Swimmer at the Grafton Arms in Islington

Best beer pub in north London !

A nice place, just off the hustle and bustle that is Holloway Road. There is plenty of space for people both inside and outside. The pub itself is full of character. The food on the menu is a little bit expensive. However, it is totally worth it. The cod was huge, steak cooked to perfection, and a decent size, and the homemade onion rings were great! It got a bit busy due to it being an Arsenal game, but still, had a nice atmosphere.

My favourite pub in London (and my local). Great food, service and atmosphere. Drinks and food are well priced. Lovely fireplace for the winter and outside area for the summer.

My friend took me, windy rainy for 2nd time this family friendly fireplace cozy inside and outside outside under covered space

Solid atmosphere, open fire, jukebox and great choice of books and board games. Large outdoor space with shelter and heating. Function room but didn't get a visit. Decent value but a welcoming local pub for whose in the know.

We went to The Swimmer for the traditional Sunday Roast and it was a delicious feast! The portion is really big, the quality is excellent, we had the lamb and pork belly, and the price effortable. The service is also very nice and both food and drinks are quickly served. Make sure to be there a bit earlier as it fills up quickly. Reservations don't seem to be possible.

Nice people around, nice ambience, different and tasty food, and I loved the games/books/free juke box!

Nice pub with helpful and friendly staff. Nice and busy without being too full on a Saturday evening with a nice buzz of chat and people playing some of the many board games available to choose from.

Great friendly pub just a block off Holloway road. Helpful staff and delicious food. Go for the Litovel Premium, you won’t regret!

A great pub to enjoy a drink with mates as you dissect the latest Arsenal performance after the game.

One of the better pubs in the area at least beer wise anyway. Worth visiting just to try the Omnipollo Prize Pils beer. Friendly service and a decent atmosphere.

Really lovely local boozer with a cosy fire for the colder winter months. Pub quiz is great and their guinness is my favourite I've had in London.

Greatest pub in London. No competition.

Lovely pub with nice Christmas atmosphere and good mulled wine. We’ll come back for more.

Fantastic local! In an area lacking great pubs this is a go to venue!

Traditional English pub. In a quiet street off the main road. Good wide ranging food and beer menu, traditional and modern, great fish n chips. Good prices. Very friendly staff . Wheelchair accessible. Nice outdoor covered area

Not only is this pub top-notch, with delicious food and beers, but the staff are absolute gems! I left a chocolate advent calendar behind for over a week and those legends didn't touch a single piece. That's some serious self-control and customer service! 5 stars

great neighbourhood spot. high calibre pub grub. only downside is the closing time - 11pm on a Saturday !

A great boozer with an excellent choice of beers. Good atmosphere too.

Great food and beer. On my visit they've been pretty slow to cook a couple of starters.

On a return visit back down Holloway Road, I decided to call back in the Swimmer at the Grafton Arms to make sure this visit was as good as my last, and I was not disappointed. This time I ordered the hearty Sausage & Mash and presentation was what you'd expect. 3 tasty Cumberland Sausages on top of a creamy Mash with buttered carrots and green beens on the side. Full of flavour and filling. I know I'll be calling back again..

We came here for lunch and had a lovely time. The food was very tasty and the portion generous. Staff was very attentive.

Sunday roast was okey, but the bloody mary was AMAZING. One of the best ones I’ve ever had

Great pub, lots of seating is outside, but mostly the quality of the food is superb. A little pricey but worth the extra for the raised level. Ive had a couple of wagu burgers and a roast here.. always delicious, but little gems like pulled ox cheek and chorizo shepherds pie and other small plates are the real winners imho. Highly recommended

Fantastic service and food, brought family here from overseas to experience a traditional English Sunday Roast and was bowled over by how accommodating staff were for my little 2 year old girl. Didn't mind us moving doors to get the pram in, moving fans cos it was hot. Got her entertainment in form of colouring books. On top of their excellent service the good was very good, four beef roasts arrived quickly piping hot with delicious Yorskhire puds. Apple crumble for dessert was marvellous too. My new go to roast pub...and I'm NOT a local!

Great option for Sunday Roast, very tasty and good draught options

Chicken Parmi was amazing can’t remember the last time I had one that good! Service and the beer garden was also great! Will be coming back for sure!

