The Smokehouse

Address: 63–69 Canonbury Road, (corner Halton Rd), London, N1 2DG, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7354 1144
Email: info@smokehouseislington.co.uk
Website: view The Smokehouse’s website
Door: Make reservation
Style: Gastro pub
Food: Set menu
Established: 2013

Review

Prior to August 2013 this was just another forgotten backstreet boozer but an award-winning menu built around British produce with meat butchered on site (much of it either smoked or grilled over charcoal) has made The Smokehouse something of a destination.

The House sits on the point of a fork in the road in the part of Islington known as Canonbury, a mere five minutes' walk from Highbury Corner. Although the exterior of The House looks like a pub, the inside feels more like a restaurant, albeit with a large bar area. However, a pub it is, and to prove it The Smokehouse boasts one of London's best beer selections with 20 beers on draught on tap (four of them cask ales) and 60 by the bottle/can. In line with the food, all the wines are sourced from small family-owned vineyards (with 12 available by the glass).

The décor is clean and bright with stripped wooden floors, white walls and something of a country kitchen look. The dining area hosts old mismatched chairs and wooden tables in front of an open hatch kitchen.