Keston Lodge, Islington  

One word encapsulates this place. And that word is 'woody'. The place is decked out in lines of mismatched salvaged 70s furnishings and so much wood that it looks like someone's spent too much time in the laminates and adhesives aisle of B&Q. Food is on offer, and the menu covers everything from chorizo skewers to the quality Square Pie Company's steak pies. A couple of words of warning about the food: despite claiming that they serve 'real gravy' we know Bisto when we taste it. It also carries a 10% service charge, which didn't appear on the menu. If we gave a 5-pint ratings for music, this place would be up there with the best of them. Given the place's pedigree (the same people are behind the Lock Tavern and the Defectors Weld), music is central to the establishment. This is one of those places that could either be fantastic or fearsome depending on your fellow patrons. On our visits, there has been a fairly mixed crowd, but one too many asymmetric haircuts or New Look peasant skirts could turn this place from homely to hateful before you could say 'with chips please'. We'll give this a 3 pint rating, with the coda that the crowd could dictate that you end up having a 1 or a 4 pint experience depending on which way the wind blows.

reviewed:
20/12/2006

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

separate dining area

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