The Winchester

We enjoyed very good Sunday roasts and a tasty dessert. Been here for cocktails and have an intimate downstairs area.

Went to the Winchester last Saturday evening. A friend had booked out the upper area for a birthday. There was plenty of room for the amount of guests we had. One only annoyance was being placed so close to the DJ meant it was very loud.
The décor is cool vintage style, with many things to look at around the pub.
The beer was lovely and cold, served in chilled glasses (which is always great). The cocktails were also VERY good. Especially the Blueberry Amaretto Sour.
A great place i’d happily visit again.

I spent nearly 6 straight hours here last week. I’m pretty sure I don’t spend 6 hours anywhere other than my apartment and my office. Certainly not at a pub.
But this place magically evolved over the course of those hours to suit the varying stages of a weekend night. Why would we have ever needed to leave?!
Stage 1: The evening started, tamely enough, around 9. At that point, it was a relaxed, still-​food-​serving place to play some of their (complete!) board games with friends. Seemed a bit early to be requiring a cover charge, but I think we’d only just missed the cut off. They’d reserved a large table for our group, and didn’t rush us along or keep pestering us for orders or anything. Though after trying the delicious sweet potato fries, I did wish I hadn’t eaten dinner beforehand…
Stage 2: The games got sillier as the night went along, and the drinks got more frequent. The cocktail menu was surprisingly large for a pub, and I was very impressed with the (relatively inexpensive) ones that I got. The waitresses disappeared at some point, as the pub morphed into a livelier, louder Friday night hangout.
Stage 3: At some point, someone discovered the downstairs bar. A few exploratory missions suggested there was dancing down there, but at this point, inertia of our booth had overcome us… so we just kept playing and laughing and saying «maybe we’ll go dance in a bit». Because we could have, if we’d wanted to. However, it seemed somewhat crowded and uncomfortable, so I was really fine staying upstairs. I’d switched to cider at this point, though was disappointed that there was no Magners and no ciders on tap.
Stage 4: Finally, after some of our hardy group had thrown in the towel and headed home, we watched the place slide into its final stages of the evening, as other groups headed up from downstairs and collapsed on the comfy couches in various stages of tipsiness and coupledom. At the end, it was once again a relaxed place quietly celebrating a successful Friday night.
I would definitely go back.
Special shout-​out as well to the solid bartenders. They’d been really efficient at serving all evening. Then, my friend was about to pay his tab, but the credit card machine was working very slowly and the (very attractive) bartender asked if he could pay cash. Completely not seriously, my friend said «how about a discount then?» And instead of rolling his eyes as I’d expected, the bartender said «nah, but here’s a shot»…and poured ones for both of us! Good guy.

This is where I rehearse the show I’m doing at the moment so here quite alot right now. Last night I came in starving marving so I promptly ordered a cheeseburger and fries… the chips were the thickest things I’ve ever seen as a chip! and the burger was pretty good too! friendly staff and cool to be able to use the dowstairs area to rehearse in!

Ah, Sweet Winchester. You’re a little bit seedy and I’ve never had the pleasure to try any food, but you always do right by me and my nights. Basically, the Winchester has become the running line with friends where we know it’s been a good night because, «You went to the Winchester??»
The two dance floors, the booths and tables, the drinks, and the company are what bring me in and keep me coming back, despite the fact that they haven’t ever respected my drunken protestations that The Best Pubs in Life are Free. (Hint: have your cover ready!)
I’d recommend the Winchester as, at least, a necessary stop on any tour of the Angel/​Islington area. Actually, your best bet is to make this the destination, and just enjoy the ride, knowing you’re going to have a great night at the end no matter what.

Great deal on the 2 for 1 Sunday roast. There was 3 of us and they gave us the extra one to share anyway! Food was good for what we paid. Lamb roast was very nice, but the roast beef was a bit dry. The table they put us on was far too small for 4 big plates though.

They do a 2 for 1 Sunday roast here. it’s fine, but I would be upset to pay full price if I had only gotten one. You might as well order two and get another Yorkshire pud for youself.
I like that it’s a bustling place to come on a Sunday and hang out, don’t sit near the bathroom like we did. Rookie mistake.
They’ve got a weird downstairs area for people who like to watch sporting events, and they throw up big screens everywhere. I loathe this, and if you do to, avoid during major sporting times of the year.

Two for one roasts. And they’re very decent.
Enough said.
Actually, I should say something about the cocktails! They’re impressive and usually well made.
I should probably also say that The Winchester turns into a party spot come the evening on weekends. There’s a downstairs where you could find yourself throwing some shapes.
Ok, that’s enough said.

