The Marquess Tavern — Restaurant in London

🚇 Highbury & Islington 🍺 £6.60 Brixton Pale Ale

This imposing Grade II-listed pub sits in the tranquil backstreets of Canonbury, North London. The nearest Tube station is Highbury & Islington.

This pub was built in 1854 by developer James Wagstaffe and is named after the Marquess of Northampton, who developed much of the area. George Orwell lived nearby on Canonbury Square; he wrote Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four while living there and is believed to have frequented the pub.

This is a good sized, one-bar pub with the main bar area at the front and a dining area with a large atrium at the back. The servery is centrally located at the front and features a beautifully polished counter. The décor here is predominantly traditional, with some contemporary touches in the dining area. The main bar area has a boarded floor, dark wall panels, two fireplaces, and a mix of seating. The dining area offers a striking contrast, with bold colours, floral wallpaper, and an eclectic mix of lighting fixtures. At the rear of the pub is a decked beer garden, and there is also outdoor seating at the front.

The beer selection will please the masses, offering a lineup of familiar keg favourites and three cask ales. I opted for a Brixton Pale Ale—my pint was excellent, price point was above average. The food menu features elevated pub classics; fish and chips costs £20, and hearty roasts are available on Sundays.

I arrived just after 5 p.m. on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon in April. It was great to see the pub busy with a diverse clientele from all walks of life. The atmosphere outside was upbeat and lively, while inside it was a bit more reserved. The service was pleasant—the team on duty had everything under control and were all smiles and courteous.

Lots of positives to report from the @marquesscanonbury .First of all, the building is a wonderful piece of Victorian architecture that really draws you in. The décor creates a traditional pub environment to enjoy, and the choice of beers will please most. I had a thoroughly enjoyable visit—this pub comes highly recommended.

📅 5th April 2025

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The newly refurbished space is charming! It’s so cosy, especially now that the colder weather is setting in. The live band further elevated the atmosphere, creating a happy and vibrant vibe. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which added to the positive experience. However, there were a few service issues. We had to stand waiting for a while before being seated, even though the manager acknowledged us. It seemed like not all staff could handle check-ins, which caused a bit of a wait. Once seated, the service remained friendly but had some hiccups—our side dish arrived quite late, and we had to ask about it after finishing most of our mains. The roast was fantastic—beef cooked to perfection with a generous amount of gravy and great portion sizes. The only letdown was the roast potatoes; they tasted like they had been cooked the day before, which was disappointing. Dessert was a highlight, it was absolutely delicious! However, there was a delay with the dessert as the kitchen didn’t see the ticket, which the waitress honestly admitted. I appreciated the honesty. The port was served in a wine glass, that was dirty. I was looking forward to a little dessert wine glass or a port/sherry glass. When I pointed this out, the manager said they didn’t have proper port glasses. I think it might be better not to have it on the menu in that case. It just looked weird to have such a small drink in a white wine glass. Despite the small issues with service and the roast potatoes, the overall experience was positive. The cosy atmosphere, friendly staff, and great food (minus a couple of missteps) make it a place I’d visit again. I understand that there are always teething problems, plus It's not easy to get the finesse at the best of times, and i know mistakes can happen; we're only human. I do think glass variety might be worth revisiting though. Anyway, thanks for a...

One of the most unhelpful and unfriendly places I’ve been to in recent memory. I had hired a car by the hour and parked it up in an adjacent street. My phone had just run out of battery so I could not lock it. I had put my BROMPTON folding bike in the boot of the car and I cycled to the nearby pub to see if I could charge my phone for a couple of minutes. I went in with my Bike. Immediately I was greeted with “you can’t come in with the bike“. I folded the bike. I then asked if I could charge my phone “no you can’t”. I asked if they didn’t have a USB charger as I had the cable. “No we don’t. We only have one and the chef has it“. Can we ask the chef if I can borrow it? “No they’re doing a stock take”. I then realised I had another phone and if I could access the Internet I could get the car company’s number and call them. I asked for the password for the Wi-Fi and they gave it to me. I asked for a soft drink to have by the bar. “No, You have to sit at a table “ I was told by a man I presume to be the landlord. I continued trying to solve my conundrum. “You have to move your bike. It’s a safety hazard” said another woman to me (landlady). At that point I stepped outside and continued my day. It’s a shame. It’s a lovely location and it was a beautiful day. I have been there before. However the three people I had interaction with who worked there were unhelpful, unfriendly and slightly aggressive. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and put it down to all three of them having a bad day at once but I would say to anyone that in no way would go in there and interacting with any of those people enhance your human experience. Forget it’s pretty location and go and find somewhere with nice...