The Florence

Really nice local pub tucked off Upper Street and away for the sometimes annoying Friday night crowds! They obviously try really hard, nice touches like vases of flowers on the tables etc. Food is nice enough, not overly gastropubby - certainly still feels like a proper pub.

Avoid at all costs. We booked our wedding reception in the function room, only to not have any replies to emails/answers on the phone. We made the journey to London to check that everything was ok, but there were new 'owners' in and there was no record of our booking. Or the money we'd put down as a deposit. The new 'owners' told us they could still honour our booking and showed us to the function room. (I've used inverted comma's here as it was, and still is a property owned and ran by Punch Taverns, they've merely replaced the duty manager). We went to look again at the function room to find there was no furniture, no bar, no flooring and no light fittings, but apparently it was ours if we wanted it, and the new gaffer was a brilliant interior designer and was going to fix it up. It was a shithole. We were then later informed that actually, it wouldn't be ready by the time we got married (4 weeks away), and we'd best look elsewhere. And that we couldn't have our money back, despite having a receipt, as it was the previous owners debt, not theirs. So here we are, 4 weeks from our big day, £400 down, invites sent with incorrect details, no reception venue and owners/a brewery that don't give a shit. THIS PLACE IS TOXIC. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE.

Be warned: DO NOT PLAN A PRIVATE FUNCTION AT THIS PUB

Do not be fooled by The Florence's impressive website. They do not want your business. They do not want you to host private parties or functions in their pub. They do not answer their telephone more than one in 500 times. Unfortunately I got lucky just once and, following a conversation with a member of staff, booked the pub for a private function; a champagne reception with food for 60 people before a gig next door at the Assembly Rooms. 

After my initial "no problem" telephone conversation I was urged to call again to chat through fine details with the landlord. But the telephone was  never answered again - try it now... you won't get an answer 020 7354 5633. They don't respond to emails either. But, I was assured by those in the know that the landlord has a pretty relaxed attitude and that I was, perhaps, worrying unnecessarily. But I was uneasy and, since I don't live in London, got a friend to pop in just to make sure that everything was ok with my booking. She saw the landlord who reassured her that "yes, the booking is in the diary and we can do Thai food for the event." Ok... Thai food wouldn't have been my first choice and somewhat contrary to what the website promises, but by this time I'd sent out invitations. 

The day of the event dawned. I headed to The Florence early (with an uneasy feeling) to prepare for the champagne reception and the promised Thai food... But the Florence was shut. The sign on the door advertised the pub's opening time and it was now 45 minutes beyond that. I rattled the doors, I banged on the windows to no avail. I now had to find a venue nearby that could accommodate the party I'd been planning for three months. I managed to find a venue that could take us - The Vineyard opposite - and we relocated. 

Had it not been for an exceptionally brilliant group of relaxed friends (who ended up eating fish and chips in the street because the dishwasher broke down at the Vineyard which meant no food) and the ability of the Vineyard to accommodate 60 people, the evening would have been a total disaster.

Still... that's £900 (our final drinks bill) that The Florence of Islington can obviously afford to turn it's nose up at. I have no idea who owns this pub but whoever's running it shouldn't be. 

AVOID AT ALL COSTS. 

I held a suprise party here for my other half in the function room upstairs. The room and floors were dirty, it was over-stuffed with furniture and on the day of the party the till didn't work so my guests waited 20-30 minutes for a drink  downstairs as they didn't open the bar upstairs as they were supposed to (also there were few too many staff on the bar for a function of 70 upstairs and a full bar on a saturday night). A bit disappointing really. The manager Darren unfortunately is quite unprofessional and this would put me off booking this place again for a party.

This place just changed hands in 2012—stay away! It is soulless.
The old place had friendly bartenders. This one has young ladies who would rather turn their back to you and check their texts. Then when I thought ‘well at least they play decent music’ (Prince) the bartender thought better of this and changed the song. What a shame. Can’t wait til it changes over again.

Awful! We visited this pub after stumbling across the board on Upper Street advertising the new chef. As we entered the pub there was a pungent smell of bleach and nobody else was eating, which wasn’t a great sign. We decided to persevere and ordered a couple of drinks and some tapas. The pint was off (visible sediment) and they had to give us a replacement. The ‘tapas’ was anything but authentic or fresh. The special which was supposed to be garlic prawns was shrivelled up shrimps in some sort of inedible egg glue. The other food was fried and tasteless. Definitely one to avoid….

