Old China Hand in Islington

The food service or atmosphere isn’t hwy you go. You go cause it’s the old China. Odd, weird, fun, different and local.

A cozy independent pub tucked off Exmouth Market, perfect if you're looking to avoid the usual crowds. They do have weird hours though so check they'll be open before visiting! They've got a great selection of beers - some of the usuals and some lesser-known ones. Don’t miss the English Sparkling wine, and the low-alcohol lager is worth a try too. Prices are reasonable for the area, and the vibe is relaxed and welcoming. The decor is simple with a fun touch, and the owners, often behind the bar, are friendly but not overly chatty. It definitely has a pleasant atmosphere. Just a heads-up: if you have Citystack, they may be a bit unfamiliar with it.

Favourite pub in London. It's cosy and serves great beer. Wonderful and personable landlord. Highly recommend.

Somewhere in between Farringdon and Angel, here is this place that provides us with a unique atmosphere, not your normal british bar nor an exotic venue. It is a place that just gets the right balance of the good old comfort with a twist of new but yet classy. I found this place a "go to" if I want to have a nice chat with friends accompany with good vibe, and, and, and, the most importantly, that they have a very wide ranges of beer choices, which surely will keep you interested.

Great selection of ale and handy for a last pint due to the 2am close. But the regulars are pompous and self entitled buffoons that think it's ok to walk behind the bar on a whim! And staff working a solo shift is absurd!! Abusive customers seem to get more sympathy than a solo staff member juggling serving/stocking/glass collection and keeping order. If you are in with the landlady then you're quids in!! Poor pub!!! The night i was let go i was on a 5pm til closing on my own serving, glass collecting and barrel changing. Leaving a bar unattended is a no no but I had no choice. Then I'd get harangued by customers because they needed serving or there were no glasses. Then a customer buy a pint of IPA. He walks away and over the span of 15 minutes drinks 2/3rds of it. He then comes back to me and says " this pint is a bit off, can I have another one?" If he had come straight back to me I'd have poured another but after 15 minutes? No. He goes off on a rant, I initially stay calm. But because he is not taking the hint I lose it. Anyway, I think all of this was a set up by someone who has no regard for their staff. I'm surprised this place is still trading, I thought COVID would have finished it off!! Piss poor employer!! Constructed dismissal!!!

Staff were great and created a nice atmosphere. Good selection of craft beers

🚇 Angel 🍺 £5.80 Big Smoke Lager Located in historic Clerkenwell close to Exmouth Market, you’ll find The Old China Hand pub. The nearest Tube is Angel, it’s a ten minute walk to get here. This Grade II listed pub was built in 1856 and started life as The Three Crowns. In 2005 the pub was bought by the Smith family and renamed The Old Chine Hand. All the family were born and raised in Hong Kong. Old China Hands is an affectionate term for expats who have spent most of their lives living and working in China This is a cosy one bar pub with an unfussy, stripped back and minimal interior. The servery is located just as you enter on the right hand side. As you head further into the pub there is a narrow section with a Piano and TV. At the back of the bar is a spacious area with two dartboards. There is plenty of sturdy seating throughout, the lighting is low which makes for an atmospheric setting. The beer selection is very unique, in that all of the beers are only from independent breweries based in the UK. I decided on a pint of Big Smoke Lager from Esher brewers @bigsmokebrew . My pint was excellent, price point was less than average. If you have @city_stack beer mats, you can obtain a discount here. There is no food available but you can order in pizzas in. I arrived around 5pm on a mild Saturday afternoon in March. The pub was fairly busy with a predominantly young crowd watching England v Ireland in the six nations. The atmosphere was very relaxed and chilled so it was easy to settle in. I managed to have a chat to the charming owner Rowena who was kind enough to tell me all about her time here at her wonderful pub. This pub is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from roughly 5pm. Visiting The Old China Hand was a fantastic experience, it was great visiting this understated, unique and fiercely independent pub. This “Me Old China Plate” is a must visit London pub. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 09.03.24

There’s no food here but amazing atmosphere and vibe!

