Roots at N1 (ex-The Cuckoo, ex The Huntingdon), Barnsbury

our final review

posted by redcat on 21/04/2011

last rating:

When it comes to pubs, there's usually a clear demarcation line between upmarket Barnsbury and nearby old-school Caledonian Road. However, the Huntingdon throws this concept into doubt. From the outside it's a wonderful looking building, very much in keeping with the local area. As such, it was a disappointment to discover the inside to be a dated, pine-laden corporate brewery refit, devoid of flair or imagination. Still, what this pub did have on our early evening visit was a group of resolutely unpretentious locals and an equally unpretentious atmosphere. The bar staff and regulars were on first name terms, but not to the detriment of unfamiliar faces and the service was first-class; it's the first time we've had our packet of crisps cut open for us to enable easy sharing. If you happen to be in Barnsbury and the Hemingford Arms seems too cliquey and the Drapers Arms too much like a restaurant, you could do worse than a couple of pints here.

Probably a little too off the beaten track, the Cuckoo only lasted two years before becoming an Indian restaurant. Only the Hemingford Arms remains in this part of Islington.