didn't bother with the desserts! Won't bother going back to eat. Overpriced too!

Staff were great. But the food was awful! Overpriced and extremely poor quality! Possibly the worst nut roast I've ever had in my life - soggy and the vegetables were gross ! " Roast" potatoes were damp, white scraps of soggy boiled potatoes! Won't be going back!

I really like this Lovely pub! It has a great atmosphere and friendly staff, and the food was excellent! Will definitely be going there again.I highly recommend it.

Beautiful old pub next to the Canal had an amazing sausage and mash and pint of tribute was spot on Conor was a great host!

Nice local pub. Was there 7-9pm on a Saturday it was a great vibe and busy. Would recommend. ~£7 pints

Lovely pub, friendly staff! Conor was very welcoming and attentive. I will be back soon!

I was very disappointed - I had made the booking, hoping that we would be able to have food before going on to the next part of my birthday celebration, but the kitchen was closed. We had no idea and so it put our plans in flux. It would have been good if an email could have advised that this was going to happen so we could have changed our plans in advance.

I miss the marionettes but still managed to have a good time

The staff were so lovely and friendly and made us feel very welcome! Thank you to the barman for helping me to remember on which order to take the salt and lemon when ordering a tequila - I’d completely forgotten!

Staff were lovely and helped make it a very memorable birthday. Bravo!

Another pub with no bitter available !

One of the most authentic, welcoming and beautiful pubs in all the land! Our family and friends have been visiting for over 40 years and it gracefully modernises over the years and accommodates all!

Wonderful looking pub… redecorated without losing its charm Great place to meet and entertain friends

Cute place to come and have a drink and some food if your peckish.

Been coming here for years.. One of the coolest pubs in London. Always good atmosphere, staff are friendly and the food is delicious- highly recommend the roasts and joining for their pub quiz too!

Happy time. Good lighting. Good service.

Love this place. Victorian but not over the top. Good chips.

Cozy little nook in the heart of London

We recently moved to the area and came here for the first time last night. There were a lot of tables booked for diners, but we managed to find one that wasn’t. About 3/4 through a bottle of red we were asked to move tables, with no explanation. We did as we were told, but we were moved to a table that was booked and the people who booked it were angry. So they moved us again, but there was nowhere to sit, we had to share a table with another couple. The staff were very rude, and handled the whole situation badly. Such a shame as it’s a beautiful pub. Luckily there are lots of other lovely pubs in the area, we won’t be going back!

Fantastic in every way - we had the private room upstairs for our company team drinks and it was one of the best venues we've been too. Service from the whole team was great. Connor was brilliant at helping me with the organisation and food ordering. Food we ordered (buffet) was gorgeous and no problem when we asked to order additional items. And we love the pub it self - so much history and beautiful decor.

First-time visitor. Came for the quiz. Thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Should be back again.

Quite possibly one of the nicest, most relaxed, best service pubs in London! A real hidden gem

Excellent cuisine, good service! Nice atmosphere!

Traditional pub with stunning interior that’s been very well maintained. A few good beers to choose from at higher than average prices.

Stunning & very spacious pub! Loved the interior. Food is nice, we had Sunday roast. Good variety of veggie options. Would deffo come for a drink again!

Nice classic pub menu. Beautiful pub, decent atmosphere.