From Essex Road mainline cross New North Road at the lights and take the 2nd left up Canonbury Street. The pubs soon on the right. From Angel, turn right up towards Upper Street, then take the right fork along Essex Road. Continue along Essex Road until you come to the junction with New North Road, then follow the above instructions. From Highbury and Islington, cross to the far side of Highbury Corner and take Canonbury Road for 10 minutes until you reach Canonbury Grove on your left. Pub is at the end.
Street View - click to see the area around the Marquess Tavern
Off the beaten track, but surprisingly near Essex Road's mob of bars, lies the Marquess Tavern. A magnificent unspoilt Victorian building, it boasts a comfortable front bar with original wood panelling and a back room (probably once a games room) which claims an impressively high ceiling. A recent change of management (it's now run by a gaggle of former regulars) hasn't changed the gastro emphasis dramatically and the aforementioned back room remains the dining room. An expensive dining room at that: £10 for the veggie dish, £18 for the venison. Still, lounging in the front bar continues to be a pleasure - there's still plenty of beer here with an excellent selection of (mainly bottled) ales and a highly impressive selection lagers from the continent and beyond. Service too remains down-to-earth and friendly. The place gets very busy but it does feel more of a local's place than other gastropubs we know - due to its back street location, Islington's weekend visitors simply don't see it.
reviewed: 22/10/2008
pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)
posted by DASTOVALL - Saturday 19th December, 2009, 12:26pm
Was amazing, but for some reason they put massive bright lights all over the shop and for it made the place crap? It used to be cozy but now seems like a school dinner hall. Odd, but the wrong lighting can even make the best place crap. Dear Marquess, it will only cost about 7 pounds to sort out the wrong watt choice, and by the way, the dinning room is amazing, but try a darker color and people will in fact what to sit there. (I'm an architect and this is free advise, make that room darker and make the lights about 30 watts top.) Other than that, used to be a top pub! FOOD IS AWSOME and staff is supper nice.
posted by Keith Dellar - Wednesday 14th January, 2009, 12:30pm
This authentic boozer with wood panneling and whiskey drinking regulars is a great spot for swifty or three. It has an extensive selection of draught and bottled beers as well as guest ales... last time I went I ended up staying for dinner - it is doing two courses of the regular menu for £12 making it superb value. Highly recommended.
click for directions to Marquess Tavern from wherever you are
real ales
Sky TV
a few seats out front
separate dining area
