The Swimmer at the Grafton Arms, Holloway

pub details:

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location:

Holloway

address:

13 Eburne Road, N7 6AR

phone:

0871 258 8617*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Holloway Road London Underground station
(850m) - zone 2

Upper Holloway railway station
(850m) - zone 2

Arsenal London Underground station
(930m) - zone 2

Finsbury Park railway station London Underground station
(1.1Km) - zone 2

Drayton Park railway station
(1.2Km)

bus routes:

29, 43, 243, 271, 279

how to find it:

Left out tube, head down Holloway Road for about 10 mins until the junction with seven sisters road. Turn right down seven sisters road. Eburne Road is the first proper road on your left. The pub is at the end of it.

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Whilst it can be easy to criticise gastropubs, when the emphasis is still on the pub rather than the gastro they're often hard to fault - and the Swimmer is a prime example of when it does work. A smart and professional establishment, it's still first and a foremost a pub - and a good one at that. There's usually either a range of and Fullers and a few guest beers on tap, plus Czech lager Litovel and Erdinger, a fair wine list and excellent service. It must be said though that considering the area, the prices of the food might be a bit high - but hardly in terms of London and they've obviously got a regular clientele. But putting this to one side, once you add on a jukebox for which the word 'eclectic' was devised, and a friendly atmosphere, you have the sort of watering hole that even if you're not ordering swordfish steak off the menu, you can still feel at home in, and it's pretty comfortable at that. It's also pretty handy for the Odeon round the corner.

reviewed:
24/10/2008