The best managed pub in the area without a doubt. Great bar, great staff and really good food. I’m lucky, it’s my local!
A great find off the Holloway Road, coming from Oxford this is what I think a London pub should be. The landlady is so friendly! The staff are as well, the selection of beers and lagers is so good and the food is excellent. If in the area it's definitely worth a visit!
Fantastic little haven off the beaten path in Holloway... fabulous food, amazing staff and regulars, and to top it all off! The best gin concoctions I have ever had...
What a lovely pub. Helpful staff, nice beer and a fantastic lunch (I can recommend the fish and chips)
Visited this pub for the first time to have Sunday lunch with friends and I have say the food is great and the staff were very attentive.
Really lovely little place, hidden away. Fantastic food and atmosphere.
Such a great local pub. Food was superb as was the delicious Viognier. Staff were charming. A definite must visit.
Thoroughly enjoyed my roast lamb dinner...a lot of potatoes and veg with home made Yorkshire pud...the staff were very friendly and always smiling...definitely going back there...
The best pub in London. Great atmosphere, staff, beers, quiz. Love it.
A terrific pub, great people and great food.Leila and Jon run it as though we are all old chums.
Lovely pub with great beer just wish it was bigger
![Facebook]( "Recensione")
I remember clearly the first time.
There was me, Sam and Andrew, three young men fresh off the Piccadilly line. Hunger and thirst wrapped around our bellies like an elastic band holding a new Athena poster in the 80s - tight, but without lasting damage.
It was probably a Thursday as Sam was speaking mostly in riddle and verse. He motioned across the Seven Sisters Road with a scroll clutched in his left hand like a pirate treasure map.
"'Tis here! 'Tis here! Have no fear,
Of danger, threat, or harm!
I've found The Swimmer! Time for dinner!
At The Grafton Arms!"
I cursed his flippant use of half rhymes and followed him down a darkened side road filled with carpet salesmen all wearing out of date Arsenal caps. Andrew followed closely behind. Fear darkened his eyes and I sensed it was contagious.
"Come, come! we're almost done!" screamed Sam, half possessed now as he scurried towards the corner of the street. He stopped suddenly, slowly raising his head. I approached with caution but understood immediately.
We were looking at the most beautiful pub in London.
We entered, slowly at first, but quicker as the jewels of this public house came into view.
A fine selection of foreign beers! An excellent wine list! A delicious food menu! Tables and chairs made of strong sturdy wood! Scrabble! Pub quiz! A machine that plays music at the drop of a button!
A lady, clearly bemused by our exotic clothes and foreign tongue took our order. Andrew and I ordered an ale. Sam was transfixed by the jukebox.
Sitting down, we knew it would be our home forever.
Still one of THE best pubs in London, don't go there, it's small and I like getting a table.
half price burgers on monday nights - YUM and 3 veggie options FTW
Excellent food and wonderful staff. Nothing more needs to be said.
Great pub, lots of seating is outside, but mostly the quality of the food is superb. A little pricey but worth the extra for the raised level. Ive had a couple of wagu burgers and a roast here.. always delicious, but little gems like pulled ox cheek and chorizo shepherds pie and other small plates are the real winners imho. Highly recommended
On a return visit back down Holloway Road, I decided to call back in the Swimmer at the Grafton Arms to make sure this visit was as good as my last, and I was not disappointed.
This time I ordered the hearty Sausage & Mash and presentation was what you'd expect. 3 tasty Cumberland Sausages on top of a creamy Mash with buttered carrots and green beens on the side. Full of flavour and filling.
I know I'll be calling back again..
Michael J. Kweku Brookman
+4
A truly English pub with a lot of locals. Nicely priced menu and beers on tap. Layed back atmosphere with a free jukebox and monthly comedic acts. Service was prompt and friendly. Definitely recommend.
Great Sunday roast menu and in the picture you can see a Nut Roast (vegan option available) and a vegan salad with ‘chick’n’. Both meals were great and friendly staff also.
Nice pub, friendly and lovely staff. The Wagyu Burger is delicious and I love the Czech lager. Definitely will be back.
Chicken Parmi was amazing can’t remember the last time I had one that good! Service and the beer garden was also great! Will be coming back for sure!
Fantastic service and food, brought family here from overseas to experience a traditional English Sunday Roast and was bowled over by how accommodating staff were for my little 2 year old girl. Didn't mind us moving doors to get the pram in, moving fans cos it was hot. Got her entertainment in form of colouring books. On top of their excellent service the good was very good, four beef roasts arrived quickly piping hot with delicious Yorskhire puds. Apple crumble for dessert was marvellous too. My new go to roast pub...and I'm NOT a local!
Alejandro Díaz Medalla
+5
One of the best pubs in the area and certainly one of our favourite. The highlights here are the great selection of beers, the extremely kind staff and the environment, but the cuisine in this pub outstands everything. The fact that you can actually see people cooking next to the bar makes the experience even better. They want to do a good job and they nail it. There's a nice burger offer on Mondays which I'll let you guys discover by yourselves. They have been hosting ales from the Five Points and Siren Craft Breweries which I personally love, but I'm sure everyone can find the right pint to pair with any dish on the menu.
Take a look of those nice t-shirts they sell!
Usually drop in here for a pint or two before/after the game. Very decent selection of beer/ales. Last night I went for food and was not disappointed. Great food always tastes better when accompanied by great staff and atmosphere. Also, decent customers. The mackerel pate was perfect and the fish n chips really top notch. A dream of a place in Holloway.
Lovely pub in a calm street, with a pleasant terrace, juke box, board games and a great choice of beers (e.g. Brugse Zot on tap!)
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes