The Hemingford Arms in Islington

Great place. Lovely pint of Guinness and you can actually sit and chat to folk without shouting. Friendly staff and it’s a cosy classic pub that feels authentic.

My favourite pub. A great local that sadly I don't visit often enough. Thank you Una & Team

Come for the beer, stay for the Thai curry, leave with a smug expression.

Cracking pub! Good beer, decor that looks like it’s built up over decades. Actual buzz and vibe rather than pumped-in music. Great antidote to the average gastro refurb

Nice pub tucked away off Highbury and Islington. It has a charming interior, with plenty of decorative touches and overall just presents an old fashioned vibe. The service is nice enough, nothing to get too excited or familiar with, however, they have a good selection of beer on tap and do a good Guinness. Food wise, it’s operated by a different company within the pub, making it a slightly awkward arrangement, where the service staff from the restaurant being wholly unengaged. Although the food is good and the drinks are readily available, and I’d be happy to come back, I’m in no hurry to visit again.

Great London pub serving excellent Thai food.

Lovely pub in North London. Very cozy second floor and they have a Thai restaurant basically within the pub. The salt and pepper chips were incredible..

Must stop for me when in London. Great pint of Guinness

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

Enjoyed the quirky atmosphere and fantastic Thai menu. I've added it to my barguide.london site too!

Fantastic service and excellent drink selection

Great pub full of friendly locals

Great choice of beers, veryfriendly staff

Recently hired the upstairs hosting space for drinks after our legal wedding ceremony at Islington town hall. Seriously cemented itself as the best pub in London. Beautiful inside and out (the vines!), great atmosphere, fantastic staff, v reasonable hire cost and they let us bring in our own food at no extra cost. Irish band were class. Slightly reticent to post as I wish I could keep the Hemingford a secret just for my mates, but couldn’t recommend it more for an event or just for a pint with friends.

We had a great time hosting our event in the upstairs room. The staff were super helpful, and the venue was beautiful. This pub was already a favourite for many of us, and now it feels even more special.

Smashing pub, lovely staff and food. Half decent Guinness too! I'd recommend this place for football or a nice pint, good vibes all round. Lovely outside area too if the sun is shining 🌟

Lovely pub hasn’t changed in years, proper bar with good beer selection

What a beautiful discovery on my way to a concert venue, very hectic and chaotic interior, great atmosphere and beautiful entrance covered with flowers, that's right up my ally

Great pub, great upstairs room to rent for gatherings

Called on 5th September this year and some extremely rude lady wouldn't even listen to me and my simple request to book a table. She consequently just put the phone down. A dreadful interaction.

Very cozy pub, rustic ambiance and good beer. What else do one need. Amazing

One of the best pubs in London, a proper traditional place in the heart of Islington N1. Decoration will keep you inspired for weeks, the Thai food is excellent, the staff is super friendly, and the diverse styles of live music are not to be missed. The quiz night will keep your brain active, and if you’re a fan of sports, they show the main events on their two well place tellies. Dog friendly, pooches welcome. Great atmosphere, my favorite place! Worth checking!

A great example of a traditional London pub. Lots of space inside and out including private area upstairs. Didn't eat but the food (Thai) looked good.

Great food, great beers, great atmosphere.

Este es un pub realmente precioso. Contratamos la habitación de arriba para tomar unas copas después de nuestra ceremonia de boda en el ayuntamiento de Islington. No puedo calificar al equipo lo suficientemente alto para ser tan servicial de principio a fin - incluso permitiéndonos acceder más temprano en el día para que pudiéramos decorar la habitación! Hicieron que todo nuestro evento fuera muy bien y nuestros invitados (y nosotros) todos lo pasamos de maravilla! Fue un día muy caluroso y tener los espacios exteriores en una zona tan hermosa fue una alegría. Muchas gracias Una, Barney y equipo! x

Some of the best chips I’ve had in London.

Was there for the live music, very good night

Contraté la habitación de arriba, con un bar, para una gran fiesta de cumpleaños. La habitación es preciosa, el personal es fantástico y también lo es la casera sin sentido. Pásate por una pinta o dos.

From the outside it is a very nice pub, different from many London pubs, internally it is very chaotic and reminiscent of a university pub due to the crowd that is created. This makes the pub excessively dirty, both in the tables, which were not cleaned before dinner, and especially in the tiny bathroom. Personally I didn't appreciate the cuisine, mainly South East Asian and not London, an inconsistent choice given the historicity of the place.

A spectacular pub. It's covered in vegetation and flowers on the outside and has a wonderful variety of ornamentation in the walls, selves and hanging on the ceiling inside. It also has a good selection of drinks.

Characterful spot, screens for sports, locals around the bar. Nice flower coverage outside and a few tables.

