The Hemingford Arms in Islington

Fabulous pub - great atmosphere - especially for an Arsenal match!!!!

The pub's cozy atmosphere and live music performance were exactly what I was looking for. The variety and taste of the beers greatly satisfied me; the local beer options were particularly noteworthy. The friendly demeanor of the staff and their quick service also made my evening more enjoyable. However, the place being quite crowded and consequently the high noise level made conversing a bit difficult. Additionally, some popular beer varieties running out early in the evening was a disappointment in terms of options. Overall, while this pub offers a lovely experience with its quality beers and vibrant atmosphere, improvements could be made regarding the crowd and noise levels.

Fantastic service from the team. Excellent music nights and amazing selection of drinks

Great music nights here! Amazing beers on TAP! Most certainly worth the visit!

Went into this pub for a warm space, due to being locked out of flat down the road. Had one glass of wine and a pint of water. Stood at bar and was abused by a neurotic guy sitting at lthe bar shouting to get out of his space. Tried to discuss our discomfort with a bar tender called Ali and he actually asked two women who reported it, what we had been drinking. He didn't want to listen to what we were saying, and said 'move to the other side of the bar, if you don't like it'. Outrageous misogynist behaviour from both the customer and Ali. I asked to speak to the manager, who listened and obviously felt awkward, while we were talking the abusive customer shouted 'oh shut up!'. My friend and I left the pub because we did not feel like our concerns were taken onboard. The drunken customer who obviously spends more at the bar was not addressed. He was drinking pints of beer during the altercation and Ali dismissed our discomfort. Terrible unprofessional behaviour and he totally disregarded two females asking for help. I will also be raising a formal complaint based on this behaviour.

Great pub. Great people. Great Music

Number one fans. Our local for a year and our favourite pub in all of London. Cannot fault anything and would always bring friends visiting here 🥰

Awesome pub. Very friendly with a lovely, warm and quirky deco. Easily the best pub in the area. We are locals/regulars but also had the experience of renting the upstairs room for a wedding reception; the room easily holds 50 people, is rented on a minimum consumption basis (very reasonable) and has its own bar (with staff to operate it). It is very well insulated; it was Friday, there was a concert downstairs and we couldn t even hear it - we also played live music with no issues. We were given the room the whole day and the owners and staff were very friendly, helpful and professional. Thai kitchen operates independantly inside the pub, it's decent food. They also have a party menu - everything we had pre ordered was hot, tasty and arrived exactly at the set time. Overall great experience! Couldn't have been better.

Very friendly pub. Lovely, warm and quirky deco. It's easily the best pub in the area. We are locals/regulars but also had the experience of renting the upstairs room for a wedding reception; the room easily holds 50 people, is rented on a minimum consumption basis (very reasonable) and has its own bar (with staff to operate it). It is very well insulated; it was Friday, there was a concert downstairs and we couldn t even hear it - we also played live music with no issues. We were given the room the whole day and the owners and staff were very friendly, helpful and professional. Thai kitchen operates independantly inside the pub, it's decent food. They also have a party menu - everything we had pre ordered was hot, tasty and arrived exactly at the set time. Overall great experience! Couldn't have been better.

Great "proper" pub. I was there when it was very busy, but the service was still friendly and efficient. Would recommend strongly

A mixed & friendly clientele & staff, good beer, nice setting, sometimes music. What more do you want?

Popped in on the way to dinner; really eclectic interior, top pint of Guinness, the unexpected extra of a whole table with an array of instruments playing music as well as a footie game on (the music was more my thing-so much so we went back in after dinner too!) Ambiance like you're in a great aunts house at a gathering in the best possible way, will definitely be back.

Loved this crowded lively pub, that made you wann run away from the street dullness and just sit there all night among old dusty books. It is the place where good stories start

Was only here on route to a lunch date but a pleasant experience.

Love this place and always try to visit when in London…one of a kind type of place

This is one of the best places around Barnsbury without a doubt! One of the few, if not the only, unpretentious pubs in the area, with great live music during weekdays and weekends, sports on two screens, quiz nights on Wednesdays, cosy fireplace on cold days. Great Thai food, and great atmosphere. The decoration is one not to be missed, and one of the greatest assets to this traditional pub. Staff is very friendly, and the pub is known for a welcome all policy! I highly recommend it!

Recently visited The Hemingford Arms for Sunday lunch, we had such a lovely time we ended up returning for drinks later that evening. The food was delicious, would recommend trying the chili chips they were yum! The pub has a lovely cozy atmosphere with a fire burning in the corner. The people there were so friendly, and the staff were lovely and welcoming. We had a fantastic day and night, with excellent live music to finish it off. Would highly recommend a visit to this pub, we can't wait to return again very soon.

