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Written by Mae Bristow - 20 December 2023


The top pubs near Angel, London


Few places are so indebted to the idea of the pub that they are actually named after one. Angel is, blessedly, one of those places. Taking its name from a 17th-century Inn (sadly now a bank, try finding a more apt symbol for modern London), Angel is still a great place to get a pint.


Considered the heart of Islington, Angel has had a glow-up in the recent decade. Once derided as the ‘third cheapest monopoly location’, Angel now attracts people from across the city.


Whether you’re a local North Londoner, or travelling from afar, these Angel pubs are worth the visit. Take a look below for our top picks.


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Old red lion theatre pub angel

1. A revolutionary pub in Angel: Old Red Lion Theatre Pub

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.



Old queen's head angel pub
Old queen's head angel pub

2. A beautiful pub in Angel: Old Queen's Head

Angel, London

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.



The castle Angel pub
The castle Angel pub

3. Angel’s best roof terrace pub: The Castle

Angel, London

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.



The angelic angel pub
The angelic angel pub

4. A pub in Angel with a renaissance fresco: The Angelic

Angel, London

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.



Islington Town House angel pub
Islington Town House angel pub

5. A bright and cheery Angel pub: Islington Town House

Angel, London

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.



The York angel pub

6. A classic Angel pub: The York

Angel, London

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.



Steam Passage tavern angel pub
Steam Passage tavern angel pub

7. An Angel pub in a great location: Steam Passage

Angel, London

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.



The Angel (Wetherspoons) pub angel

8. Angel's Wetherspoons: The Angel

Angel, London

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.



The charles lamb angel pub
The charles lamb angel pub

9. An Angel pub named after an author: Charles Lamb Pub

Angel, London

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.



More of the best pubs in Angel, London

Everyone loves an Angel pub, and booking your own exclusive space in a pub or hiring out the entire venue is a great idea for an event. With so many great pubs near you to choose from, it can be hard to find a boozer to accommodate your private booking. We've rounded up the best in Angel, from gastro-pubs for a Sunday roast and cask ale to pubs with beautiful gardens for a few pints of beer in the sun. Have a look at all our top pubs, with private hire options near you. Alternatively, tell us exactly what you need and we'll make sure the very best Angel pubs respond to your enquiry.

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How to hire a pub in Angel

We know that finding a venue the old-fashioned way (where you trawl the internet, contact 10 venues or set your heart on one, only to find that they're out of your price range and not even available on your dates) is a pain, and there are a few pitfalls between you and booking your perfect pub. Getting the venue finding process down to a professional art is what we’ve made our mission ever since we took on the events industry. We often get asked the same questions, so here's what we recommend to quickly and easily hire a space in Angel.

Frequently asked questions

For pubs in Angel, you're spoilt for choice. Here's an extra special one that we vouch for:

The York – One of Angel's most-loved pubs and for good reason. Visit for great pints and a good time.

There really is no one answer to this question: so many variables come into play when understanding the cost of exclusive hire of a pub or a private space in a pub. How many guests are you planning for? Is the venue for the day, an afternoon, or the night? The good news is that you can find a venue for pretty much any budget (okay, almost any budget). Instead of letting the venue dictate the price, our advice is to be proactive and set a budget that you feel comfortable with – this way the right venues can reach out to you through HeadBox.

There are lots of ways to book an Angel pub. You can do the old-fashioned thing and pick up the phone, or email the venue directly. Unfortunately, lots of venues are busy and may not get back to you in time. That's where we come in. Give us your enquiry and we'll reach out to the best pubs in Angel and let you enjoy your free time. Easy.

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