The top pubs near Angel, London

Lots of pubs claim some sort of historical providence that proves, on investigation, to be a barely tangential link. Old Red Lion Theatre is not one of those pubs. The location on St. John Street has had an ‘Old Red Lion’ pub there since all the way back in 1415. Satisfyingly consecutive dates aside, the real claim to fame of Old Red Lion is that it was the spot in which Thomas Paine penned the genuinely world-changing book The Rights of Man in 1791.

Nowadays the pub is somewhat less revolutionary, though still noteworthy. Most interestingly is the small theatre on the first floor. Opening in 1979, the theatre has endeared itself to the local thespians, becoming a great place to catch up and coming productions.

The theatre has a capacity for 60 people, with venue hire requiring a project proposal alongside the request.

With a name that has tragically become more relevant than ever, Old Queen’s Head stands in a good position to claim the vaunted title of London’s most beautiful pub. Case in point: the outer facade brings together wooden window frames and decorative tiling, creating something clean, classic and really enticing. Inside continues the trend. The back bar wall is a marvel unto itself, and the whole place is covered with enough paintings and convex mirrors to make John Ashbery pleased.

The beer brings together all the best offerings from local breweries, while the food sticks to the humble burger, though doing it well enough to garner awards. They also do karaoke and regularly put on live music. Trust us, this is a really really good pub.

A Pentonville Road pub that features a newly refurbished interior and roof terrace ideal for summer pint sinking. The food and drink are standard pub-level: expect recognisable beers, food that sits firmly in the ‘beige’ camp and a carefully chosen wine list.

The private hire options range from the main bar (50 seated, 65 standing) and the mezzanine (40 standing, 25 seated). Both can also be hired together, though expect a minimum spend to come into effect.

The pub is also dog-friendly, so pampered pooches of Angel rejoice.

An 1894 pub that was opened under the name of ‘George IV’, the pub was renamed after a 1960s film ‘The Angelic Conversation''.

Noteworthy aspects of this central pub include the huge windows and high ceilings, all of which contribute to a bright, airy space that lends any session a degree of comfort. Speaking of ceilings, The Angelic holds one idiosyncratic feature: the roof of the first-floor function room has been painted to resemble Michelangelo's famous Sistine chapel fresco. No one asked for it, but if that’s your thing, we salute you.

The food and drink are standard for a pub, serving seasonal British food, a wide choice of cask and craft beers and an extensive gin selection.

The aforementioned first floor can accommodate 80 seated or 100 standing. You can make use of the private bar, surround sound system, and large projector screen and there is space for a DJ or band. That should cover just about everything.

With lime green walls, ceiling fans, bright artwork and distinctly American food, Islington Town House flies in the face of the stereotypical old man pub.

Self-consciously cheerful, the Liverpool Road boozer is split across two floors, with the upstairs offering plenty of space for Christmas parties, work events and out-of-office events. Just try not to sink too many beers before the quarterly kick-off.

Within walking distance of Upper Street, Angel Tube Station and Duncan Street, The York is a solid pub helmed by the Nicholson group. This means a roster of ever-changing Cask Ales – including their own Nicholson's Pale Ale, brewed by St Austell Brewery in Cornwall. It’s worth a try.

The pub itself brings together the classic combination of comfortable booths, and solid wooden furniture, with the bonus offering of a generously sized outdoor area. It’s everything a good pub should be: predictable, comfortable, and full of great beer.

Cosy and refurbished, the Steam Passage is well located on Angel’s Upper Street, giving you a great starting place to hit the rest of Angel’s various drinking spots.

The food menu offers all the pub grub classics, from curries and burgers to half a roasted duck. The beer selection is excellent with a focus placed on cask ales (expect a rotating assortment of the good stuff) alongside your classic session lagers and ciders.

The Steam Passage puts on regular DJ and quiz nights, alongside all the big football and rugby games. In a passing nod to annoying Americans declaring “wow a real British Pub!”, The Steam Passage also shows the NFL.

Okay, it’s not the original Angel pub, but it is a Spoons. Expect everything you normally would from the ubiquitous king of pub chains.

170 years old, the Charles Lamb pub is still serving up locals with cask ales and a surprisingly comprehensive wine list.

The outside admittedly somewhat resembles the decoration of a public bathroom, with clay red tiling and green cladding. Inside is more tasteful, with the great corner bar serving punters sitting comfortably by the big single pane windows.

It’s one to relax in with a good book, or simply watch the world go by.