My under the radar go to. Fine drinking establishment with fabulous ownership. Come have a beer or play pool Solid spot in Islington area

A superb pub, with an excellent range of drinks (all independent breweries and all great) and the friendliest landlords. A pleasure to visit and a return will be imminent

This place is a hidden gem. Sadly we only discovered it today when we are about to move out of London. The land lady Rowena is so friendly we had such a great chat with her. And lastly they gave the selection of English wines by the glass we have come across. We will definitely be back next time we are in London.

Very cosy and quiet pub We played darts! They also have a collection of games

Really great. Amazing English wine in a cozy pub like environment in London. Just annoyed we didn't discover it sooner.

Gem of a place. Unique and curated list for everything: beers, scotch (Kilkerran and Kilchoman), cider and spirits. English wines by the glass (maybe the only place I've seen this??), friendly service and a place for quiet conversation. It really is perfect

Went for chess club with friends, had a great time 😁 the owner is so sweet and really cares about her customers 🌼

"It was a theme she had On a scheme he had Told in a foreign land..."

I am glad that this pub managed to reopen. It's a gem.

Great pub, fiercely independent, stocks products from independent producers, and has a great selection. Brilliant landlady running the show. Good spot to watch the rugby.

Lovely little spot, quaint and friendly.

Quirky, fun little place with good drinks, board games & dart boards. The proprietor Rowena is lovely, if she's in make sure you take the time to have a chat. No food but you can bring your own or order in pizza

Great local: great range of beers, books and board games to have a cute evening. Will be returning soon

Awesome independent pub in Clerkenwell.

I love The Old China Hand. You walk in and it is like an escape from London. Dart boards for a social game or two and excellent decor. A great place.

Very good range of English wines by the glass.

No food, just drinks. Good selection of draught drinks. Friendly service.

My favourite pub in London, unapologetically different to the usual brewery-owned "gastro" pubs. An incredible range of beers and ciders from all four corners of the United Kingdom, served by welcoming and chatty staff who are passionate about their pub and the drinks they serve. A real treasure

Unusual, yet really quaint. The owner was so friendly and warm. Would love to return soon. The drinks are all craft, even the spirits. Very selective, a fantastic marketing angle.

Perfect place with a huge variety of good beers - all from local small breweries. BYOF.

really great pub with great atmosphere!

Very different to other pubs in the area, ever changing ales and beers and great staff too. I love that you can bring your own pizza too.

Great pub with a good selection of board games

Very cozy and friendly pub with a big variety of British drinks, board games and darts.

Great selection of locally sourced drinks, nice environment and super friendly staff. Big selection of board games and darts available.

A Chinese run pub is unusual in London but you immediately feel this pub is quirky but in a good way. It’s not trying to be different, it just has a different feel. Good selection of whiskeys and beers. Loved this place and the friendly service.

I came with a group of friends to the Old China Hand for the first time this weekend for my birthday. The best Pub in London with really great drinks! We had a fantastic time playing darts and the owner and bar staff could not have been nicer, they were so accommodating and friendly which created a lovely atmosphere through the whole pub - I am planning my next trip back already!

One of my favourite (local) pubs in London. Lovely owner and her staff. Great vibe. A decent selection of beer and other drinks.

Small selection of very good beers/lager. Dart boards in the back. Good music :-)

Really happy this pub is back open! Lovely atmosphere and great choice of beers and crisps / snacks.

We've been coming here for years and always liked it. They have done it up since lock down and it's got a lovely fresh feel. Very friendly staff and great drinks.

Easily the best pub in Clerkenwell, a must visit for everyone in the area. Owner and staff are so generous and the best hosts imaginable

Reopened this evening (4th Feb ‘23), we had a magic evening drinking great beer, wine and cider and playing darts in the back room. The staff are new all and coming to terms with serving in a pub, but are friendly and attentive while creating a lovely atmosphere. A star of a pub.

