Lamb N7

The Lamb Beer and Liquor, London N7

London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
North London: Canonbury and Barnsbury

Contemporary pub (Independent)
54 Holloway Road N7 8JL
T 020 7619 9187 w thelambn7.co.uk‎ f thelambn7 tw thelambpub
Open 1600-2400 (0100 Fri-Sat). Children welcome until early evening.
Cask beer 1 (often local, may expand), Other beer 7 keg, 10 bottles, Also Bottled ciders, some wines and specialist spirits.
Food None, but local gourmet pizzas delivered, Outdoor Small rear yard, Wifi.
Tue/Sun Irish music, Wed acoustic music, occasional DJs, big screen Arsenal home games, functions.

On the south end of Holloway Road just a few steps from Highbury Corner and the Garage music venue, the Lamb used to be an ordinary Irish pub of a sort once common in the area until relaunching itself as an unusually characterful contemporary bar in March 2012. Since then owner Michael has been pursuing a personal interest by ramping up the beer offering, declaring its priorities with the strapline “beer and liquor” and running festivals in collaboration with craft beer appreciation group the Campaign for Really Good Beer (CAMRGB).

Currently there’s only one cask pump, usually dispensing a local like Hackney or London Fields, although this may expand. A range of British “craft keg” beers from Black Isle, BrewDog, Camden Town and the like is served alongside good Czech lager, and Camden Town, London Fields and Meantime crop up in the bottle fridge alongside Anchor Steam and Little Creatures.

It’s an atmospheric place with dark wood panelling, a few tucked away booths and a slightly studenty feel. This perhaps isn’t surprising as it’s just down the road from London Metropolitan University, but it’s also close to Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium and the legacy of its former incarnation lives on with laid back Irish music sessions.

Pub trivia. The new branding on the handsome tiled exterior draws on Catholic kitsch – perhaps more appropriately than intended as the Lamb as a pub name and sign has its origins in religious symbolism, representing the Lamb of God. Then again, Holloway Road is a former drove route, so there’s a link to more earthly lambs too.

National Rail Highbury & Islington Cycling LCN+ 7, Hornsey and Camden links