please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Quite pricey but the new owners have created a really nice atmosphere - it's got a touch a class but without the snobbery can that affect this part of town. It's been nice to see a good range of ages at the Alma - again this part of town can be so yuppie/yummy mummy it's really refreshing to see a few over-60s in an N1/16 pub.
Good selection and quality of ales and lagers and really friendly staff. Currently my favourite local hostelry.
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this lovely pub now has 3 real ales , 2 real ciders and aspall for the keggies. there is a wonderful range of bourbons including Elijah Craig and Eagle Rock. Lee and James are a great management team and i wish them well for the future. The film and music quotes are superb, WC Fields, Mae West and Groucho Marx are the best .
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Now under new management Movie Themed pub - Thai Grill - Sunday "pop up Roasts- quiz nights - acoustic nights - Vinyl DJs - Film nights 0203 620 7516 - thealmapubn1.com
Twitter @TheAlma_N1
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Pub under new management and now with a much nicer feel. Real Ales (3) and nice Thai food. We were in on a Wednesday when there were a group of musicians playing - thankfully without Amps! - really really pleasant. Nice Irish guy behind the bar.
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Some pubs have to evolve , change to keep up with the neighbourhood. The recent reviewers expectations seem to centre around the food. I popped in for a couple of pints both were good, pleasant enough place.
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have to agree about the poor service as noted below, its not the best. Also, on two seperate occasions I've been served up a cloudy pint from the bottom of the barrel. sorry lads, wont be going back...
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Worst service I've had in many a year was meted out to me on a recent Sunday. Sarcastic and aggressive landlord, dipsy clueless staff.
There are enough decent pubs in the area, so I'll only come back when I see an "under new management" sign.
Oh and the food was overpriced for the averageness of the portions/flavour.
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Was here on Sunday.
Wandle and Fortyniner both great, but the food is insanely priced - �13.50 for a couple of scraps of fish and some mash. It was well cooked and all, but I need a lot more on my plate to justify paying that much. Wife had a decentish slab of goat's cheese type tart thingy for a tenner but it only came with a pile of leaves.
Nice friendly atmosphere though and can't fault the service. Lots of kids running around, so maybe one to avoid on Sundays if that's not your bag.
5/10 for the tiny portions!
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the worst pub for food in the n1 area, absolutely shocking again, why my friends want to go and meet here i dont know !
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I'd seen this pub many times before when travelling past on the bus but had never been in. I finally decided to pay it a visit at the weekend.
The pub's best feature is its bowed front windows, along with a number of other original (19th century) structural and decorative details inside. The pub has been gently refurbished to give a rough-around-the-edges cafe/bar feel (food and hot drinks are served along with alcoholic drinks). The attractive bar is loaded with local food items (cakes and biscuits, also jars of jam if I recall). Only two hand-pump ales were on offer. These were Sambrook's Wandle and Ringwood Brewery's Fortyniner. Both were excellent, although very expensive at �3.55 per pint. Overall I thought the place had quite a nice, relaxing atmosphere.
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went to the alma last night, and wasnt very impressed, being new to the area i am checking out all the local pubs and it is fair to say that the decor could do with updating as well as the staff's attitude towards customers. The menu looked bleak and not very seasonal so i decided to go the three crowns in stoke newington. Shall not be returning to this grotty old pub anytime soon. Best Avoided
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Not impressed. The barman was very unfriendly, bordering on hostile. The 'beer and cider festival' had a decent selection, but the kegs were allowed to become warm in the sunshine. The Sunday lunch was alright, but outragously expensive for �14.50. I expect more than two potatoes for �14.50. Not great, wouldn't bother.
