please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not a bad 'spoons - typical cavernous interior often full of the dregs of Islington but at least you can usually escape them by going to the upstairs area! Beer and food typical of the chain.
BobOs - 28 Aug 2008 14:00 |
This is a vastly improved pub with better service and nine of the ten pumps serving festival ale .
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Barstaff were very efficient coping well with the crowds going to the football. One of the better 'spoons I've been to on service alone. Reasonable choice of beers.
chick - 21 Feb 2008 14:22 |
This is a convenient pub for me, being by Highbury & Islington tube which is on my way home from work, but it seems to me to lack atmosphere and be rather noisy - I suppose the open plan scheme (I think it used to be a cinema?) is to blame. But as with other Wetherspoons the beer is good and cheap and I concur with Gordonferry's approval of the Curry Club food.
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I'm surprised the reviews are so positive. The building's okay, but the clientele range from the merely chavvy to the positively psychotic. And so do the staff, none of whom can add up change correctly.
liz_a - 18 Oct 2007 14:03 |
As with most of the chain this one is fine, cheap and staff do a good job. Ale choice good and whilst not the best in London are good enough for the price.
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Re: White Swan Manager Sighting
Highbury, London is a good distance from Loch Ness – but the locals at the White Swan take their sightings with equal seriousness. Two reports have been received this past week of White Swan Manager sightings, a rare occurrence in these precincts.
Some long time White Swan patrons doubted his existence.
The Manager, wearing a badge, clearly designating him as such, was sighted twice in one week. He was seen on May 1 or 2, in the evening, in the company of a well accoutred executive type. The nature of the meeting is unknown to us, but the Manager seemed to be experiencing some discomfort as the meeting progressed.
The Manager was seen again on Friday May 4, energetically bussing and wiping tables, removing old plates and serving food. He approached these tasks with some vigour. One cannot help but believe that the regular hard working staff appreciates his efforts. And the White Swan was certainly tidier for his presence.
The White Swan has its troubles; particularly with the havoc brought about on Arsenal match days and the toll such days take on the infrastructure. But the place usually has a friendly ambience, the food is decent -- particularly the new Curry Club menu -- and the staff are hard working and helpful. The continued presence of a Manager would be a welcome asset.
The watch is on – further sightings will be reported once received and verified.
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One of the better wetherspoons. Beer was reasonable and the toilets clean. Looking at the food people got it seemed reasonable. Some nice clientele although some of the blokes can be a bit yobbish especially when it comes to winding up the foreign bar staff. Would visit again but not on a football day.
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I notice a consistent theme of antagonism toward the elderly from the apparent younger persons who assess pubs on your website. And I find a particular hostility toward the Wetherspoon’s chain. Perhaps a view from the elderly side of the circle is in order. I am 72 years old, my wife is 68. We are citizens of the United States. We spend each spring working at the British Library and, at day’s end, attend Wetherspoon pubs regularly. We ordinarily use those in the surrounding area: Shakespeare’s Head, The Metropolitan, The Angel, and mostly, The White Swan.
We do not go to Wetherspoon pubs because they are inexpensive – we would not be in England for 3 months a year if expense was a factor. We go to Wetherspoon pubs because the quality of beer is consistently good, the absence of loud music allows us to converse civilly, and the loos are clean. (Important when one is in his eighth decade.) We treat the staff politely and find them to be generally friendly and efficient.
For every shabby elderly person I see, I encounter an equally shabby, disreputable and poorly behaved younger person. And I doubt that the graffiti on the men's room walls at the White Swan was applied by the elderly.
My wife and I ascribe to reasonably acceptable hygienic standards. I suspect that is not the case among some of the young that I come across. My wife and I behave politely while in pubs. I have not always found that to be the case among some younger persons.
And when I feel a need to make a comment on a website I try to construct that comment using the tools of criticism, the most important being a basic understanding of the language. Some of your critics understand this. Others alas, do not. As a general rule I find that the more negative the comment, the less grasp the writer has of the rudimentary use of the language and a descent into profanity invariably occurs.
A rallying cry of the 1960s was “never trust anyone over thirty.” Now, the Mick Jaggers of the world are prancing geriatrics. Let the young be aware that in thirty or forty years time, I will be ashes and they might be one of the old men in the corner of a Wetherpoons -- thinking of times past.
But that would require reflection.
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More crowded on match days now Arsenal are playing at the new stadium. This has all the faults a real ale pub can possibly have. Poor quality beer, poor choice, and it takes ages to get served. I had a bad guest beer pint of stout from the Czech Republic recently. I finished it and left. The last time I went there the only ale on offer was Courage, which I don’t drink because I don’t like it so I had to have Foster’s. They were obviously concentrating on selling lager. Good last season, but that’s all in the past.
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I remember when it opened and seemed decent enough, cheap drink, food plain but decently cooked, haven't really been back since ... very handy if you need to use the loo when coming out of the tube though ... shame it seems to have gone downhill - that's what you get for selling 99p alcopops to teens though. Agree if you are going to meet there .. get a seat/table upstairs. Certainly better value for money than other bars in the area.
anonymous - 29 Oct 2006 20:34 |
as always with a wetherspoons, they cannot handle more than 5 people at the bar at any one time. but it is a nice place, plenty of room and plenty of seats, reasonable drinks.
punters of a very mixed variety. unfortunately you do get a few people in there who think they are born in the ghetto and love shouting about and acting lairy. ive never been there and not had a little trouble, whether a little barge walking about or a full on offer to 'step outside'. otherwise good for a meeting place in town before hitting another club
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Actually not that bad (yes, service is slow - I recommend hovering around a til if you wanna be next) for a JDW. Good to get tanked up on the cheap before a club or late bar. To escape the Wethermen, get a seat upstairs - most of them can't walk up em, so yr safe!
anonymous - 12 Sep 2006 16:22 |
Well, it's Wetherspoon's isn't it. As Wetherspoon's go I didn't find it too bad on an afternoon visit. The barrell emptied just as I was being served, but that could happen anywhere, although they did take their time changing it. The rest of my experience there wasn't particularly bad, just the fact it's a Wetherspoon's means it's not going to be that great either. One of those pubs which is alright for a pint or two before moving on.