Had Sunday lunch in The Hemingford Arms last Sunday. The Thai green curry and coconut rice was absolutely divine, however the chili chips were out of this world. I would fly back over to London for these alone. We loved the pub and atmosphere so much we returned later that night for the live music which was brilliant. Beautiful food, clean and quirky pub, a large variety of drinks to offer and a lovely warm reception when you walk in the door. This pub is ran brilliantly by the manager. The best pub in London.

Had Sunday lunch in The Hemingford Arms last Sunday. The Thai green curry and coconut rice was absolutely divine, however the chili chips were out of this world. I would fly back over to London for these alone. We loved the pub and atmosphere so much we returned later that night for the live music which was brilliant. Beautiful food, clean and quirky pub, a large variety of drinks to offer and a lovely warm reception when you walk in the door. This pub is ran brilliantly by the manager. The best pub in London.

Stopped by for a drinks, good selection of beers on tap, nice ambience inside and outdoor seating available too

Favourite pub in London - great drinks, great atmosphere and the food is good too. On Fridays and Saturdays they have live music from 9pm and it is just wonderful. Everyone gets up and dances - guaranteed to have an amazing time here!

Slaps every time, even better on Saturdays with live music!

Mentioned in the evening standard as a great pub for the six Nations rugby in 2024 we went along after dinner at the Sacre Coeur. A lovely atmosphere, lovely bunch of people, and the ladies behind the bar were super friendly and really efficient. Lovely traditional Feeling pub

Incredibly cosy pub with a screen for watching football. Excellent service, good selection of drinks on tap and plenty of seating / room for larger groups.

Absolute gem. Hard to find such a genuinely friendly local. Class beer. Fantastic thai kitchen. Unparalleled skill and friendliness behind the bar and great crowd in front of it. Music sessions Saturday nights and other music nights plus lots of TVs for sports.

Lovely atmosphere, great live music , tasty Thai food. There is also the upstairs bit for some quiet time. Great place to meet up after our football games. -The Vets

Lovely old Irish pub. Cosy, eccentric and welcoming. Open fire in winter. Similar to Skehans in Telegraph Hill.

The Hemingford Arms is the best pub ever. The landlady is the best landlady ever. The bar staff are welcoming and knowledgeable. The Thai food is the best and enjoyable. The recommend to come to the pub to have a drink or two and some delicious Thai food

Great cosy little pub, beers where nice - staff where lovely.

Lovely local pub frequented by posher students and locals. Very comfortable though will get busy end of the week. Friendly staff.

Best pub in Islington - hands down

The Hemingford Arms is our favourite pub of all time! We had a fantastic time here last night for New Year’s Eve. Brilliant atmosphere and music (pic of Perry the DJ attached - fantastic service and the staff are just so lovely. Una the manager is a National Treasure and looks after everyone so well and makes us all feel so welcome.

Great Irish pub with proper Guinness on tap! Great Thai food also and one of the nicest old pubs in the area!

Fab venue for our Xmas party.Also for a pint ,music or the quiz. Great staff and landlady. Thai food yummy I love the Hem

Thank you so much for a great evening! Came to the Hemingford Arms for our Christmas party and we had such a lovely time. Tasty and plentiful Thai food, and friendly staff! Would definitely recommend for a large group

Lovely evening at the Hemingford for our swimming club Christmas party. Booked the upstairs, private, room that was perfect for the occasion. Great atmosphere, tasty food, and friendly staff that clearly wanted to ensure we had a good time! Party of just over 40 and staff needed to find a few extra chairs, but all sorted quickly. Highly recommended.

LOVE this place! Una the manager is truly a legend. The Thai food is amazing (try the salt and pepper chips 🔥) Top notch live music - we haven’t recovered and we hope we never do ! Thank you all at the Hemmy 🙏

An amazing pub with lovely staff and a warm and friendly atmosphere- we had our swimming Christmas party here and I would recommend to anyone looking to host a party or just have a pint (and also sampling the Thai food)

Great local pub with good beer and Thai food. The staff are friendly and helpful. We ordered lunch from the Thai restaurant window and the food was tasty, even a bit spicy. Loved it.

Una and her team are on top of their game! Superb pub, excellent service and fantastic value for money. Christmas doesn’t start until a visit to The Hemingford Arms!

A big thanks to Una and the team for hosting our Christmas Party last night . The food and service was second to none . A special thanks to Lana for looking after us 🎉🥂🎉

Had our Annual Christmas party again at the Hemingford Arms. . Great food atmosphere and service as always from Una & the team. Thank you& see you soon.

We had a great rainy Sunday lunch here. The food was really tasty in a cosy atmosphere

Quirky, comfy, interesting and all round nice. Honestly nothing I can fault, beer was good, staff were friendly without being too polished/fake, they even had the football on, but not intrusive (okay, not a ‘big game’. I’ll be back to see what it’s like of an evening. #29 #43

This place is my go-to pub in the area. It's got a good atmosphere for watching sports and the Thai food is a nice touch. They also host live music. If you're looking for a laid-back spot to hang out, this is it.