I’m feeling all festive and generous so I’m rounding up a 3.5 star rating.
I’ll start by mentioning that I am glad a group of friends pointed out the Winchester’s 2-​for-​1 Sunday pub lunch deal as a mechanism for getting our hung-​over asses out of bed and into the fresh air (briefly, before sitting back down inside of course)… because– my first harsh impressions of the unsavoury crowd obviously found at this institution at other times of day, (ie Friday night), are less in favour for scoring in my book.
So, judgements aside, I was too unimaginative to suggest an alternative option this dreary day, thus suppressing my would-​be-​protest given the ‘other façade’ I had previously sampled… I rocked up… and I’m jolly well glad I did!
The items available for the aforementioned deal included roast beef/​roast lamb/​some sort of chicken (probably roast) with yorkshire pud, greens, potats etc plenty of gravy and various relishes. Some kind of 3-​bean loaf for the veggie option which didn’t look to bad actually. Can’t say the food was the finest, but it’s not that kind of pub. Good deal for £6 when you’ve split it with your mate.
Actually the Winchester boasts a rather charming and eclectic interior, something I was unable to appreciate on my prior misfortunate visit. Cosy timber dining room, the booths stuffed with tapestry cushions, tassels and all that jazz. Sort of thing you want on a lethargic Sunday afternoon.
One funny thing though– we ordered a cheese and meat platter for the table, which came in abundance, though no cranberry sauce/​chutney was provided, as advertised on the menu. When we enquired about this, the waitress did apologise that they had run out of it, but offered us some marmalade and strawberry jam instead?! In fact she just plonked down three little ‘bon-​maman’ jars on the table, which we were quite puzzled about the meaning of their existence, and when asked, she shrugged and said she though that was a good replacement for the relish…

Rather than cook, we though dinner in the hood on a Friday night was a good idea. We decided on the Winchester on Essex Road — a place we’d walked past a bunch of times and liked the look of but never tried.
Being a Friday night it was busy with after work drinkers but not oppressively so. Bar service was quick and we managed to secure a table with a deft hover/​swoop move. If there are more than two of you, definitely think about booking ahead.
I ordered the burger and can highly recommend it — it’s big and they’re not afraid to leave some colour in the meat. And it comes with salad and chips. Lots of chips.
Hoever, I’m not a fan of barbecue sauce, and this burger comes with a lot of it. My tip would be to order it without barbecue sauce or get it on the side. I still thought this was a great burger — so they must be doing something right.
My girl ordered the veggie mezze platter for one and really enjoyed it — and it’s easily enough for a couple of people.
We really enjoyed this meal. The Winchester is a cute little place with a good feel.
We’ll definitely be back.

The website promised a two-​for-​one Sunday roast and you could get extra helpings of yorkshire pudding for 50p each. I am confident that I would win a yorkshire pudding eating contest against most people, so I voiced my preference to my partner that this is the pub we should visit next.
It was our first visit to the Angel area (nice than I had expected) and the pub was not too far from the Angel underground station. There were a few reserved tables but it was no trouble for us to get a table for two, walking in off the street.
When our meals arrived, the trimmings were different than advertised (where’s my parsnip?) and it was swimming in gravy. Not to say that lots of gravy is necessarily bad, but this is the most I have had on my Sunday roast so far. The beef was a little tough and the potatoes were a bit watery. The yorkshire puddings were good, but smaller than most places. The service was amiable and I was happy with it.
On the whole, it was a good meal considering the price you pay, even though the yorkshire puddings were really 1 pound extra each — I was tricked!

Easily my second favourite bar in London. I’ve been getting the sunday lunch here since it opened. They make interesting and imaginative cocktails.
Sunday lunch is fantastic (love the fresh mint sauce), but really all of the food here is great.
I love that it’s open super late at the weekend (I love the cover charge less so), the downstairs bit is great for when you actually want to talk to your friends and you can almost always get a seat.
Costa who owns it is a doll and the bartenders he hires are always friendly, a few over the years actually became mates.
The décor is modern and cozy. This is what a pub should be… a low-​key comfy place where you can go and have a quiet drink on your own without hassle.

A nice place for a Sunday roast. The Winchester does a 2 for 1 Sunday roast special, so it is quite the good value (2 people can eat for under 14 pounds total). Portions are generous. I had the lamb roast which came with Yorkshire pudding, and a delicious mint jelly. My friend’s beef roast also looked great. Dessert portions are large… try the banana crêpe or the berry cobbler — both should come with ice cream, though our server needed to be reminded about that:) I only had beers, but from the looks of it they can make a few nice cocktails as well.
I noticed all the other reviews commented about the late night shenanigans, but during the Sunday afternoon its a nice place for a meal.
The interior is very cozy decorated in an electric pub style. Check out the chairs in the back rooms — all sorts of animals painted on the back of them. Lots of big tables makes this place good for groups.
If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive Sunday roast near Islington Green, the Winchester is worth checking out.

It’s one of those bars, isn’t it? Yes those. one of those that tried to charge us cover, so we walked away not bothered and the bouncer was like
J/​K YALL!
Well, he didn’t throw us a y’all, but i would have been happier if he did, it would make the cover charge trickery more tolerable. It’s a cute bar inside though, I didn’t venture to the dance area but would certainly stop back to the upstairs for a few drinks… though on certain nights of the week you can kind of guess what kind of demographic this bar attracts.