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Popped in after a game a few weeks back.....walked out 15 minutes later after still waiting to be served.
awful grotty place, with so many other good options within 5 minutes walk why on earth anyone but a spendthrift would bother with this place is beyond me.
Venom - 30 Mar 2006 18:57 |
Walked out after five minutes of waiting to be served. I won't be going back.
anonymous - 27 Mar 2006 19:13 |
Met a few people in there last night before going on to the garage - it's a wetherspoons so if you don't expect too much you won't be disappointed.
Cheap beer, abysmal service - I was at the bar waiting for to be served and could clearly hear the bar staff making smart arse comments about the punter before me ("if he's not gay then he certainly should be"). Had a few hassles with my change too.
I might go in there again if I've got something on at the garage but otherwise it's pretty unlikely.
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Typical Wetherspoons. Does everything it says on the tin. The steaks are good here tho. More foreign beer than most other branches, so quite good really. Handy for Highbury & Islington station, and for the shops on Upper Street. Not the best beer range in the whole wide world, but havin been there myself can't really say there's much wrong with the pub either.
Groovy sixties(?) pattern on the back wall, pub looks like it were once a theatre or maybe a cinema. A Wetherspoon that I don't mind going in, so it must be good then.
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Handy little tippling shop for pre and post Arsenal drinking. Service shows vast signs of improvement. Not a bad place at all.
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You know those typical Wetherspoons pubs which have no atmosphere and are full of pre-18 year olds drinking alcopops/Stella and getting arsey when asked to leave as they haven't got id? Well this isn't one of them. For a Wetherspoons this isn't bad. I'll admit that there isn't a great selection of beers but do you really care if they haven't got your favourite brew? Everyone's got a backup beer so stop using the "not a good selection" excuse! (Think I just contradicted myself there!)
I'm not a huge fan of Wetherspoon pubs and this one isn't all that but it's better than most. Nicely laid out with a good upstairs seating area for those of you who like to people watch. Clambering up the stairs can be a bit tricky if getting a large round so make sure you have a mate to help to reduce any risk of spillage. Non smoking area is plain and boring as this is where the eating area is. The main area at the front is spacious with a varied selection of chairs (high, low and arm chairs), something which alot of Wetherspoons are lacking. There is even a small outside seating area at the front which is nice during the summer and warmer periods.
I wouldn't recommend spending all night in here as I can imagine it getting quite boring. If you plan to stay out all night in Highbury/Islington then I would advise starting off in here and moving on elsewhere as it's a good place to meet and start off. I tend to use this pub whenever I'm going to the Garage as other pubs in the area can be too crowded or overpriced.
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Standard issue Wetherspoon's made more appealing than it might otherwise be due to it's location in an area where virtually every other pub/bar feels compelled to charge way over the odds and seem to get away with it without complaint. Upstairs area is good for people watching and there is always a nice buzz about the place. Only real downsides are typically inconsistent Wetherspoon's bar service ranging from the efficient and charming to painfully slow and surly and the amount of drunks that either fight or fall over on their way out every single time I visit.
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I completely disagree with the previous anonymous poster. I'm not a big wetherspoons fan generally but this is a good effort! Have eaten there on two occasions and enjoyed the food both times (although my friend didn't I must admit). Plus there is usually a good selection of ales which change regularly. Good place to meet before gigs at the Garage - infinitely better than the Cock Tavern.
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Not a very nice example of the JD Wetherspoon chain. I used to go in there because the beer range was good (they even had a German weissbier on draught) but the real ales, well kept though they are, don't make up for the dodgy decor and the small no-smoking area which often has smokers in it. The beer range is not as good as in the past, often just the usual suspects. Most of the barstaff are friendly enough though it can take a while to get served if regulars come in.
anonymous - 9 May 2005 20:36 |
Its Cheap, Dirty, and really one to avoid.
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If I wanted to sit in what looks like a tatty European airport and drink, I'd go to Frankfurt.
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Not the most cleanest of places. Meeting point at where to get tipsy quickly, beware the thief's though, last time I was there a nebuliser got stolen.
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Massive hideous weatherspoons which should only be approached if you're watching your pennies. And that's probably going to be the case if you're about to head across to The Garage for a gig. It now costs £38.70 for half a pint of strongbow there.
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It's a wetherspoons so ok for a quick pint before moving on but not somewhere you'd stay all night. At least not with Lush or the Junction nearby.
Paul - 22 Sep 2004 04:13 |
It's a big new (relatively) Wetherspoon's - busy all day long and far cheaper than any of the other nearby expensive pubs (up to half price in some cases). Service is not all it could be on occasions - not the fault of the staff by the way, but simply not enough of them behind the bar no matter what the time of day.
Laurence - 21 Oct 2003 15:07 |
Recent offer, £4.75 for a curry and a pint !
Sean - 9 May 2003 12:41 |
Its a big old Wetherspoon pub, enough said, handy as a meeting point being so close to Highbury & Islington tube.
Sean - 9 May 2003 12:36 |
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