The Elk in the Woods, Islington

I must be in the minority here, but i have never had a problem at the Elk and i've eaten there half a dozen times. But then, i do not regard this establishment as a traditional pub - actually it's a gastro-pub restaurant - and this is where the problems described above seem to stem from.

Most restaurants, especially small one, would baulk at a large group coming in and just having a "few drinks". That is the same for many of the gastro-pubs in the area, where in the restaurant section, one is expected to order a meal.

Anyone who has been to the Elk will know that this is not a place to order some chips and have a few drinks. I wouldn't do this in any of the local gastro-pub restaurant sections - St John's (Archway), or at House (Highbury) or at the Junction Travern's restaurant section (Tufnel Park).

We have always booked a table and had dinner. And as the place is relatively small, i can see why they require patrons to eat. Islington locals are aware of this, and i have asked a few of my friends and none of them regards the Elk as a drinking pub.

Expectation is everything.

There are plenty of large pubs to cater for large groups.

14 Mar 2006 17:50