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Another of those bare board, maroon wall 'refurb' pubs. This one also pretends to be a proper ale pub and even had a festival on. They had a section of the pub set up with barrels but I thought I'd go for something they had on draught at the bar. Tried a pint of Sambrook's Wandle which was dire - undrinkable to the extent that I left most of it. If they can;t get their stuff behind the jump on form it certainly doesn't bode well for the barrles lying round the pub - so on to elsewhere.
anonymous - 27 May 2011 22:54 |
Looks okay for a pint every now and then, but we were disappointed with the food and service. The food is very pricey for what it is. My dish comprised one small grilled chicken breast, some potato wedges and a bit of broccoli. This cost �13.50! The fondant with ice cream arrived without ice cream. When we pointed this out, the waitress was polite but unhelpful. The ice cream unexpectedly arrived 15 minutes later. No problem if the food was half the price, but you should expect better given what they charge.
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Very unpleasant experience. Served with cloudy and sour beer (actually a nice ale called Redemption). After pointing this out to the barmaid, she changed barrel but failed to pull off the pipe residue and served two more cloudy and undrinkable pints. A simple mistake.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed on her behalf we pointed this out. Rather than receive an apology and two drinkable pints the landlord intervened and subjected us to an unprovoked and aggressive tirade. He point blank refused to replace the pints and threatened to call the police if we continued to protest. Absolutely extraordinary behaviour!
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I have never, ever had worse service in my life. The tall chap working was very nice and helpful but the curly haired red head woman needs a serious talking to. After a fire started on my friend's coat (ignited by one of the Alma's many candles) she simply told me to 'find help at the bar' and walked away. The carpet was on fire FFS! She needs to get off her high horse.
The Guinness was okay, though.
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This pub is such a dive! I've been dragged here a few times as it happens to be my sisters local and there dosn't seem to be much in the way of competition in the area. The interior is old and worn, the sofas are sticky and the table we were seated at appeared to be held together with gaffa tape! As for whats on offer here, a small selection of lagers, one ale, and a very over priced menu.
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Nice little beer festival with London beers. Staff seemed very helpful and friendly. I like the eclectic mix of furniture.
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Love it - it's my local and is always atmospheric even if not very busy. Great little courtyard out the back for summer evenings or for smokers, an in-house canine that occasionally bundles through, and a great wine list and comfy seating. I wouldn't bother with the food though - it is overpriced for what you get and the chefs won't adapt any of the dishes to preferences. Apparently the portions of wedges are 'matched' with the number of burgers procured and never the twain shall be separated.
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Im intrigued by what keep_it_green means by "perfect for couples", I have never considered that a pub may be perfect for couples, or imperfect for that matter. It certainly doesn't have lots of tables for two, private intimate booths or unisex toilets. I wouldn't think oh I cant go there with my mates because it'll be a bit weird because everyone else will be with their other halves.
What I will say yes its a touch on the pricey side, but the food is well worth it, they have a great range of beers although I only tend to drink Guinness so I can only say that there are no faults there, the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. Kirsty the landlady is a Kiwi so you will find a few New Zealand influences in the menu and in the drinks, I would be well pleased if this was near to my house and I could visit more often.
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I have been living on the green for over three years and have been a regular at the Alma since the first time I entered the place. This gastro pub is great. Their house red is very decent for �12 a bottle and their spirits are around �3 with mixer which is not too bad frankly. Plus the atmosphere is really cosy, down to their lovely back garden. The staff is effective and friendly. Nice place.
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Half decent gastropub, although I wouldn't go out of my way to return. As peviously stated, the beers was a bit ropey. Is this the place Bobby Gillespie complained about making noise on a saturday night?
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I've been going to this pub on and off for a couple of years now and I keep making the same mistake - steer well clear of the draught beer - it's terrible! They've changed brands more than once since I first went and each time I think I'll give it another go and end up with a pint worse than any watered-down pound-a-pint beer I ever had in the student union (it�s worse than any jar I�ve had in the worst nightclubs). �3.30 for a pint of metallic tasting lager (it was Amstel last time and has been Red Stripe and Miller previously) without the slightest hint of a head is shocking for the money. They're all the same so it can only be bad storage practice that makes a terrible impression on an otherwise lovely pub bar (apart from the service, which can be infuriatingly slow and offhand at times). Stick to bottled beer, and if you�ve got a thirst make sure you�ve got plenty of cash.
