Pub in London N1
Wenlock Arms
26 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7TAClosest station: Old Street, about 14 min walk4.6out of 5 on Google, from 719 ratings
Details last checked January 2025. Things may have changed since.
About Wenlock Arms
Traditional alehouse saved from demolition, with piano and live entertainment at weekends.
Established in 1835, and re-opened in 1994 as a real ale and jazz pub, it quickly acquired iconic status as a leading edge in the cask beer revolution. When owners Steve Barnes and Will Williams (under whom it had been North London CAMRA Pub of the Year four times) announced their intention to retire, a massive campaign by local people and CAMRA supported by Hackney Council led to the pub being eventually saved. It closed for a refurbishment of the ground floor early in 2013 and re-opened with welcome new loos.
Simple snacks menu of toasties, Pieminster pies, baked Camembert and tuna melts are served, at a price which won't break the bank. Beer menu will of course be subject to regular change, but something from a London brewery should usually be available and a mild!
Two minutes from the Regent's Canal. Five minutes from buses on City Road, 10 to 15 mins from Old St stations. A member of CAMRA's LocAle scheme. Runner-up in the North London CAMRA Pub of the Year competition 2016, Winner in 2017. Also a winner of the Cider Pub of the Year category although the range dropped off in 2021.
Up until Sept 2023 it had occasionally served beer from their own cellar - separately operated BLOCK brewery. However our understanding is that such brewing is no more.
Description from WhatPub, CAMRA’s pub guide, with a summary from Google Maps.
Features
- Dog Friendly
- Outdoor Seating
- Live Music
- Family Friendly: Until 8pm
- Games: Darts
- Serves Food
- Serves Lunch: Snacks - see description
- Serves Dinner: Snacks - see description
- Real Ale
- Real Cider: One bag in a box eg Orchard Project Local Fox
- Serves LocAle
- Real Heritage Pub
- Disabled Access: Ramp and toliets
- WiFi
- Good for Groups
- Smoking
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Accepts NFC
Opening times
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 4:00 – 11:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Thursday
- 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Friday
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Saturday
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Sunday
- 12:00 – 10:00 PM
As listed in January 2025. Hours change, and bank holidays differ: check with the pub.
Good to know
- Operator
- Independent
- Price
- 1 out of 4 (Google’s price level)
- Phone
- 020 7608 3406
Google rating and reviews
4.6out of 5 on Google, from 719 ratings
4 out of 5Matt Clarksonon Google, October 2024
On my visit very much a locals' pub, but certainly welcoming and polite. Busy even on a Saturday early afternoon. Beers well kept e.g. 5 points derailed porter, which is always a pleasure to see on in autumn. 3 or 4 cask beers on.
1 out of 5Jon Won Google, January 2025
We came in for a birthday party with 20 people. The long haired bar tender was not very welcoming and was very unhappy. It is a shame. It was a lovely party vibe and every one was involved and even people that we didn't know were enjoying themselves. Sadly there was an issue with things on the bar and balloons and it just ruined the night. Maybe it is more fun when this person is not working. They should remember that people stay in pubs with positive vibes not rude acidic bar staff. Community coming together is what a pub is all about. Sadly there was a lack of this when we visited…
5 out of 5Keir Stanleyon Google, November 2024
A lovely pub on a housing estate close to Angel and Old Street. The pub sells a wide range of cask ales and a small selection of bottled beers including some from Belgium. I did not see a food menu, but the bar staff appeared to be making many cheese/cheese and ham sandwiches ready to become toasties. I drank an excellent pint of stout.
5 out of 5Alex Conkletonon Google, May 2024
What you need a pub to be. A square corner, preserved heritage, vibe focused London community pub with independent brewery legacy. Plenty of pub swing doors into a spacious drinking hall with centrepiece square bar. Vintage, decorative papered ceiling and walls. Simple, classic droplet lamps, understated coving, archway and subtle curved wall edges against the large, name painted windows. It's light and calm in this relaxed, volume appropriate happy classic tuned, friends and community social house. The back bar is an original gem with decorative mirroring, decorative, aged pillars and…
5 out of 5Cynan Clucason Google, January 2025
If only every local pub was like this. Loads of cask ales - and the Guinness is decent too. Sundays are chilled with live piano music. Saturday’s playlist is from your teenage years. Behind the bar, Joe is a legend. Love it here.
Rating and reviews are from Google Maps, as they stood in January 2025. See the latest on Google Maps.