Great pub that is a favourite after football venue. Good outside space. We had sunday lunch here a couple of weeks ago which was really good.

Nice local pub with a lot of outdoor seating. The staff is friendly, I'll definitely come back!

Always fun, very friendly and attentive! Great outside seating!

Lovely pub in a calm street, with a pleasant terrace, juke box, board games and a great choice of beers (e.g. Brugse Zot on tap!)

Dropped in, on a one night stay in London. Lovely staff, very helpful and friendly. In time for last food orders, which were excellent. Very lively and young crowd; so my wife and I stood out but great craic, great pub!

SUCH a nice local. The staff here are so so friendly and the clientele are equally lovely. Such a nice atmosphere for a casual drink or a meal. Came through by chance and it was the most wholesome experience.

Pub de quartier.. très sympathique... accueil chaleureux... à recommander

Great little find, good range of beers, including some excellent low alcohol on tap.

Beautiful gem a bit hidden from the main road (which makes it even better). The staff is friendly and smiley as you enter. There's plenty of beer options and the food menu is fantastic. Recommend the Cod Goujons. We had Sunday Roast and it was delicious. Wish I lived in Holloway.

Been here a few times for a roast and honestly of the of the best roasts I’ve ever had. If you’re getting roast GET THE PORK BELLY! Super tender and juicy, super generous portion and very reasonably priced. Best roast in this area for sure!

Great spot. Friendly vibe, delicious food

Usually drop in here for a pint or two before/after the game. Very decent selection of beer/ales. Last night I went for food and was not disappointed. Great food always tastes better when accompanied by great staff and atmosphere. Also, decent customers. The mackerel pate was perfect and the fish n chips really top notch. A dream of a place in Holloway.

After work drinks, didn't eat. Great staff and a enjoyable space

Amazing roast dinners on Sunday! Lovely staff! Highly recommend!

One of the best pubs in the area and certainly one of our favourite. The highlights here are the great selection of beers, the extremely kind staff and the environment, but the cuisine in this pub outstands everything. The fact that you can actually see people cooking next to the bar makes the experience even better. They want to do a good job and they nail it. There's a nice burger offer on Mondays which I'll let you guys discover by yourselves. They have been hosting ales from the Five Points and Siren Craft Breweries which I personally love, but I'm sure everyone can find the right pint to pair with any dish on the menu. Take a look of those nice t-shirts they sell!

Leuke rustige locatie waar veel locals zitten. Heerlijk gegeten, bestellen aan de bar, en ook lekkere drankjes waaronder de vlierbessen spritz. Personeel super vriendelijk en behulpzaam.

I had one of the best roasts I’d ever had in London here. Buzzy atmosphere and big outside area at the front of the place.

Kind service, good selection of drinks.

Great veggie burger, excellent prices in a lovely dog friendly pub. Will def be coming back!!! Impressed by the amount of vegan/veggie options, a definite find :).

Wonderfully decorated with loads of outside seating and a great, friendly staff. The food is much better than general pub food and they stock many different wines. The best place in Islington!

This is the perfect pub. I have lived around the corner for almost 5 years now and it's still my favorite pub in London. It's unpretentious and cosy without being scruffy or run-down, there's always a good mix of people and the team there are so friendly and welcoming. If you want a reliable spot for a pint in a proper pub then the Swimmer is your best bet. The food is good - not gourmet but reliable pub food.

Our stop off when visiting the Emirates for the football (coming from Birmingham to watch Aston Villa) Easy walking distance from the stadium and a great find, first impression was a homely feel with outstanding friendly staff. A range of very decent beer covering various strengths and some phenomenal food. My fish and chips were amongst the best I have ever tasted and my friends (3 of them) raved about the burgers stating they were magnificent. We will return here every time we are back at the Emirates, what a find.

To be fair. Not my first visit. But first time in a while. This pub remains my favourite pub in London. Why? Because it’s got great beer, great food, music is good and run by good people. Most of all because the staff are excellent. I’ve not been for months and I’m welcomed like an old friend. Stayed for a couple of beers. Can’t wait to go back. It gets very busy when Arsenal are at home, but that’s no reason not to go. Good atmosphere and you’re still made to feel very welcome.