My second home! If you wish to have a good table tennis session, the OCH is the place to be. BYO food, board games, solid, friendly staff. Who could ask for more?

Nice little privately owned pub which a good vibe and also open slightly later than others in the area. Was only here for an hour but enjoyed the vibe and the drinks.

Amazing range of lagers and independent Irish beers

Nice small venue, there's games upstairs including ping pong and fußball which is great! But the floor is a tad wonky in the ping pong table.

Fantastic pub, great selection of beers and even had the opportunity to try England's first ever Trappist ale here! Highly reccomend

Lovely little pub, great drinks!

Lugar muy relajado a la vuelta de la esquina del mercado de Exmouth. No hay música fuerte y la oportunidad de hablar normalmente. Buena selección de bebidas para seguir.

Superb ..loved it all. Terrific Fukwit weiisbeer amongst other interesting draughts. Impressive range of bottled beers. Small but superb range of malts including Bladnoch...fiercely proud and independent I'd love to call this my local!

A gorgeous little bar with a lot of character and knowledgeable staff who will recommend you exactly the kind of beer you want even when you're not particularly in the mood for beer. They also do darts and ping pong upstairs which is a good reason to go back with more friends.

Unique and quaint local pub with darts and snooker tables and lots of charm/character. Also you can bring your own pizza so it's a winner all round.

All about the beer and great local atmosphere

Solíamos venir a este pub a jugar al ping pong y tomar unas copas, siempre ha sido un lugar extraño, pero la mayoría de las veces estábamos solos, así que estaba bien. Decidimos venir hoy, llegamos a un pub completamente vacío nuevamente, le preguntamos al barman si podíamos jugar al ping pong. . . Solo hay que decir que son 20 / hora, ya que es la hora pico. No sé si se mencionó, pero el lugar estaba completamente vacío, como siempre. . No sé quién en su sano juicio tiene ideas como esa, pero seguramente no atraerá a los clientes, ni a las caras bebidas inglesas. Solía ser un lugar genial, pero me pregunto cómo sigue abierto, ya que no hay clientes allí. Vieja mano de porcelana, ¡lo estás haciendo mal! ! !

Found this pub on a Saturday afternoon and we could play some ping pong straight away. Friendly and welcoming staff!

Very average pub with an average selection of alcohol

Great pub, always got a cracking selection of beer

Great wood decor, good selection of beers and smily stuff!

Nice pub but the ping pong table was closed

Nice local pub that's open till late.

Like the onwers say this is a village pub in the heart of the city, it looks so small and tame from the outside but once you step inside you are surprised by the depth of the place, there's even a second floor, bar games are offered to from darts to ping pong, big selection of beers, wood takes over the place which makes this bar warm and cozy, usually quieter than the rest of the bars in the area which is an advantage when you simply want to enjoy your drinks and your company and avoid huge crowds, recommended

A hidden gem ! We just started stopping here on our walk home and it is lovely. Good selection of gluten free beers too

by far the best pub in the area. great selection of craft beers, plus a whole upstairs area dedicated to darts, table football and table tennis. football table could definitely use replacing though!

My local swan watching group have our monthly meetings here. A great place to have a beer and discuss all of the swans we have recently seen.

Nice "bigger on the inside" pub with dark bar and bright naturally lit seating area

Great place to have alternative drinks!

Small pub but friendly people check it out.😎.🎩.🕶.👍.

Lovely neighbourhood pub with a great selection of British drinks and it’s quiet enough to have a conversation. Great atmosphere with games and a piano that is played quite often. Bar staff and the owner are very friendly and knowledgable about the drinks on offer.

Very good selection of beer; not good for wine

Great location. Friendly staff. Only serves UK brewed drinks

A Good selection of draught beers and a few nice options in the bottle. The bartender's are friendly and attentive. The jewel of clerkenwell.