A couple of friends and I recently discovered this gem of a pub just off Upper Street… Its really chilled and comfortable, with lots of sofas, soft lighting and colours and friendly staff. We went back with some more friends on sunday and had the most delicious tasty roast obviously cooked with alot of care and all organic veg. Its the sort of place that makes you feel relaxed and homely but with some funky touches and good music, and easy to end up staying alot longer than intended! Worth going to soon as i reckon its going to get busier and busier as word gets out…

This is quite a nice pub, just off the main drag through Islington, thus avoiding an influx from those swarming up and down in search of refreshment. Friendly staff, a couple of predictable real ales and a lovely room for hire upstairs. Certainly better than a lot of what's on Upper Street.

They call themselves a "proper pub" and that's exactly what they are: fantastic! And what a relief from all the other pubs that are either themed or tired and worn.
I love that it has three distinct areas: left of bar, near bar and lots of tables to the right, and at least one of those has proper good lighting if you want to do a bit of knitting with your pint. That's a rare treat, please keep it up!
The atmosphere is very pleasant and I'm happy to go in on my own.
I just have one gripe: the ladies loos are yucky. If they could get that right I'd make it my favourite pub in London.

Good pub just off Upper Street - great place to watch either the Rugby or Footie, without feeling like a sports bar.

Just had a bit of a makeover, with new owners in place, and they seem to be making a good job of it so far.

Said to do a good Sunday Lunch

Very nice pub, clearly remodelled but with a very traditional feel, full of attractive women, many of whom were forced to talk to me because i was attending the birthday celebrations of a mutual friend. Result! Unfortunately the £1.90 I spend on a diet coke meant i could not put enough money on my oyster card and was forced to walk back from crouch end to angel in the rain at 5am. Anyway, i saw a fox so it’s not all bad. The barmaid is very attractive as well. Last orders was about 10.45 and people were finally cucked out by about 11.20.

Like it! I have walked past this place about three times a week for almost a year and never ventured in. This all changed on Saturday night when a friend organised some Christmas drinks at The Florence.

I agree that the drinks aren’t cheap, but it’s a decent, proper-style pub with a bar in the middle and plenty of tables round the outside. There are some big screens for football, etc and they do good food, too. It’s an ideal pub for drinking with a group of mates where you want to actually have a conversation rather than just tap your feet to the music.

We were quite shocked when the last orders’ bell rang at 10.50pm on a Saturday night, but it’s not like there aren’t more places to head to around the area. Great little boozer.

I like this pub, possibly more than I think I do. Whenever I go for a drink in Islington I either go to the Bull, further up Upper Street on Theberton Street, or at The Florence, tucked just to the side of the Esso garage.

I am not sure what is actually appealing, as there is nowhere to smoke and they get funny about you taking your drinks outside. And the drinks aren’t cheap.

I guess the place manages to retain a good, relaxed atmosphere, without being snobby or grimey. They have found a very good balance.

If only they could find a smoking area of some kind.

I think you can hire the upstairs for parties as well.

The Florence is a great place to reside with your friends for a night of decent priced beer and spirits. The food is excellent and has been there for at least 3 years as far as i know!

I have been going down on a sunday for the roast dinners and they are a treat. Big and tasty like your Mum makes you! No fancy stuff either just good honest tasty roasts! I highly recommended you getting there early though as its so popular they sell out pretty early as we found out the other day! They also home cook a veggie roast which is quite nice as they are usualy the last people thought about when eating out!

So all in all and with showing the football as well this is a tidy boozer and i'm proud to call it one of my locals!!

Get yourself down there!!

I quite like this pub. As it’s just off Upper Street, it means it is a little quieter, and has more of a “local” feel to it. They have a good range of beers on tap, and the staff are always friendly.

Bizarrely, they also have W.I meetings upstairs as well!

They are also one of the pubs jumping on the Thai bandwagon. The food wasn’t fantastic either and fairly expensive for what it is, but I’ve had a lot worse.

Definitely worth a visit on a week night or daytime for a nice pint of Bass, but you’re probably better off eating somewhere else.

This little pub is nestled just behind the Shell Garage on Upper Street. Now this may not sound idyllic, but it’s actually a very nice little boozer. Friendly staff, lots of tables and plenty of real-ale on tap. I only wish i could remember a little bit more of the night…. :)

The Florence is a great little place just off busy Upper Street. Tucked behind a garage on Florence Street its a lovely place to chill out with friends. Big sofa's, sport shown here, a football table and delicious thai food.