The Shaftesbury Tavern in Islington

Charming decor, wonderful friendly service, eclectic bunch of locals and the food is great. Try the sweetcorn fritters! Fantastic local pub

Best sunday roast I have ever had last time I went in october 2024

Great local pub with fantastic pianist on Sunday afternoon

This pub was recommended by friends but proved disappointing. If you want to drink with very noisy children this is the place for you. We ordered the roast beef dinner which arrived lukewarm. To be fair the beef was delicious. Then the pub completely ran out of cask ale. Poor although the staff were lovely.

A great place to hang out for drinks and they serve Thai food. Tried their tofu pad thai and tofu green curry and they were pretty tasty - though sometimes the pad thai was a bit too sweet for my liking. The pub staff were always friendly. During the summer, it was nice to sit outdoors.

Lovelypub just popped in for one pint xx

Great place to have drinks and enjoy with friends and family

Dropped by on a lazy Sunday, it was quiet and we had a few pints. Lots of areas to sit in, was a little shabby but had character ... felt like it had seen better days in the past. The seemed to be mostly locals inside; there was a nice area at the front and side to sit at outside too. Other pubs in the area like this seem to be more gentrified so this was a nice change. Did not have time to try food. We did appreciate the old wood paneling and window etchings.

Had the Sunday lunch there yesterday, was disappointed. The food was tepid I think we had parsnips but couldn't be sure & the greens were stringy. The chicken was cooked well. There were no recognisable drinks on tap so quite a let down as I used to drink there many years ago & have just moved back to the area. The staff however were pleasant & the atmosphere nice, I just won't be going back anytime soon

Decent pub. Was there for a wake so unusual circumstances

The pub at the corner..very good Czech draught beer( Litovel) and the best Thai food!

Awful roast potatoes, still wouldn't be good if they were free, however they are extremely expensive

Great thai food, great beer and great vibes

🚇 Archway 🍺 £6.00 Pillars Pilsner A Beautiful Traditional Tavern. The Shaftesbury Tavern is located at the end of a row of shops overlooking Elthorne Park in Upper Holloway, Islington. The nearest Tube is Archway, it’s around a ten minute walk to get here. This pub was originally built in 1861 then rebuilt in 1897. Close to the pub is Islington Boxing Club which was founded in 1974. This is a traditional two room pub that has been lovingly maintained. You arrive into an ‘L’ shaped bar that is very easy on the eye. The servery follows the line of the bar and has a beautiful ornate back bar and an open kitchen to the right. The seating is traditional chairs and pews around sturdy solid wood tables. Just off the main bar is the former billiard room which has an attractive chequered floor, comfy sofas, a piano, a fireplace and a stylish Victorian atrium. The stand out features of this pub are the stunning etched mirrors and etched glass partitions. At the front of the pub is a partially covered front patio area which is guarded by black railings. The beer choice was excellent and included London craft beers and three cask ales. I decided on a Pillars Pilsner from Wathamstow brewers @pillarsbrewery , my pint hit the spot, price point was average. The food menu here is Thai, Pad Thai costs £12. If you visit on a Sunday, Roasts take centre stage. I arrived around 3pm on a mild Saturday afternoon in January. The pub was fairly quiet in the main bar and busy with a function in the back room. The atmosphere was relaxed with a few locals dotted around enjoying a Saturday afternoon beverage. The service was on point, the member of staff who served me was welcoming and gracious. The @shaftesburytavern is part of the Remarkable Pubs stable of pubs. I have visited a number of their pubs over the years and have to say every visit has been a memorable one. The Shaftesbury Tavern was no exception, the beer choice is excellent, the tasty Thai food is well celebrated and the decor is beautiful. This definitely a must visit London Pub. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 06.01.24

Excellent pub with a cozy atmosphere and delicious Thai food.

Friendly and cosy, this pub is always better when the back room is not closed for a private event. Some of the seats in the front part are not very comfortable. There is a small beer garden with lots of seating. The Wednesday £10 Thai dinner and drink deal is good value. The stir fried veg with jasmine rice was cooked with fresh vegetables, tasty and the portion generous. They also do a £10 dinner and drink meal on Monday.

Favourite local. Delicious Thai food (and great curry and pint deal on Mondays)

Literally ideal local pub . Good staff, beer and atmosphere!

