The Commissary, City Road  rated3 pints - click for an explanation of our ratings

location:

City Road

address:

49-50 Eagle Wharf Road, N1 7ED

phone:

020 7251 1155

nearest stations:

Essex Road Railway station
(770m) - zone 2

Angel London Underground station
(930m) - zone 1

Old Street London Underground stationRailway station
(990m) - zone 1

bus routes:

76, 141, 271 bus info

how to find it:

Exit Old Street tube onto the north side of City Road and walk up. Take East Road is on your right and walk up until you see Eagle Wharf Road on your left. Holborn Studios is half way down on the right and bar inside. If the Studios are closed, then carry onto the end of Eagle Wharf Road and on the right, just next to the canal, is a gate. Press the buzzer, you'll be let in and navigate though the canal boats to reach the bar.

click here for a larger map

nearby attraction(s):

Business Design Centre (960m)

picture of The CommissaryHidden within Europe's largest photographic studio complex Holborn Studios and situated off bleak Eagle Wharf Road, the Commissary is something of a surprise. Its location - overlooking the Regent's Canal amongst the canal boats - is simply fantastic, with plenty of outside seating to relax on a warm Summer's day. The interior is nicely decorated enough, with plenty of photos around (as one would expect) and giant picture windows to make the most of the view. Add a bistro and a fair selection of wines and bottled beers, and you'd think you were onto a winner. However the most surprising thing about it is that on a Friday evening at 8.30pm it was entirely empty. Granted, it's not easy to locate, but we were assured that it gets a steady daytime trade, presumably mainly from the Studios. If nothing else its probably Islington's biggest secret and currently it almost feels like our own private bar.

(Also note odd and seasonal opening hours. May to September: Mon-Fri 08.00-22.00, Sat: 11.00-16.00. October to April: Mon-Fri 08.00-20.00, Sat/Sun closed.)

reviewed:
31/08/2007
reviewed by redcat

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

beer garden or outdoor seating available - click for explanationseating overlooking the river
waterside location - click for explanationsituated on the regent's canal
separate restaurant - click for explanationseparate restaurant
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