Sadly pub's being allowed to go to the wall, this is because owner steve wants place demolished and is still turning down cash offers higher than amount offered by developers Wenlock LLP. Same thing is gonna happen like the Oakdale, closure and demolition of which all boiled down to one person versus the world! Sad, but there seems little anyone can do :( After my last visit, I felt much the same as gaypostman, John Bonser -the erstwhile Grande Dame of BITE- and others that this place was getting too grotty for comfort. I don't know whether someone has shoved the hoover round since (yes that was deliberate understatement) but there did seem to be less grime this time. Maybe it was the time of year and the low light levels! Whatever the case I am glad that place got a reprieve and it still has more soul than many if it's gastro-ised neighbours.After several recommendations of the 'you must go to this pub before it closes down' type I called in after work the other week. It was a real eye opener. I'm sorry - but there is more to a pub than serving good beer. I thought I'd never say that - and I'm generally with the anti chain pub and anti gastro pub brigade - but a pub has still got to make an effort. This looked like it wasn't waiting for the demolition order but already starting from the inside! There were holes in the floor, skip furniture and - yes - the toilets stunk to high heaven. Thank God they don't fo food there any more! The place doesn't look like its had a female customer in years. And yes that is important otherwise drinking real beer just becomes a very sad pastime of sad blokes. People make an effort to go to this pub - its a crappy walk from Old Street tube - so they need to see that the pub makes an effort. I'm not asking for bells and whistles just a pleasant environment to enjoy beer.

Below are the contact details of the people who have the planning permission to turn the pub into flats. If your care about this pub then write to them, keep it clean and don't be a prat.

http://www.csbuildersmerchants.co.uk/contact.htm

The more reasonable you are, the more likely they'll listen.Sad too see in my local Paper this Pub will be closing for good on 19th March Only to be replaced with yet another over development of flats. Ive had many of good Pints in this Pub over the years going right back too around 1976 which was the first time I went there was when my Brother was working at Maynard's just up the road. Seems unbelievable it was 35 years ago Now theres not a decent Pub left in the area and they call this progress.Sad to see the Oakdale is going to close, will be sorely missed, only proper pub in N4, thanks Rob and the crew....

2 visits here confirm this is one of the best pubs in north london, friendly service, excellent brewdog, thornbridge, and fynes beers, worth a trek to the suburbsMe and three others made a first visit to this place last night. The ale on was excellent we tried, between us, stuff from Redemption, hophead, Thornbridge and Atlas. The staff couldn't have been more helpful, friendly and knowledgeable and the food was as good as it gets in a pub. By 7 in the evening the place was packed with a nice laid back crowd. Great place can't recommend it enough, will be backfinally made the trek to the suburbs, i have to say it was well worth the effort, good range of well kept ales/international beers , i'll be back..

The landlord here is really tring to provide some of the best beers around. Unfortunately the beer is not always at its best due to lack of tunover. I've often been the only person in here drinking beer whilst the locals are strickly lager/wine/pimms. That said, it's a pleasant enough place and should be supported by any discerning ale drinker.Decent friendly pub with good choice of beers. Well worth a visit.Nice place but could be so much better. This pub attracts Islington's Champagne Socialists, which explains the lack of atmosphere but plenty of posh totty. Beer was good but were serving summer ales in winter.

Rather amused by all the negative comments. Went in yesterday during a pub crawl around this part of Islington. Had Landlord, Porter and Starpramen whilst the Missus has Schneider Weiss. All beers served in excellent condition with a decent sized head and in the correct glassware by happy to oblige staff. No problems whatsoever. Beautful gin-palace-esque interior. A boozer I will definitely return to.I, in all good conscience, and out of respect to the other users of this website, cannot allow a positive review of this diabolical pub to be the first thing you read.

I implore that if you are thinking about going, think twice! I have done it myself. Toying with the idea of going to the Island Queen is a bit like playing with an elastic band, actually going is like loosing an eye.

Despite my fear of high ceilings I have great affection for the Island Queen. There is a magnificent range of wine and beers and I am slightly addicted to the spinach and lentil burger. The staff have spunk and are nice to look at.

I would like to apologise for my previous post. What I said was down to having a bad day. What happened that night was merely horse-play, I was in too stroppy a mood to realise this. Steve the landlord is an excellent host and makes sure everyone feels welcome. I am sorry if I offended anyone.
The Jollys is a great place to be in .
steve the landlord is a great guy .
and has been the longest govonor here so far (6years counts for a lot )

come and check out the jollys its a warm and welcoming place to be .

yes sometimes it can take awhile to get served but only of a weekend as its so busy . the bar staff work hard and tolrate no nonsence .

The food is great too . your a good fella steve !I've been an on/off punter in this pub for twenty years. And I have to say these days, it's absolutely shocking. I can't comment on the ales as I'm strictly a lager / cider/ spirits man (don't judge me!). The fact that I don't go into this pub as often as I used to has reflected on the level of service I get when I do. The landlord has recently come out as gay. I don't have a problem with this, but when I approach the bar (this past evening) and said landlord starts rubbing my chest and acting in an inappropriate manner, then, funnily enough, I do. I will still visit this pub as I have friends who drink here regularly (albeit on quieter nights). But I now consider this a NON-regular.