Very poor service. Couldn’t get a pint so I left. The bartenders kept making eye contact with me then serving other people even after I asked if they could serve me. They seemed quite overwhelmed with the 5 or so people waiting for a drink.

Un lugar increíble, el ambiente, el personal, es una parte del tejido de la zona. ¡La esencia de un pub comunitario! Siempre me ha encantado.

We celebrated our engagement party in the function room upstairs and had the best time! We used the room and balconies, and everyone was well served and had a lovely time! Definitely recommend!

Excellent pub bringing the Irish folk bangers to the eardrums got a yung boi shouting ‘awoooo!’

I found the place while we were waiting for Tamil Prince, and I must say I was pretty impressed. I tried wonton and dim sum, which was so lovely and juicy. I wish I stayed here to eat my food. I'm definitely going to come here again for green curry. The vibe was so cool, and whatever I had, I quite liked it.

What a nice and lovely pub located at the corner of Hemingford (hence the name 😁) and Offord roads in Islington. Wooden tables outside, outdoor walls covered with Ivy (or something like this), full of items and other artifacts hanging inside, it's really a visual pleasure to enjoy a pint there. We'll be back, for sure. Thanks

Fantastic pub, welcoming staff, great food and the music is fab! My favourite

Este es uno de los mejores pubs en los que he estado! ¡El ambiente y la vibra son insuperables! Todo el mundo es tan acogedor, tanto el personal como los clientes! ¡Siempre hay buena música para agregar a esto y la comida tailandesa es increíblemente deliciosa! Si aún no lo has visitado, te sugiero que lo agregues a la lista! No te decepcionarás.

Brilliant pub, Great atmosphere, Friendly staff, great selection of drinks all served with smiles

Very good atmosphere and people. Hammerton beer is brewed locally and delicious. Highly recommend

Great pub, great atmosphere, friendly staff. Also sits next to a double mini roundabout which makes for some great TV if sitting outside! Have visited many times before and will be back again in the future. Thanks!

🚇 Caledonian Road 🍺 £5.70 Amstel One Of Islington’s Finest. The Hemingford Arms is located in the quiet backstreets of Barnsbury close to The Hammerton Brewery. The nearest Tube is Caledonian Road, it’s a ten minute walk to get here. The Hemmy, as it’s affectionately known was built in 1855 and later rebuilt in the early 20th century. This pub is instantly recognisable due to the mass of ivy and foliage that cover the exterior of the building. This pub originally had four rooms which have now been merged into one large bar. The decor here is traditional with an oldschool pub feel. At the core of this pub is a stunning servery that has one of the most beautifully ornate back bars of any London pub. Around the walls are old theatre and movie posters, enamel advertising plates and all manner of bric a brac. The ceiling is festooned with musical instruments, old lamps and even a stuffed badger. The seating is plentiful and comfy, there are stools around the bar plus little intimate nooks and crannies to settle in to. The pub also has an old Joanna in the corner and not forgetting the proper red patterned pub carpet running throughout. Upstairs is another bar which is used for overspill and functions. For the warmer months, there are a dozen or so benches at the front. The beer lineup is decent and offers a good selection of premium lager, London craft and cask ales. I decided on an Amstel, my pint was excellent, price point was a tad under average. The food menu is Thai, there is selection of phad thai, spicy curries and house specialties to choose from, check socials for kitchen opening times. We arrived just after 2pm on a mild Saturday afternoon in December. The pub was calm and chilled with a number of punters dotted around the pub. Not long after we arrived a fella walked in with his child strapped to his front, ordered and downed a Guinness then left, that’s what you call a swift one. We had a little chat with the Guv’nor who was welcoming and friendly. I was also lucky enough to get a tour of the pub by a lovely member of staff. The pub hosts Live Music and DJ nights, shows live Premier League and also has a Pub Quiz on Wednesday evenings. Sometimes when you walk in a pub you immediately know it’s a blinder, well The @hemingfordarms is that pub. This is an outstanding pub full of character and tradition. The staff are friendly, the locals welcoming and the beer and food are top notch. I must admit we could have spent the whole afternoon in here. If you’re figuring out which London pub you should visit next, then definitely make this boozer your next port of call. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 30.12.23

A true London pub teeming with character! Excellent traditional interior and lighting, lovely staff, a superb pint of Guinness and an Irish folk band to bring the joviality. It doesn't get any better. Please don't change! I will be back

Great locals pub with lovely Thai food and sports on the telly. The bar team always look after you. Good Guinness too! Enjoy

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 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 🥰

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.

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

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

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

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.

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 🙏

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.

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.

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 🎉🥂🎉

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!

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

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.

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

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.