I discovered this place by chance on a regular Saturday afternoon when I was just meeting some friends in Clerkenwell. It has darts and table tennis. Wide variety of taps and friendly staff. The music is low so you can chat without needing to raise your voice. It has cozy decorations and the heaviest wooden furniture I've seen in a while. Pay a visit to discover more.

Chilled relaxed afternoon drinks

I loved my beer but I can't play darts so I'm very sad because the bartender was quite nice but for some reason the darts are open only between 5 and 10pm considering the pub closes at 2am

small, cosy, juicy beers. top stuff

Great venue, nice beers, they do not have food, just crisps and nuts, does allow to bring your own food. Can play darts and reserve the area for corporate events. There are table football and table tennis tables upstairs.

Cosy, quiet, great location, good atmosphere

Very friendly owner, good beer selection and great atmosphere. Lots of nice touches (board games, darts, etc.)

Lovely grown up pub with terrific beer selection and good range of spirits. One for a quiet pint and a good natter rather than a big night out.

Relaxed atmosphere with good range of beers

Nice pub, stays open till late. Great option for the area.

Friendly place, good beer selection and interesting choice of whiskies/spirits

I keep going back, when I've got time to kill before a train. No food (can bring your own), but a wide range of British drinks of all sorts (British-produced is their USP - nothing nationalist about it). Mostly millennial custom, plus connoisseurs, but hey...

Looking for a good place for a drink and spotted this place, drawn in by a note about English Trappiste beer. Turned out to be a very friendly, relaxing pub with an emphasis on being able to communicate with people with shouting. Will def visit again.

Great find! Lovely chilled atmosphere, good selection of beers and you can bring your own food. Can you ask for more??

Very cozy pub. Lot of choice beer. 🍺🍻👍🏻👌😊🔥

Lovely place-staff are so lovely, all night round the piano dream!

Very friendly staff. Good local pub.

Good pub with interesting beers and 2 darts boards around the back. Also has a ping pong table upstairs. Doesn't serve food.

Fine pub. Darts and table tennis upstairs. Don't bring your dog.

Honestly exceptional service - I came here a week ago and ordered a bottle of english wine which unfortunately wasn't to my taste, although I didn't say anything the owner/wine buyer recognised this and came over to ask if she could switch the bottle and what flavours I normally liked. She even apologised that I hadn't been able to try the wine beforehand. This is above and beyond service I've ever experienced anywhere, and the wine we settled on was magnificent! So will certainly be coming back, thank you team x

Wicked boozer with the quirk that every beer, wine, spirits are sourced from the UK.

I loved this pub. The lady owners are charming & friendly. Let me taste a selection of their English white wines before l chose the one l wanted. I loved the tables & chairs. Chunky & heavy, but very unique & in keeping with the pub. It doesn't look like a pub from the outside, but l hope l can find it again. I'll be telling my friends to go there. Loved it.

Great new local to work. All English wine list which will be great to explore.

Great little pub with interesting beers on tap. They also have two dartboards at the back

Inconspicuous, independent, out of the way pub, nice atmosphere

Excellent . good choice of drinks especially Stoney Bonk mixture of cider and ginger beer.

Great selection of bottled UK beers and a decent choice on tap. Darts and other pub games and never a wait to play makes this place great. Bring your own food or order in, they don’t mind.

I love this pub. Every drink or snack I've had here has been delicious. And if you look indecisive when ordering they offer you a taste.

Quirky bar with unusual wooden furnishings. Shame the tap beer wasn't great on our visit.

Playing ping pong used to be affordable (couple of quids or just a deposit if I remember correctly), but when I went tonight I was told it now was 15 pounds for 30 minutes or 20 for one hour. Sounds a tad excessive, especially in a pub with no atmosphere or music. It is too bad I really liked this place and enjoyed playing ping pong there.