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Feel obliged to post a fresher comment, given than none has been made since my last. I was in here very recently with a group of friends and the place has been transformed - friendly staff, good service, great atmosphere and a lovely little beer yard/garden. I'm not sure what happened but it's certainly been for the best. It's still a little on the expensive side, but worth a visit and one of the best in the area.
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Expensive. Beer not that good. Staff very slow. It has a nice ambience, perfect for couples.
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This is my second reveiw of the Alma. I really like the place but I must feel I must comment as two pints of Kronenberg (yer I know, why am I drinking Krony) cost us �6.40 or there abouts. I'm afraid the Alma is for special occasions only.
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Once a pub I used to frequent to watch the footie when I couldn't get to anywhere decent - this place was real spit and sawdust. How refreshing then that somebody's bought and done something half interesting with the place.
The food's quite good - my tip is to go on a weekday at lunchtime -- they usually do a small main and a large glass of red for �6 - and the place is really quiet then.
I agree that the staff can be slow and the beer's usually rubbish but it makes a great place to go for a fairly quiet chat [hopefully somebody will buy the Weaver up the road and turn that into something decent for competition]
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lovely food and really great atmosphere. a little on the pricey side though so saved for special ocassions.
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This place has a lovely warm relaxed vibe, with great food, friendly staff and a delightful garden courtyard.
This place just feels like a second home when I step through the door.
Simon - 18 Nov 2004 01:02 |
i have been going to the alma for just over a year now and it never fails to please. beautiful decor matched with delicious food and a wine list to keep anyone happy. perfect place for lazy sunday with a group of friends.
anonymous - 17 Nov 2004 21:27 |
Absolutely adore this place - especially the garden out the back during the summertime. I like the constantly changing menu, which means that the food is seasonal, fresh, interesting, and v. yummy. Most of all, I'm big on the laid-back and sexy vibe of the place.
Annette Keogh - 17 Nov 2004 21:03 |
I've eaten at The Alma several times in the last year and most recently at their 2 year anniversary in November which turned into a fantastic party. The atmosphere is always very friendly and the food imaginative, very well prepared and good value. All in all a great experience and one I intend to repeat.
Tim Frosdick - 17 Nov 2004 19:15 |
THis pub is an enigma. Sometimes its great, but it is constantly let down by rude and ignorant staff. Waiting for a beer can take up to 10 minutes, regardless of how busy it is. THey cant seem to decide if they are a pub or a restuarant. Today, I was moved from a table in the main bar with no apology as they wanted to reserve the table for diners arriving in 2 hours. THe food is hit and miss too and over priced. Best bet is to go the Northgate down the road.
And they have a terrible selection of beers to go with the terrible selection of staff!
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The best nosh in the area. Chef is a real pro and this is reflected in the price of food. Staff are lovely, the decor is deep and a little Morrocan (even tho the landlady is a Kiwi). Lager needs to be brushed up but you can get a decent pint of beer. I highley reccomend a Bloody Mary on a sunday afternoon
Ollie King (local) - 7 Sep 2004 16:49 |
Awful selections of beers (kronenberg or Miller!) - waited 45 mins in between starter and main course. Poor atmosphere - go to centriun around the corner
Martin Freelin - 13 Aug 2004 12:09 |
great food
anonymous - 24 Jun 2004 18:18 |
GREAT FOOD, sausages come from place in Clerkenwell, I keep meaning to ask the chef the address of the butchers. Ales and lagers on tap and a nice little yard out the back which is best on a warm evening rather than in the day.
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No longer a dirty run down stained raincoat and pipe pub, it has been transformed into a little local gem. A bit sparse on the beer front, but that is not it's primary aim. The food is superb, but not cheap. The barstaff are friendly and laid back. The music policy (if one exists) excels. A welcome edition to N1.
Keith - 15 Jan 2004 14:51 |
