The Albion, Barnsbury - pub details

Albion

More images:
[image 2] [image 3] [image 4] [image 5]

Description

WINNER OBSERVER FOOD MONTHLY AWARD BEST SUNDAY LUNCH 2009!

The Albion has a unique setting for a London pub, making guests forget they are in the heart of the city. A Georgian gem, built at the time when Islington was still farmland, The Albion has the feel of a country pub. With our wisteria covered façade, log fires and large walled garden, we can provide the perfect location to entertain, relax and forget the stresses of modern life.

We've also recently been voted one of the top 50 Sunday lunch venues in the UK by the Independent and our garden in constantly included in every top list of the best alfresco spaces in London.

All of this makes The Albion one of the most popular and busy pubs in the whole of North London. We can cater for any size party, large or small. We would advise calling ahead to make a booking to avoid any disappointment.

If you're looking for a venue for a special occasion or business function we can cater for any size of party, large or small.

(last updated: 24th Mar 2009)

Get directions using the
TfL Journey Planner:
Enter the postcode you're travelling from:

Address: 10 Thornhill Road, Barnsbury, Islington, London, N1 1HW [map] [gmap]

Tel: 0871 917 0007 (ref 3942)

Website: http://www.the-albion.co.uk

Nearest tube stations Highbury and Islington (0.5 miles), Angel (0.6 miles), Caledonian Road (0.8 miles)

Nearest train stations Caledonian Road & Barnsbury (0.3 miles), Highbury & Islington (0.5 miles), Essex Road (0.6 miles)

Pub facilities/features:

> Current user rating: 4.5/10 (rated by 53 users)
> Local guides: London pub guide, North London pub guide
> Log in to rate this pub or upload a picture of it.
> Contact this pub > Post a comment > Mail a friend

other pubs nearby:

Drapers Arms, Barnsbury (0.1 miles), Prince Regent Bar and Kitchen, Islington (0.1 miles), Regent, Islington (0.1 miles), Barnsbury, Islington (0.1 miles), Islington Tap, Islington (0.2 miles) - see more nearby pubs

 

user reviews of the Albion, Barnsbury

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

5 most recent reviews of 61 shown - see all reviews

I went to a birthday party at The Albion a week ago. It’s a lovely looking ‘country-style’ pub, with a large beer garden. I was expecting a great afternoon, the sun was shining, and The Albion has great reviews (from The Observer no less).

That said, you’d have to pay me to go back. I couldn’t believe how monumentally rude the staff were. When I asked what ‘St Telo’ was on the menu, the barman barked ‘CHEESE’ as though I was being offensively stupid and turned his back on me. It took three attempts to even find out where I could place an order for food, and had to ask another three waiters to actually take my order. And shamefully, it’s not just the barmen or waiters, it’s a problem that goes to the top. There were about 15 of us there so we spent a lot of money that afternoon. When we tried to pay the bill, the manager (yup, manager) repeatedly turned his back on us and walked away mid conversation. We were gobsmacked. How can a place like this get away with it? By buttering up critics from newspapers I imagine.

The true ‘icing on the cake’ was the fact that the birthday boy’s girlfriend had made him a cake the night before. She was told that to have it on the premises, everyone in the party had to pay a surcharge of £2.50. When she said this was ridiculous considering we had booked a large meal and were paying through the nose for it, the restaurant manager eventually relented, graciously saying we could have it in the pub, but we weren’t allowed to ‘publicise it, let the staff know we had it, or even eat it’. Thanks a bunch. We felt so welcome we left soon after.

Having read other reviews about the service at The Albion in Barnsbury, I shouldn’t think anyone would want to go. But if you’re a bit of a sadist and want to feel like a scumbag who shouldn’t be in a pub, by all means go and meet the staff there.

teao - 25 Jun 2009 15:50
This pub is beautiful. What a massive shame that the staff are beyond rude and the food is overpriced. Our party booked a suckling pig, as it was a special occasion. It was delicious, but paying over £30 each, for what is basically a posh roast dinner is overpriced nonsense. I'm not sure what the observer was thinking. Perhaps they should re-visit undercover to get the real deal.

The bar staff were rude to most of the members in our party and i was ignored on more than one occasion. We wanted to bring a birthday cake with us and were told it would cost a surcharge of £2.50 each! Taking into account that our table probably spent around £800, though out the day and, although this cost was overlooked eventually, it slightly tainted what should have been a very special occasion.

This upmarket gastro is trying to be a restaurant, although it seems to overstretch itself. Personally i would avoid and never recommend to anyone, unless you have very deep pockets and are thick skinned.
sophw - 15 Jun 2009 13:14
"An OFM award is the sign of quality". An entry into pseuds corner awaits you, Tom.

Seems the opinions are more or less spilt into two camps for this one:
a: Those who treat it like a restaurant and thus enjoy the food.
b: everybody else.

Question is, why are the 'a' group commenting on beerintheevening? My last visit was pretty brief: I walked in, saw nowhere to sit and pretty much nowhere to stand. I was asked, unprompted, if i'd booked a table by some front of house staff as I walked through to the garden.

I left again. If this is people's idea of a country pub, I suggest they get out into the country a bit more.
Planner_21 - 14 May 2009 16:01
An OFM award is the sign of quality and having tasted the Sunday roast, FULLY AGREE!
TomTomWhere - 5 May 2009 11:51
I was at tghe ALbion this weekend and both food and service were absolutely fantastic. I had the melt inthe mouth bone marrow followed by Paoched Salmon in a homemade cockle sauce which was perfectly light and tasted of the sea it was so fresh. We sat in the garden which is truly a piece of the country in the middle of London. A truly perfect pub and afternoon!
Treenie - 5 May 2009 11:30

see more reviews
 

got anything to say about this pub?

Please read our comments policy before posting.
Only registered users can post reviews. Please log in. If you don't have an account yet, register here.

 

Blog | Forums | Copyright Neransk Limited 2001-2009. All Rights Reserved. Calls to 0871 numbers cost 10p/min.