Great Thai food, also Barney is amazing - so thoughtful and helpful! 10/10 one of the best pubs in Islington :)

Having been to London 23 times in the past 10 years I can conclusively say that The Hemingford Arms is my favorite pub in town. It is supremely cozy, has an impeccable, real, unmanufactured old school atmosphere, employs friendly staff, and has great food. Obviously this area has been absolutely gutted by gentrification and this pub is prone to just unbelievable levels of oblivious overpaid yuppie colonists, so expect that. But if you get there on the earlier side, you can rub elbows with old school clientele and enjoy your pints and G&Ts in peace. And they don't have music playing so you don't have to shout over your friends! Amazing! What a concept!

lovet it. really friendly staff.

Cosy traditional pub that serves delicious Thai food. Best crispy garlic and pepper squid I’ve ever eaten.

One of the most beautiful pubs at night in London, bathed in cosy red light, and with a fantastic energy on game nights. Can’t wait to be back and try some of the food!

Nice pub but the kitchen is a disaster. I took a sharer for 10 and there was nothing to eat. It was £75 spent for something small put in the microwave and served to us. I complaint to the kitchen staff, nobody cared. Bad staff. Just grab a beer and avoid the kitchen.

Best “local” in barnsbury. Sure Albion and drapers are more famous, but if you want a relaxing pint while watching a game or listening to folk music, this is your place.

Nice little pub with a great feel inside. Has some great beers. No food served on a Monday night and does Thai food the other nights. Enjoyed it there. We were there on a Monday and were able to sit on a table out side and order a pizza.

Can't believe this is my local :) the staff are lovely, pints are good, place is clean, and they have brilliant open mic Wednesday and Thursday

Im from Ireland and come here for the singing nights, they make my week x

A lovely pub with a great atmosphere and live music. The Thai food is tasty, but it's a real shame that almost all vegetarian dishes are made with shrimp paste. We had a vegetarian in our party and there was only one dish to choose from in the menu. If actual vegetarian dishes were added to the menu, it would totally be a 5 stars place.

Hemmingford Arms is an excellent spot to simply enjoy a pint. The place kinda exudes an old-school charm, adorned with captivating items on the wall. The outdoor seating is great and, the pub consistently buzzes with activity. While I didn't sample it myself, they also offer Thai cuisine indoors, making it a noteworthy addition if you're looking for food.

Nine of us had an excellent lunch at the Hemingford Arms, choosing from either a varied set or à la carte lunch menu. The Thai food is delicious, cooked to order, and great value for money. Top marks too for friendly and efficient service. If you like Thai food and are in Islington, we would have no hesitation in recommending eating at the Hemingford Arms, a pub full of interest and character.

Nicely poured Guinness, lovely atmosphere and great furniture

Great lively and quirky pub. Try to go there in a live music evening as those are always brilliant.

gorgeous outdoor area with lots of greenery. inside has lots of character but can feel quite claustrophobic in the way pubs feel in the summer. definitely worth a visit. staff are very kind. only con is the womens bathroom is upstairs and no option for a gender neutral bathroom

Great pub with fantastic furnishings and live music on a Friday night... evocative of an Irish pub, and serves great Guinness.

lovely staff, great atmosphere (especially sitting outside on a sunny day) and good selection of spritz!

I absolutely love this place! The staff is super friendly and always creates a great atmosphere:) They have Live Music nights biweekly on Thursdays and you get to chat with the organizers and musicians - a great place to just chill and meet some laid-back people:)

Great local pub with fantastic Thai food. I'd recommend the grilled chicken (gai yang). Delish. Several tables outdoors and plenty of indoor seating. Good beer selection. Quirky and unique interior. Staff are lovely.

Good pub with reasonably priced drinks

Lou and Barney hosted the most amazing live music event, vibes were immaculate, place is so cute and quirky, overall great time will be back for more

What a lovely and lovely pub!! I played a short set at Barny and Lou's music night on Thursday and it was easily one of the best atmospheres I've ever played in! Great drinks/food too!! Highly recommend the pub and the music night!!

drinks were nice and it was a cute corner pub. good seating and nice vibes.

The Hemmingford Arms, a wonderful eccentric welcoming pub. Shock horror, no real ales on today, the cellar cooler is broken, sorry Timmy Taylor. Great happy service from the man who fixes everything (except the cooler). A really good pub, I love it.

Gem of a local establishment: reasonably priced beer, great outdoor area, eclectic mix of locals our visitors. Shows live sport & serves half decent Thai food as an added kicker!

Great atmosphere, lovely staff. The live music night this past week was really good! Definitely recommend.