Just had two wonderful meals here , Saturday lunch and Sunday dinner The Sunday roast was fantastic and I had fish and chips which was huge. So wish it was my local

Very nice atmosphere and nice food. The waitress that served me was Saiyaara very attentive and I felt at home. For sure will recommend it

Here to set our daughter up in a flat (from USA)... OMG, absolutely wonderful!!!! Food was fantastic and HUGE PORTIONS! As for the service, you couldn't ask for better, prompt and friendly!!!! This place is super clean and they disenfect everything after each customer!!!! This is a definite revisit location!!!!

The first thing that struck me is how very little of this pub there is! In fact, it took some considerable persuasion by my partner to convince me that what we could see really was all the pub there is! Still, this makes for a cozy intimate space with a rather nice fire at one end. We all had a roast, which was delivered to the table swiftly after ordering. There was good array of vegetables, but my beef was tough to cut and chew, although partner had no problem finishing it up!

I came to The Swimmer at Grafton Arms on a Friday night in October. Overall the service is good, the beer is well served and the pub has a really nice atmosphere. If you want a nice old school pub with a modern twist in North London then The Swimmer is a fantastic choice.

Probably the best Sunday lunch I have eaten in a pub for some time, puddings are good too. A small pub tucked away down a side street .

I went here for the first time to eat with a group of friends to mark the departure to Wales of one of my friends. A nice little touch was a tile with a Welsh dragon on and a drawing of my friend. The food included a good choice of traditional food with some more exotic specialties with a good vegan/veggie choice. The food when it came was tasty, good quality and in generous portions. The price by London standards was very reasonable.

Me acabo de mudar a la zona y este pub es excelente. Se siente más al norte que otros pubs en la zona. Las pintas vienen generalmente bajo un fiver. Hacen platos grandes y abundantes de comida y hay un buen ambiente. También una máquina de discos y juegos de mesa. Y un gato. Encantado de llamarlo mi local.

Cozy, charming little north London boozer offering good food, good beer and a friendly service ..worth a visit 👍🏻

When I arrive and was ignored by the barmaid. Two people came in after me and were served before me. Walked out after 15 minute wait. Even though I have been a customer here many times before - will never go here again. If you don't mind locals getting served before you, then this is the pub for you!

Este excelente pub es mi hija y (ahora! Me encantó mucho) hijo suegros local. Querían tener a su familia cerca allí después de su boda y aunque era la primera vez para el pub nada era demasiado problema.Excelente selección de interesantes para mí y ginebras buenas cervezas para los chicos. La comida era muy buena. Que estaba hambriento, así que afortunadamente no nouvelle cuisine!El personal incluso han hecho un banner para la feliz pareja.No podría haber sido mejor.Gracias Laila. xxx

Still a proper pub, ot a Gastro Pub or a hipster joint, but with sophisticated atmosphere, good beers, very good and reasonably-priced food. Unspoilt and very friendly staff. Dogs allowed too, indeed very much welcomed and given a sausage!

Mi socio elija este pub antes de ir al Arsenal como un cambio a nuestro 12 años de evitar que la rutina. La entrada tenía ganas de salir. Abarrotada con nueva generación de gambas sándwich para comer 'evento' fútbol todos pululando alrededor al azar ventiladores plantea la presión sanguínea al 'curboom! ! "Los niveles rápidamente.Por desgracia, mi socio había adquirido una bandeja de té mesa crowbarred en al lado del inodoro y él tenía hambre, así que me vi obligado a estancia debido a fidelidad.La Guinness era un desastre lo siento por una restauración de juegos y mi hamburguesa tenía sabor debido a la falta del componente principal, es decir, queso. . . Seguramente que debe ser visto como el factor decisivo cuando ordene la cosa? Me proporcionó no cubiertos y tenía a la caza buscando algunos condimentos para proporcionar humedad a la pulpa seca de carne queso gratis metido entre un panecillo crujiente. Las patatas fritas eran aceptables y servido en un cubo de hojalata pequeña que sólo atrae a la aquellos que necesitan un algunas fotos para su cuenta de instagram.Un pub abarrotado en gran parte debido a la distribución de un vagón de tren recuerdan a los pobres, pero puntery cerveza y comida servida en un trozo de pizarra para más poncitude ai no hacerlo por mí. .Que no hacer negocios nuevo sha. . .

maybe the worst pint of Guinness i have ever had. if they cant look after Guinness I dread to think what damage their food would do on the average person .I did try to complain politely but was given the brush of

I’ve visited The Swimmer many times. Always a great atmosphere. Staff are brilliant. Beer is kept really well. Food is well worth a try. Can’t recommend this place highly enough.

