The gastro pub has become an export phenomenon and London’s answer to the Irish pub. Islington is its spiritual home and boasts many fine examples of the genera. Just down the hill lies the newly rejuvenated King’s Cross and restored St. Pancras, now the high-speed gateway to Europe.
The champagne socialists, meedja bunnies and middle class mommies of Islington sit proudly on the crest of the hill, looking down on King’s Cross. Sure most of the sex shops and prostitutes have been swept away with the recent rejuvenation. And thanks to Euro Star, St. Pancras is once again saintly. However, King’s Cross retains a certain edgy grunginess and the early adopters moving there in their droves wouldn’t have it any other way.
At the Heart of Islington lies Upper Street, a concrete mélange of iffy chainstores, contemporary designer furniture emporiums, boutiques and antique shops. Islington’s bar scene has for years been a mix of gastro pubs and chain bars. Both have enjoyed good patronage from the mix of young city types that populate the townhouses of its leafy side streets. Good cocktail bars have historically been in short supply but more recent openings have changed that and created some worthy cocktail destinations.