Best Sunday roast I have had in a long time. Staff so lovely they over heard that my husband had ordered me the wrong meat and changed it.

Absolutely amazing Sunday roast. Worth every penny

Amazing local for a pint and food. Excellent pad Thai, green curry, and roast!

Small portions, mediocre cooking, reheated chips! Service was just OK. I wonder who gave 5 star to that pub...

Nice atmosphere, loved the old fashioned decor but the bar staff were so unfriendly. My mum was making a joke with the person serving us and he completely ignored her and started having a joke with his colleague instead, as if we were not there. No acknowledgement for leaving either like a “thank you, goodnight”. Shocking customer service, did not feel welcome there at all.

Love this Free House (as opposed to public house, or pub). The food is delicious and had a Thai bent to it with good veggie options. Great atmosphere, too!

So nice, looks bigger than it looks from the outside great atmosphere

Love this pub. Banging food, great beer and the staff are 10/10. Proper pub

Great beer but the Sunday roast is terribly disappointing. Chewy, grizzly, dry (overcooked) beef, undercooked swede mash that was over seasoned and roast potatoes that resembled something more like a baked potato. All for 15.50. Don’t bother. Instead, come during the week for the Thai.

my new local boozer! under new management and you can already tell! sean the new landlord has made such a difference already !!

Proper pub experience. Lovely beers on tap. Good atmosphere. Traffic can be a bit annoying when sitting outside.

Lovely pub, friendly staff, great Thai food! 😊👍

My service from Nate was impeccable. I stumbled upon the Shaftesbury Tavern when in the area on an errand and decided to stop for a pint. The pub is quaint, with lovely dark wood and leather furnishings. One of the few pubs in London that still feels like a pub and not a mysterious bar. The icing on top was my server Nate, with a smile that matched the quality of my pint (which was superb) his bubbly infectious personality made my visit a memorable one. I will attend again

Excellent service and very knowledgeable staff. It was a pleasure eating here with my partner.

Great pub! I celebrated my birthday at the Shaftesbury and had an amazing time. I booked several tables in advance and the communication during the booking was great. I also preordered some food (a buffet) and it came right on time during the party. They were so well organised!! The food was good and the service was great.

Lovely vibe and friendly staff. Food is not the best I have to say

There every once in a while for thai & beers :)

Such a lovely traditional yet classic pub ... ran in from the rain the other day and met with a warm welcome! Always a pleasure!

Lovely pub, great curry and pint deal on Mondays!

Great booze, atmosphere and friendly staff. Lovely roasts on Sundays. One of my favourite north London pubs!

Lovely Thai food and good beers in a great pub which is only a 10 minute bus ride to the Emirates stadium.

I couldn’t recommend this pub enough. It’s one of my locals and I just love it! The staff are great and friendly and the food is absolutely delish!

Perfectly fine, functional boozer. Bit dingy and they could do so much more with that room at the back. Staff are fun and the quiz is good, decent beers and wine. What is it with Thai food in British pubs though? There are millions of Thai places round here on Deliveroo and they’re great; i feel like this place would work much better with a traditional pub menu but maybe I’m just old.

Good beer options. Nice to sit outside

This is a fantastic pub that's definitely worth a visit. I went on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't too busy (though that may have had something to do with everyone going to Irish pubs instead for St. Paddys day), but still had a lovely atmosphere. The pub has a cosy and inviting feel to it, making it the perfect spot to relax and unwind after a long week. They have a great drinks selection and I was thrilled to see that they had Litovel on tap which is a top Czech beer I don't see too often. While I didn't try the food myself, I could smell the delicious Thai dishes being served and it looked great. Overall, the Shaftesbury Tavern is a lovely little pub with a great atmosphere and a fantastic selection of drinks. Whether you're stopping in for a quick pint or a full meal, this place won't disappoint.

Manager is rude and highly unpleasant. Its a shame as the pub is an old and pretty building, and the bar tenders were friendly. Avoid for the manager.

Friendly staff and a good selection of beers. Family friendly, serves great Thai food, and has a function room that you can hire out for events.

