Islington Townhouse — Restaurant in London

Nice pub, probably quite a good place to watch football or meet up with friends but seems a bit disorganised. The main food menu looks tasty… but didn’t have a chance to try it…

Had booked lunch on a Sunday at around 12.15 via Designmynight before we had to go to an event at 2pm. Arrived and they seem shocked we had a booking but no issues as plent of tables around. Was told only brunch menu could be served. Asked why / what time they would start the full menu. They didn’t really have an answer, at one point said they could serve us lunch because we had booked, another point they said they couldn’t do full menu as they had one table doing a bottomless brunch, after asking about 3-4 times were then told the full menu wouldn’t be available until 2pm.

Frustrating as didn’t say anywhere on website nor booking, although it didn’t really seem like that was the norm and they just applied it. Saw one family who had booked a table at 12, presumably for lunch, leave because only the brunch menu was being served.

We decided to stay, mainly as had drinks and had some items from the brunch menu. Relatively cheap menu, with some options. Food - OK. Nothing particularly to shout home about but for the price a decent meal to fill a hole.

Overall, pretty disappointing about the lack of availability of the full menu, and seemingly no idea when it would be served. They lost some custom from that or the fact it wouldn’t start till 2pm that day… but a nice pub and the 2 girls working were pretty friendly. Would probably visit again for drinks / watch the...

Went here for a Friday night drink, bought our wine and was ready to cosy ourselves on a empty table...we were later told it's reserved - it did not have no signs. We later asked if there's more seats and the lady pointed upwards with no answer..rude much? So ww made our way up to the 1st floor which was so packed so we went to the 2nd floor and it was worse than the ground and 1st floor. As we didn't find no seats we went to the bartender and said there is no seats...She just said aww isn't there and walked off lool seeing their attitude I immediately asked for a refund and they showed us a high table to stand and drink and I still asked for a refund. The manager or main women was very rude and said they don't give refund because it was MY responsibility to look for a space and won't refund just because we didn't have no where to sit. I just looked at her and said refund please and she eventually gave it. I wasn't going to be the only standing nonse...

My friend and I have been meeting here once a week for a few years, a bit overpriced but we enjoy the ambience and enjoy ourselves. I am disappointed that they are now taking advantage of the Covid 19 situation by adding a service charge to the cost of 2 drinks which brought the cost to £17 + !!!..... it's sad but they will lose our custom at a time when every penny for them counts.....

Islington Townhouse , thank you for your response...however we will probably not return again , the main reason being that we were not told that a service charge would be added, we were not given the receipt until after payment had been made, therefore were unable to make the choice to pay it or not. As said the ambience is good and we have always enjoyed our time spent in Islington Townhouse.

Update I have just recieved a response to my above review ...I posted it 2 years ago and the manager has just...