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Image posted by Tris C
Submitted on Friday, 21st March 2025
With picture contributions to 2420 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (36 more images)
Detail Pages
The Pocket, N1
N1
N1 2AS
Reviews of The Pocket (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Pocket
With far fewer doors to be negotiated than mentioned below, the main problem is the cask selection here. Having made more than a dozen trips here - the latest last night - the cask ales all have a slightly metallic or burnt taste to them; is this due to heat stress as the basement is like a sauna.
On 30th September 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2351 recommendations about 2289 pubs]
The Chairman left this review about The Pocket
My first visit here was on the day of the publication of the 2027 GBG and the Pocket's debut as a GBG pub - and it did not disappoint. A good selection of cask beers on offer with a few ciders offered as well, it is definitely a place worth visiting. As I was there very, very soon after opening the pub wasn't overly busy and the group found a comfortable area to sit at the back of the pub. The pne thing to be warned of is that the toilets are downstairs, and they are fairly steep, with something of a maze to be negotiated at the bottom - I reckon there were 5 or 6 doors between the gents and the bar!
A great pub and well worth a visit.
On 30th September 2026
- rating: 9
[User has posted 126 recommendations about 121 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Pocket
With the Pocket's sister pubs the Southampton Arms and the Cock Tavern being amongst my favourite pubs across London, I've been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to visit The Pocket. It didn't disappoint.
Despite it being a matchday at the nearby Emirates Stadium, the pub did not get too overcrowded and unlike other local pubs with bouncers on the door, both home and away fans appear to be welcome.
The pub is split into the main front section with the bar against the left-hand wall and a smaller seating area to the rear. Toilets are down a set of stairs. The cask ale range was decent. There are 8 handpulls and these were clipped with Rooster's Baby-Faced Assassin, Howling Hops Single Hop Pale Ale Series 14 Comet, Duration Best Bitter & Another Day Gone, Left-Handed Giant Dark Mild, Vocation Shadow Play & Castle Rock Wyrd Sisters. Duration Big Love was also poured through during our visit.
Ciders have separate handpulls at the rear of the bar. These were Sandford Orchards Devon Mist, Ascension Pilot Red Love Edition, Temple Somerset Redstreak, Oliver's Winter Cider Blend, Luke's Pomona Draught Perry & Umbrella Elderflower Cider. Craft beers were Duration Turtles All The Way Down, Bonsai, Bet The Farm & Strataberry Fields & Howling Hops Tropical Deluxe & LIfe Coach.
Dogs and kids are allowed. A record player is also in use with a rotating selection being played from behind the bar. There is also a piano. Pub snacks such as Scotch Eggs are available. The offering is very similar to the Southampton Arms, which suits me, as why change a winning formula?
One forthcoming change is in the offing though, according to a regular. They are apparently hoping to develop an upstairs area as a separate dining room.
A really decent pub that I will undoubtedly return to periodically.
On 15th March 2026
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3625 recommendations about 3623 pubs]
View more reviews of The Pocket (8)
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Pocket - whatpub.com
Highbury & Islington, 0.3 miles, 5 min walk (show)
Essex Road, 0.37 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No - Hot bar snacks. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes - Jazz piano on Wednesdays. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Second and fourth Mondays. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Real Cider : Yes - Not all CAMRA-approved. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 29 July 2026 by Tris C
