please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A rather nice backstreet local which could be a million miles away from its location in Zone 2.
A fair range of beer (it's a Greedy King tied house) but I do recall them having a seasonal and a guest, which for GK pubs is always quite impressive. The beer was good, too.
Small and atmospheric inside, only sign of the 21st century was a TV with the football on.
Well worth seeking out if in the area.
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Lovely pub as all the reviews say but was quite dissappointed about the fact that I was told on the phone they showed both NL-Romania and Italy-France EUROS 2008 but once I got there they just showed IT-FR. It was not even technically possible for them to show two different games at the same time.
As the majority of my mates prefered to see IT-FR we decided to stay but as a Dutchy I was very disappointed to have dragged my mates here and not being able to see my men in orange.
As it won't happen that often that two games are played at the same time I doubt many people will experience the same, therefore I won't rate them for it as otherwise it seems a lovely tucked away pub.
Zalia - 19 Jun 2008 14:23 |
What an excellent little pub this is tucked away in the back streets. Went there pre-football and it was very pleasant. Still very acceptable 2 hours before kick off. Very well kept Old Hooky.
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The Compton Arms – I love this place they get full marks, the beer was real and fantastic, the service... wonderful, customers… friendly, this is a real pub, an authentic pub filled with authentic gooners.
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Lovely pub, very friendly, nice and cosy too. A much better pub than I would have expected to find in this area. You have to know it's there because you'd never stumble across it by accident!
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Fantastically down to earth back street boozer.
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Visited here on 16 October prior to seeing top acoustic artiste Kate Walsh at the Union Chapel. Very nice little pub serving Tom Wood's County Bomber in addition to Ridley's (aka GK) Old Bob and the usual two GK beers.
Food in the evening two and recommended if you are in the area.
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Considering this is a Greene King pub it's pretty good. The usual Green King selection plus one guest (a nicely kept St. Austell's Tribute on my visit). Overall, a nice, small and almost traditional place that is a welcome getaway from all the soul-less places along Upper Street.
Btw, JohnBonser, Olde Trip is now brewed by Green King, not Hardy & Hansons. It is a common trait that Greene King adopt in their pubs - not to update the pump clips to make it look like they're selling guest beers. If you think it tastes good now you should have tried it before GK got their hands on it - infinitely better!
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Nice local feel here, ales good, friendly staff and food okay (well at lunch time anyway). Worth a visit away from the humdrum 'bars'.
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Had more than my fair share of Tribute in here yesterday - lovely. And in the sunshine outside too.
This is a lovely compact little boozer full of charming locals and local charm.
And for all those knocking the 'hell-hole' of Highbury Corner - the whole tube area is earmarked for development starting next year.
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Splendidly traditional pub in a quiet residential side street, could be a million miles away from the seedy hell-hole round Highbury and Islington Tube Station.
Pub doesn't open until 12 o clock, but the friendly landlady took pity on me sheltering from the summer drizzle and opened up 10 minutes early specially for me.
It's a Greene King pub and the Hardy and Hansons Olde Trip Ale was on and in good form.
It's a CAMRA friendly pub, well worth visiting.
Younger readers of this site may be interested to know that this was one of the first pioneers of real ale back in the 70's when it was part of a small chain of free houses owned by ( believe it or not ) the notorious Maxwell Joseph of Watneys / Trumans fame
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Down at heal pub with poor service.
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Forgot to mention as said by ladnewton the batemans XXXB was wonderful, just right.
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A PERFECT little pub, found out about it when going to a nearby gig and had a quick look in the good beer guide-delighted to find this GEM of a space, was a little too busy but this was probably due to everyone going to the band nearby. will 100% be returning.
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Interior of pub unchanged since last visit a year or two back. Greene King IPA was on best form [for Greene King], but the Batemans XXXB was excellent.
Please note that under current management you are required to leave the premises promptly by 1120.
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I have also moved further away from this little gem but when I get back nothing has changed, still same friendly atmosphere, great staff and decently priced drinks. So un-Islington its amazing.
celt7 - 29 Oct 2006 20:44 |
Agree with Mr. Monkfish, don't tell everyone. We don't go to this pub as much as we used to as we've moved a bit further away. I admit, every time I go in I expect the regulars to turn and stare/mutter, but it's not like that at all - it's friendly in a low-key way. Total relief from the hell of Upper Street.
And it will forever be linked in my mind with watching Liverpool win the European Cup in May 2005.
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went in here for a quick pint and stayed for a few, friendly staff and locals, a real diamond away from the tinsel on upper st. felt like you were in some tiny village somewhere not a stones throw from highbury corner.
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Tasty grub, an ever-changing assortment of ales, comfortable "country pub"-style atmosphere, friendly staff and a welcoming local clientele. This is where the, "however" should make an appearance, but I really can't think of anything bad to say...
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tried this place and loved it , staff and beer excellant .... good atmosphere
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I have heard great things of this in the past, so popped my head in once. I must admit I didn't find it welcoming at all. Dull beers on hand pump (its a Greene King house I think, always a total shocker) and a bit too packed for my liking. But will no doubt try it again.
anonymous - 13 Feb 2006 16:54 |
Small, good beer. Not particularly welcoming bar staff.
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Ok, most of you that read this site are amongst the more discerning pub goers so I don't mind telling you about this place but please; check over your shoulder to make sure that nobody else is reading this and once you have read about it-keep your trap shut. Otherwise you will risk ruining this unspoiled paradise for beer drinkers.
Located about a two minute walk but metaphorically a million miles away from Upper Street down an innocuous looking side street/alley this pub is hidden away from the hordes of wannabe trendy drinkers just around the corner and is all the better for it.
Appearance wise it has more in common with a small village local pub than anywhere within a hours' walk of it. There are exposed wooden beams and old-fashioned windows. The furniture is of the classic dark hard wooden stools and benches with small cushions sewn on variety and look like they could have been manufactured at any point in the last 200 years. There are pictures of the local area in by-gone areas mounted on the wall and various titbits of information about the pub and the history of this part of North London written on the wooden beams. The only obvious concession to the 21st Century are the large flat-screen TVs showing the Football. There is no background music and no room to host any other entertainment, but the power of conversation creates a warm and cosy atmosphere.
The barstaff are excellent and take the time to be friendly and remeber your order whilst keeping the queue moving briskly. The beer is excellent and very well priced for this neck of the woods and although during my visit there last night they only had Greene King IPA and Ridley's Rumpus on, an impressive array of pump labels stuck on one of the walls indicates that this is a very strong ally to the CAMRA brigade and is a place to try something diffrent for the rest of us.
The food looked and smelled amazing, but unfortunatley by the time my friends and I considered the question of sustainance they had finished doing food for the evening.
Overall this is a simply brilliant pub that has only one major flaw; it's too small, hence my plea for a little discretion in who you let know about it as it would be very easy for this place to become unbearably cramped and uncomfortable thus ruining one of the few truly outstanding watering hole sin Islington.
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Small often smokey and worth a visit.
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Have passed this pub many a time, but only just got around to visiting it. What a pleasant surprise! A summer Saturday night in N1, and this place is mere yards away from the meat market that is Upper Street, and had 4 real ales on. Truly a rarity in this area. Staff were really friendly and welcoming - there were a few obvious "regulars" in, but by no means did this make us feel unwelcome. An oasis for N1 drinking.
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What a joy this pub is. It is mainly notable for what it *hasn’t* got – music, fruit machines, pool, always-on TVs, a ‘theme’, posers and yobs. Just a range of well-kept ales and a few decent wines, a low buzz of conversation and the kind of staff who remember what you drank last time you visited. Nothing special, you might think, except that in this part of Islington such a place is an oasis in a desert of chain bars – a country pub lost in the big city. Long may it continue.
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Great pub. Rally nice landlord and customers who gave us visiting Norwich supporters a real welcome and even a football and video for the kids. 5 Real ales - tried them all. Friendliest pub I have been to in London.
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A little gem.
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Possibly the best pint in Islington. Very impressed.
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Proper good old style boozer, good selection of ales, friendly staff and very handy to know about if you want to escape the media toffs of upper street. Just tell your closest friends about it.
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Sadly I thought this place was quite average, a bit of a letdown after all the recommendations.
Two main complaints: unbelievably smokey, and all their lager taps were broken. (I think it's great if a pub decides to serve only ale, but in this case it was just that all the taps were broken).
On the positive side the low ceilings did make the place seem cosy, the bar staff were friendly, and it's a great location hidden out of the main drag.
RJK - 8 Nov 2004 19:55 |
We used to drink fairly regularly in The Compton Arms when we were students at the old Poly of North London on Hooloway Rd and Ladbroke House Highbury Barn - 1976-1981. It’s so long ago that I only thought of the place the other day but couldn't even remember it's name! Kept on going their into the mid-80’s as well, introducing work colleagues from Hackney to the joys of Abbott Ale. Must pay it a nostalgic visit one day soon!!
Tony Macklin - Worthing, West Sussex - 29 Oct 2004 12:29 |
I didn't realise pubs like this existed in London. And not only that, it's inner zone 2 London. It's a tiny old pub with low ceilings and lots of charm, but it's not up its own arse, and will still have tellys for football.
The bartender actually came up to my table and asked if we wanted another round. I was lost for words. I thought you had to go to tiny villages in Kent to get this sort of genuine friendly service.
Absolutely fantastic, cannot wait to go again. It's only the second pub out of about a hundred on this website to get a 9/10 from me.
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The "Compton" was my regular when I lived a stone's throw away 35 years ago. Now, even though I live in Canada, any return visit includes the obligatory pint or two at this cosy, unique pub. Many happy hours were spent there with my two stalwart friends, Michael Stewart and Philip Davies. Any ex-Barnsbury Secondary School for Boys students (classes of 1957 to 1962), who may have also frequented the "Compton", are welcome to reply to me and reminisce about the old days.
- Barry Page
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Lovely old pub - good selection of beers and friendly staff
Dave G - 22 Jan 2004 14:50 |
this pub is hidden away and proves that Islington has everything. You can have a genuinly quiet drink here at reasonable prices (and I am a northerner living in London so that isn't said lightly). Big tv for footy. Unfortunatley (this is where the pub falls down- I am a red manc) it is a gooner pub, good to wander round there at the end of the 2002/2003 season though.
Matt - 7 Aug 2003 13:31 |
A fantastic little local - only tell your very best friends because all of them won't fit in. Friendly staff and regulars, great beer, nice beer garden and lots of atmosphere. Forget any Islington stereotypes, and forget the chain-bar horrors nearby - this is a great little place, and deserves to loved and cherished.
A regular has set up a website - http://pages.britishlibrary.net/alex.broadbent/compton/index.htm
Darryl - 10 Jul 2003 20:50 |