I’ve mainly drank here but is all you would want a local pub to have. Good beer, really great staff, occasional dog to pet as you can’t have one, board games, good music. I’ve eaten here once and was not disappointed, went for fish and chips was perfect. My parents loved it to.

Prensa: La nutria parada ha ido! Pero ha sido sustituido por un relleno o carpas, bacalao, de celacantos. Un pez de algún tipo. Si sólo íbamos para la nutria, tomar cobijo en el estupendo menú, preparado desde la nada --mi-mangas - Guv'nor cocina abierta. Salchichas y puré de rábanos, los asados del domingo que, una rareza en Londres - no son una estafa, y de sinvergüenzas un build-a-menú Burger. Vinos muchísima. Muchísima cervezas. En barril. juegos de zot, cómodos asientos, butacas incómodas (lo siento), y un tocadiscos que encontramos una pared de ladrillos alrededor de 1972 y nunca se ha movido.

This is quite a nice classic English pub just off Holloway Rd, which attracts a local and regular clientèle. Did not try the food yet, and probably wont: places which serve food on a slate do not typically take my vote.

Great ales. Great food. Quality quiz! Nice and homely. Staff really friendly and personable. Sell Honey Dew Ale (big thumbs up) and have an amazing gin selection.

Love this pub especially on a Tuesday when they have the quiz. Started serving Weiss bier on tap so even more to like about it

This is a nice local pub just between Holloway road and seven sister rd . They serve good English food, big portions (the fish and chips was huge!) . I liked the cozy ambient with fireplace. There also are some board games .

Estábamos por la zona y entramos porque desde fuera nos dio el flechazo de que era un sitio muy acogedor para tomar algo.... y no nos equivocamos. Era acogedor, y tenia un olor la comida que, esas dos pintas se convirtieron en una burguer deliciosa y otra vagana (de garbanzos... espectacular!) Fue todo un acierto, tanto que, todos los días parábamos o a tomar una pinta o picar algo.

Pasar por aquí todo el tiempo -- después de nadar, sentarse en sus mesas de picnic y tener una coca-cola y recoger yo antes de tomar el tren de vuelta a casa. Fuimos allí el martes por la noche - Concurso demasiado mal no sabía más REINO UNIDO Premios anfitrión presentador, jaja! También tienen buenas cervezas, sidras, etc. de barril - Instalaciones para banquetes, Cambio de ropa, yoga, y música en vivo. Excelente personal, perfecto para una visita si estás en la pista, o si hemos recorrido un largo camino y quieres ver cómo viven los londinenses guay!

Como estudiante en Finsbury Park es un lugar frecuentado para mí y mis amigos. Muy razonable (para Londres), con una buena selección de bebidas, en especial me gusta la gama de sidras!

Este es un muy buen pub con muy cómodas, pero las sillas y mesas bajas. Fuimos un lunes para probar las hamburguesas, porque estar en un presupuesto, 2 - 4 - 1 ofertas burger son las mejores. Todas las hamburguesas vienen en bollos de masa fermentada, que parecen absolutamente increíble y más importante, son bastante sabrosa también. Probamos la carne y pollo burger y ambas eran geniales, pero las fichas no necesita alguna mejora. Son bastante grandes y un poco demasiado suave para mi gusto. Otra gran cosa sobre este pub es que tienen una cerveza belga trapenses, Westmalle, vasos de cerveza y la correcta.

Descubrimos este tesoro escondido de pub por accidente y ahora vamos allí cada semana. Los lunes tienen un 2 4 1 en cualquier de sus hamburguesas. Buena selección de vegetales y carne de hamburguesas. He probado todos ellos y nos parecieron muy sabrosos.