Great food and the prices are perfect

The Shaftsbury Tavern, 8.4/10 We thought that we were out of options for the Champions League final the other week. Ringing boozers for a table of six left, right and centre, to no avail. As we began to wonder if it would be that bad to watch it at northlondonpints HQ, the sun beamed through the window onto an Insta post from The Shaftsbury Tavern, advertising spaces for the final. We were saved. Classic style pub in Finsbury Park. Big TVs. Loads of big tables. Huge tap list. Ticks all the boxes. Fans from all over the country had assembled for this one. Chelsea fans. Wigan Fans. Pretty sure that was it, actually. Nonetheless, a diverse spectrum. We did meet a fruity Italian man outside at the interval. Couldn't make out what he was saying from his heavy accent but fairly sure he was talking about pasta, prosciutto, pesto, pecorino, pizza, Pagani, plumbing and Pacino. In that order. Either that or slagging off South London. Take your pick. Out of the large tap list, we went for Litovel. Great taste? Check. Decent price? Check. Where's it from? Czech. Now we know what you're thinking. That doesn't look like Litovel in the picture. Alright, eagle eyes. Frankly, we don't remember what that beer was. Could've been anything. Looks crisp, whatever it was. Reviewed 12/06/21 on @northlondonpints Instagram.

Lovely pub with an absolutely phenomenal (free) jukebox. Staff were friendly and accommodating, great stuff all round

great thai food , good ambience , love this pub !

Nice pub. Good choice of beers and very good Thai food. Real ales are very well kept and prices are very reasonable.

Great to have so many lovely locals but this is a definite favourite!

Nice ambiance and friendly service.

I can honestly say that this pub is so friendly. and my god! If you ever get a chance to go on a Sunday, the roasts are out of this world delicious. Good selection of IPA beers. I will be back

The pub itself is beautiful. Staff are so lovely. Had the red Thai curry the other day and it really hit the spot for a mid week lazy dinner. ---- Had to decrease my rating from 5* as my partner and I got turned away at 9pm on a Sunday due to the pub "closed" (there were people still drinking) with no further explanation given. Edit: thank you Lucas for taking the time to explain (I had assumed that). Hope everyone got home safely.

Banger. Ocasionally closes earlier than it should. Otherwise faultless

Great Old London boozer. Friendly staff, fantastic Thai food/kitchen... No pretentious...just a great place to meet mates and have a few beers

I always had a good experience with the food in this place. However, today the service was terrible! - I made a reservation at 3pm clarifying that I want to watch the World Cup as they are promoting outside the restaurant. Also.I asked if it was possible to have a good table in front of the TV. (They accepted that and I received an email confirmation) - They did not show the ceremony and when we ask to turn on the TV, the waiter did not care about what they had on screen and left the TV with cartoons LOL! - The table we had was the worse spot on the restaurant to watch the game. (If you want to offer the World Cup, prepare your facilities or do not accept my reservation with my requirements) - They forgot about the food we ordered and we started eating after 4 pm. ( 2 time of the game) The highlight of the night was one member of the staff coming to the table saying that I should not cheer when my team scores a goal!

The food is good but they have a terrible service with no attention to customers. They have a huge sign outside saying that they are displaying the World Cup but if you go there to watch, they don’t want you to cheer for your team. I wonder if England was playing they would have a different attitude….

You cannot advertise you are a pub that will show the World Cup and then be absolutely clueless on how to show it. We paid for a Sunday roast and after that they told us they ran out of what we had already ordered. It took them an hour to deliver our food, when they delivered food in less than 20 min to other tables. The food was good though. Also, the some of the staff was apparently in a really bad mood.

Great neighbourhood pub ! Been coming here for a while now, the staff is super friendly, good outdoor space and really nice food!

What a great pub. Beautiful traditional fittings, architecture, and character with the bonus of an incredible Sunday lunch. Great flavours and large portios. Dog friendly is alway a must for me too, a great experience. More pubs like this one please!

Proper good old pub like they don't make enough of these days! Great range of cheap beer, delicious Thai food, footie, free roaming dogs and LGBT+ friendly - literally what more could you want?

Very nice, big and traditional pub! The thai food there is great especially if you are in spicy spicy food!

Just the best pints and a great environment

Great people, helpful and attentive staff.