This was one of my favourite local pubs when I lived in this area, and two years later its still ticking all my boxes.
The interior is beautifully done, both classy and cosy at the same time.
There is a wide selection of drinks available with a fabulous cocktail list. The cocktails are 2 for 1 on a Thursday after six, but they kindly allowed us to use this offer from half past four as long as we paid after six (they obviously know how to get a five star rating from me!)
The waiter was the funniest and campest man I had met in a long time (and thats saying something, I live in Brighton!) and he looked after us well, giving us cocktail recommendations and keeping us entertained, I think I did declare my love for him at one point but I’m probably barking up the wrong tree…
I haven’t tried the food here or the live DJ nights, but as a great London pub it gets top marks.

We were originally aiming for a quiet evening in this charming log-​cabin style pub over some hot cocktails (which, I might add they have an abundant array). So when the Kanye West-​bumping, bar-​crowding, ass-​grabbing frat-​party atmosphere overtook this humble pub, it came as a bit of a shock, to say the least.
Yet after blinking a few times and adjusting my attitude, Bob’s your uncle, it worked. Somehow, it totally worked. And before I knew it, I was immersed in the scene. We grabbed a table deep in the corner and watched as the debauchery ensued, making sure to enjoy every popped-​collar minute of entertainment.
I attribute my unexpected enjoyment to the following:
1. The staff. Amazing, humble, funny bartenders go a looooong way. There were a few security guys near the door that actually helped me spot out my gem of a table and even watched my purse as I grabbed another chair. It’s the people that make the business, and these were the epitome of good people.
2. The ambiance. How can you not love drinking in a log-​cabin in the middle of Islington? Décor straight from 1930 complete with a fire place, gramophones and printed maroon wallpaper, I expected Clark Gable and John Wayne to walk in arm-​in-​arm at any moment (trading bow ties and cowboy hats for stripped polos).
3. The cocktail list. Ranging from the traditional to eclectic, the amount of love (in alcoholic form) that was put into each cocktail was damn impressive.
If after reading all of this, you’re cringing from the inside out, I would recommend skipping happy hour on Thursday nights. I’ve been back since and the scene was non-​existent. In fact, Sundays at the Winchester involve 2-​for-​1 roasts, movie nights and drink specials. (Clark Gable not included.)

When I first visited this pub I was disappointed it wasn’t more like ‘The Winchester’ in Shaun of the Dead, for obvious reasons I’d merged the two together in my mind. After putting my own issues with reality to one side I discovered that The Winchester is actually a very nice pub with plenty of its own personality. Inside it resembles a log cabin with wood covering pretty much every surface. A warm fireplace acts as the centre point for the L-​shaped bar although it’s pretty rare to be able to get a seat near here.
Sunday’s are probably the best time to visit The Winchester. Start by taking advantage of their 2 for 1 roast dinner offer. The food here is of a fairly high quality and I’ve never been disappointed by anything I’ve ordered. After this there is plenty of time to enjoy a spot of Sunday boozing before sitting back to watch the Sunday film. Most often this is an oldie that everyone will enjoy like ‘E.T.’ or ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. The screen is pretty small but it’s always a treat to relax in a pub with a nice film and a warm fireplace. Clearly this pub has a bit more to it than first meets the eye!

The Winchester is a small handsome, but traditional, pub at the start of Essex Road.
The last time I went was for a leaving party. We got there quite early so it wasn’t too busy and we were able to get the two large tables on the raised seating area at the back. It is a nice pub with a good atmosphere. As Melania P. mentioned the atmosphere gets livelier as the night progresses which suited the event, but if planning on staying for the night try and get earlier to secure a seat.
There is a wide drinks selection with good beers and cocktails. The staff are pleasant enough and quick.

I came here last Saturday evening with a friend for a quiet drink around 6pm. We got some good seats. A large glass of rioja set me back £5.20 which I thought was a bit pricey.
They had a huge cauldron of Mulled wine on the counter which was more affordable at £3.50 a glass.
I got a bit peckish so I ordered some nachos with cheese and guacamole which was pretty satisfying.
The clientele was mainly couples having dinner and some small groups.
The atmosphere is really relaxed, lighting low and chilled tunes on the stereo.

If you are going to the Winchester, for you to enjoy it depends on what you are into. I like quiet comfortable pubs with an interesting mix of people. If you go to the Winchester early, it’s just that. It’s a pub with comfortable couches and good drinks. It isn’t very loud so you can talk and enjoy general conversation.
If you go to the Winchester late, the comfortable vibe has vanished and the pub is loud and crowded. It’s crowded to the point that if you order a drink you have to fight your way through the crowd and back to your table, hoping your drink doesn’t end up all over the floor or worse, all over you. There is a club in the basement with a dance floor, the music isn’t bad but it is so crowded that it’s hard to get on the dance floor and if you do, there isn’t much space to actually dance. Not to mention I felt that the entire space was a firetrap. Paranoia aside, the space would be far more enjoyable with fewer people and a DJ playing a better mix of music.
As a whole, the Winchester after 11:00 pm isn’t my cup my tea. It’s crowded, loud, and the people can be a bit inconsiderate. I think I’ve just outgrown this scene.