A nice local, cosy with a good selection of beers. A shame the food is not a bit better. Serving the dishes on slates doesnt improve it. The publican does his best but it could really do with a proper chef. Fun quiz nights.

Visited on Sunday and had to wait a long time for a table due to it being quite a small pub, but eventually got one and had the best roast chicken I've had in a very long time. Played a few board games and had a few drinks afterwards. Great little pub.

This used to be my regular when I lived around the corner many years ago, but despite now living on another side of London, I still make the journey to visit this place whenever I can. It's not just the nostalgia, this cosy little pub is full of charachter and charm with a lovely little outside area for use in summer and an open fire in the winter making it the perfect place to huddle with a glass of red with friends. It also has a brilliant pub menu, knocked up in the little open kitchen in the corner.

Do not go here if you have children. Myself, my husband and our 1-year-old tried to have a quick half here on Saturday. The pub was half-empty with plenty of space for us and our buggy. As we went to sit down, a barmaid aggressively told us that we had to fold our buggy for "health and safety" reasons. She clearly just didn't want us there because we had a child. I tried to reason with her and she just walked off as I was speaking. Unbelievably rude. I felt sorry for the barman who gave us a sympathetic look as if to say 'sorry she's so rude' as we left to go somewhere more friendly.

Really good local pub to where my daughter and son-in-law have just moved to. We ate here on Friday night and had some great starters and mains. The drinks were very reasonably priced as was the food. The pub had a good atmosphere and we will definitely call here again

Lovely pub with an excellent choice of beers from around the world. Didn't eat at the pub but many where. Indeed I would say that there are more people serving traditional pub grub than serving behind the bar.Nice paved area outside to sit and drink.My only issue was that people were smoking outside and the smoke made its way inside.

Simple. I live above a pub and instead of walking downstairs to have a beer and a bite to eat. I rather walk 10 minutes to this gem of a pub. The owners are really nice people. The staff are super friendly and everyone remembers your name. Food is very good and they have the best roast in the area. If you live near go there is really cool

Was in this area recently so popped into this bar for dinner and drinks. They have a very varied menu and a decent wine selection too, just ordered burgers and they were very nice. It's on a relaxed little street and they have seats outside so it's perfect for a summer's evening.

Went here as oddly enough was recommended by Canadian friends. The food is really superb, we had sea bass, with lentils and kale...not your usual stodge and microwaved food and it's fairly priced for the quality. Great beers, including local ones, good juke box choices, friendly caring service and nice outside area at the front. You couldnt want anything more from a pub in London.

Excellent local pub off the main road in a quiet residential neighborhood. Very good food and beer selection. Large portions. Very welcoming to a family of "yanks" on holiday. Fun quiz night on Tuesday. Kitchen closes early (1800) on Sunday.

There are plenty of pub grub spots around. In London they tend to be gourmet pubs, not so good basic pub grub, or belonging to a large chain beggining with W ... not very good.This fits right in between the first 2 categories. The food is traditional, massive portions and great quality ... fish and chips, bugers, pies etc.There is a selection of good cask ales and wheat beers and decent wine selection. Its nice and traditional rustic inside, and has a nice open air front with outside dining tables on a relatively quiet street - i.e. cars and motorbikes are rare. Service is fast and pleasant.All in, a very good place to eat if you are in this neighbourhood.

This is my local pub and it is an absolute gem! One of my favourite pubs in london for food and beer! So lucky to have this down the road!

This pub seems to think it's ok to serve glass in food and then reserve a smaller amount of the same food as compensation. I'm afraid I disagree, this is disgraceful.

Traditional English pub with good food and beer (some of which I understand is brewed on the premises!). Tucked away from the main roads in a residential street you would have to know it was there. As a result it is frequented by many regulars living in the area and not just people passing through. Hard to resist buying something to eat with all the lovely smells coming from the open plan kitchen on display.

Pasamos en la tarde noche por el lugar, entramos y tuvimos una experiencia que solo cumplió con lo que nosotros pensamos.

I am lucky enough to live round the corner from the Swimmer. It is a fantastic little pub - great staff, friendly locals and an interesting drinks selection. I am not really a beer drinker but I am reliably informed that the beer is excellent. The food is also good - it isn't a fancy gastropub, but it does proper pub food really well and for very reasonable prices. You'd be hard pushed to find a better pub in London.

Every time I go to the Swimmer I think to myself, "I don't come here enough!". I live round the corner and I'm grateful to have a lovely pub that actually has a bit of character so close to me. Great and diverse beers both on tap and from the bottle, and though I haven't really dipped into the wine list yet it looks pretty impressive to me. I went for an impromptu dinner with my girlfriend and a friend tonight, it wasn't the first time I've eaten here and it certainly won't be the last. My friend and I ordered the daily special; cod and chorizo fish cake with poached egg and hollandaise over a spring onion salad, with chips to share on the side, and the my girlfriend ordered the fish Goujons and chips. The meals came and were MASSIVE. Fish cakes as big as my face and eggs done to perfection. Great flavor combo and a testament to be two beds working hard in the open kitchen. The Goujons too were massive, especially for a starter, and aside from a few bones were succulent a crispy, with good tangy tartare sauce on the side. We definitely didn't need extra chips as the meals were do big, but I couldn't help myself having had them before; they're delicious. I had a couple of pints of Early Doors to wash it down, a refreshing pale ale and one of the two Dragonfly offerings (I think) on tap at the Swimmer. Also, really good music! There's a juke box and I don't know who was sticking the coins in but they were hitting the spot! Anyway, great little boozer with a really nice atmosphere, inside or out on the terrace, and a fantastic kitchen. I can't help but think it'll go from strength to strength.

They have Belgian quite rear beers and the music is very nice! The terrace also is very cool and this is a great place for a weekly beer.

We went for a Quiz night and decided to eat there. Watching the dishes being served to other diners before we made our choice made it even harder to decide. Everything looked so delicious. Huge burgers and fries, fish and chips, steaks as big as doorsteps. Eventually decided on sausages (3 of them) and mash and a burger with big chunky fries. So good and cheap. The ribeye steak was the most expensive item on the menu and yet was an affordable £15 with all the trimmings. The place was full because of the quiz and the 2 guys behind the kitchen counter worked swiftly to keep the dishes coming. Very impressive. The waiting staff were quick but a bit glum-faced - well it was packed and difficult to weave through the crowd with the food. But well worth a visit after work for a hearty meal and drinks which were also reasonable.

Great Sunday roast before Arsenal v Aston Villa, this is a gem of a pub, good atmosphere, beer and food. We've been using this pub before Arsenal home matched for quite a few years because of the food, it is not really a football pub but a great place to relax and enjoy in a pleasant atmosphere

I have been meaning to visit this place for a while given it's central location.Friendly although initially curious staff. Quick service.Tight seating areas but very warm and comforting especially after a late night jog and gym session. Baileys and Dark rum were the tipples of choice. I may have enjoyed a J20 too : )Food looks brilliant and the kitchen looked equipped to handle a good order or two.Locals friendly and polite, plus you can play board games inside the venue to pass the time. How cool is that huh?I'll probably pass by again during the year and I would advise you to do the same to a truly first hand of the traditional new of feel of modernised Islington!

Ce pub a été pendant une semaine notre point de chute.Le patron et les serveuse sont tout simplement adorables et pro"s"Plusieurs choix de bières locales, pas de grosse carte pour le repas mais tout est préparé devant vous (cuisines ouvertes) et les prix sont plus que raisonnable pour Londres.Vous pouvez y passer un agréable moment entre amis ou en couple.

We came across this neighbourhood pub while checking out a house to rent across the road. What a cosy local with friendly staff and generally great atmosphere! Tasty Czech beers on tap and good food to boot! All at reasonable prices. Too bad we didn't get the house, but I will definitely be back!

What a great venue in a neighborhood not renowned for a great pub. After waking a few streets to find this gastro pub on a quiet street corner I was pleasantly surprised. The pub boasts an abundance of beers both local and international. The wine list is extensive and the food menu matches suit. The open style kitchen makes for a great spectacle as both young and older chef go hard at it making delicious food creations. Prices were very reasonable and the ambience and crowd a mix of young trendy professionals, locals to elder folk who fit in just as well. My experience was memorable, I'm sure yours will be too. Two persons, two beers, two burgers + a starter - 30 quid.