Had a great time but left my sunglasses, and cannot for the life of me get in touch with the place . Glad it wasn't something more valuable.

Lovely local pub. Needs cocktails tho

Quirky little pub with an interesting interior. Good selection of beer but nothing too out of the ordinary. Great atmosphere however and a nice quiet location.

Had a work meeting and Una was very accommodating, lovely selection of beers. Loved the interior decoration of the pub!!

LOVE this place! Such a good mix of people, great music, lovely Thai food, friendly staff and Una the manager is soooo nice!

Cosy atmosphère, Superb Thai food, Pad krapao was delicious!!

What a gem. Watched the USA v Netherlands match there. Great food!

The Hemingford is my local pub and it genuinely makes the future prospect of moving out a real struggle. The landlady is absolutely lovely, the staff are amazing and the Thai. My god. We’ve probably contributed thousands of pounds to this business and it’s with no regrets. Make sure you order the shredded beef, duck in tamarind, the panang - well, the entire menu. A great pub to catch sport in and a fab atmosphere in the evening. Long love the Hemmy

Last week we had a celebration for our 20th wedding anniversary in the upstairs bar at The Hemingford Arms and it was absolutely brilliant. All of the pub’s staff were fantastic, helpful, professional and friendly and our guests had a wonderful experience in the beautiful space, filled with light, interest and atmosphere. We ordered a finger buffet from the Thai kitchen which was delicious and very easy to organise. We had a fabulous night and would totally recommend it as the perfect place for an event or gathering.

Always have a great time at the Hemingford Arms, such a cosy pub full of character

Nice little spot we’ve discovered when looking for a pre-match pub before Arsenal games. Added bonus if a very nice Thai menu!

Very nice pub and excellent Thai food !

This is a great local with regular live music, great food, pub quiz etc. We also had our wedding reception here. The capacity was 60 which is perfect for our party after Islington town hall ceremony. Everything was easy to sort out, we could set up early in the morning and brought in our own buffet. The pub is already decorated nicely with beautiful foliage on the balcony but we could also move things around and decorate how we like. There was a member of staff looking after us upstairs the whole evening. We hired a karaoke machine and the PA system was also used by our band. The floor has recently been re-enforced so lots of dancing. Everyone had a great time!

Some good local craft beers, friendly local atmosphere.

So British a pub as can be. Thanks to the professional barmen we got quick access to drinks and a great variety of beers. Obviously popular, the pub was loud and crowded with an absolutely positive atmosphere. Had found places directly at the bar, perfect location, good vibes and live music in the end. Definitely a good place to end a day in good mood, absolutely recommended. Cheers guys!

We arrived at this place around 10pm with absolutely no expectations, and we're welcomed by a very warm setting and lively love Irish music. The ambience was absolutely fantastic and you will get the full English pub experience here.

Proper Irish pub and proper atmosphere. Try the gunner if you're into bitter

The Hemingford Arms is a true hidden gem, tucked away on a quiet back street in Barnsbury. Upon arrival, you are greeted with a charming exterior covered in greenery and flowers, setting the tone for what's to come. The eclectic and cosy interior is decorated with vintage and unique pieces that give the pub a warm and inviting feel. One of the main draws of the Hemingford Arms is their fantastic Thai food. The menu offers a variety of authentic dishes that are bursting with flavour and always cooked to perfection. They also have vegetarian and vegan options, making it a great choice for a group with dietary restrictions. On Saturdays the pub comes alive with live music which gives it a great atmosphere, they also shows sports on big screens, making it a great spot to catch a game with friends. Overall it's hidden gem in the heart of Barnsbury that's a local favourite with great Thai food, live music, sports, and a cosy atmosphere, it's the perfect spot for a fun night out or a relaxed afternoon with friends and family, dog friendly too.

Really nice pub with a fantastic interior. Great vibes, good music and brilliant for a game day pint. Great Guinness too and the Thai food was fantastic also

Institution. Likely to have my birthday here for second year running

great pub, love it.Have been here before and the atmosphere is still amazing. THAI Food is so good. Will defo be back.

What a lovely friendly pub, staff very friendly, enjoyed the atmosphere with nice people.

Great atmosphere, Lovely Up folks Great Thai Food…Live Music Friday Saturday Sundays ( something Mondays) Go there…Every ones Welcome….

Great local pub with a relaxed atmosphere and friendly service, highly reccomended!

Fabulous pub,had a great evening. The ale was perfectly kept and the the staff were very welcoming, looking forward to our next visit ☺️ I'm

What a great pub! Fabulous atmosphere, delicious real ale - especially the Hemmingford Gunner. Friendly staff and a great Landlady!! 😊

I think this might be the best pub in the world

A proper London local. Cask ale available.Friendly staff. Great Thai food. Live music Saturday nights.