Excellent chicken Pad Thai. Surprised they didn't have any Jack Daniels. Maybe, the latter is no longer fashionable. I am a boomer, after all! Beautiful pub. Feels classy. Recommended.

Friendly staff and delicious thai food

Nice pub with indoor and outsdoor seating. Staff friendly and good atmosphere.

Excellent customer service from very friendly bar staff. Thai food very good and wide beer selection. Also free jukebox! Unfortunately the table surfaces are very scuffed with some of the varnish lost overtime. Give these a face-lift and it'll be a 6 * review next time.

Have always longed for roast lamb with mint sauce and today finally got to eat at this lovely pub. Dad and mi youngest son had the roast beef, which mi son surprisingly ate more than 3/4 of his plate. He's normally a burger/pizza and for him to eat that much means he enjoyed the roast, while his brother ate the nut roast. The highlight is the musician playing all fav tunes on the piano which gives one the feeling of actually being at home with family. Staff are very friendly. Definitely recommend.

Smells a bit like a pet shop but otherwise scores highly on all fronts. Friendly staff. Good layout. Good beer.

Love this pub very friendly, efficient and great atmosphere...food is great value and delicious...

Nice local pub. Food not amazing.

Good vibes, good staff and good Guinness

Really lovely staff, food was great! Good varieties of drinks on tap

Lovely pub and super friendly staff. Went there on a Sunday and not only did we enjoy an amazing roast but also some cool live piano tunes. Highly recommended!

Went for the Sunday Roast. First week of being meat free and got the nut roast. Girlfriend went for the Cailiflower cheese roast. Both absolutely great. Massive portions. Fantastic service too. Would recommend.

Friendly, profesional, inclusive staff...a relaxing place to have a pint and eat some good Thai food. Also great fries to share...

Food is good and staff friendly, but a little bit overpriced. And I wait for my dish more than 1 hour:(

Friendly staff, very relaxed atmosphere, good selection of beers and, when hungry, a yummy Thai kitchen is at hand to provide either snacks or full dinner.

Amazing local pub ✌ you can eat and drink always chatting with dear friends

Thanks for an AMAZING roast dinner!! I had the cider braised belly pork that came with a yorkshire pudding the size of my head, beautifully cooked veggies and crispy roasties!! We'll be back next Saturday to try out the Thai menu!!

Usually has a couple of descent cask beers mainly from London breweries. My biggest complaint is that my phone doesn't detect their wifi. I've bought a new phone. These days they seem to always have Fullers pride and alternate Hammerton N1 with Five Points XPA. N1 is great, XPA isn't one of my favourites.

Nice little quiet pub. The service was very friendly, the food was slightly below standard, but it wouldn't stop me from coming back. Definitely a nice place for a quiet drink during the week.

Just popped in for a light lunch and drinks. Food was lovely, staff very friendly and there's a good sized outdoor space. Will be returning at some point when I'm next in London.

Great local pub in traditional Victorian style & Thai kitchen

Food is fantastic, delicious Pad thai!

Always friendly staff. Foods delicious. Tasty guest beers. Clean and comfy. Outside seating with cover and a few heaters. Free sanitary products in the bathroom just incase. Doesn't open till 5pm on weekdays.

Хороший выбор пива и не больше. Просто обычный паб с фиш- энд- чипс и бургерами.

Lovely pub.. Nice Czech lager.. Very good Thai food. Friendly service. Highly recommend.

Great pub, we sat and played card games

Nice pub, seems to have a very community. Loved that they had a sour on tap, staff are very friendly.

I loved this pub! Met some friends there who lived locally, great beer selection, gorgeous live music in the background and my only regret was not having one of the gorgeous looking roasts passing by!

Amazing gem in this part of town. Wide choice of drinks, great Thai food. Massive portions. But more importantly, very welcoming landlord and the friendly staff. Feels like second home. :) Highly recommend to visit!

Brilliant local with a great selection of beers and killer Thai food!

Quality pub.... great Thai food. Good beer guide. Free jukebox (if you can get it going 🤣)

Nice interior, good beer and food selection and outdoor seating.

Great beer selection and good food. Service was very attentive too. Decent local pub.

Lovely quirky pub. Great beers and people. Thai food here is fantastic and goes well with a cold Livotel.

Top quality pub with delicious food. Lovely staff . Love it!