A peaceful beer garden with an idyllic view is rare in central London, but Canal 125 offers just that. If you’re after a few alfresco beers, but don’t fancy a pub bench on the side of a busy road, give Canal 125 a try.

The Venue
Canal 125 is situated on Caledonian Road and is easily reached, unsurprisingly, from the nearby Regent’s Canal. The decor is fairly typical for a modern pub: stripped wooden floors, a large fireplace and a huge ornate mirror retain the feel of an old pub but the high ceilings and fairly minimal chairs and tables help keep it modern. The venue is quite long and thin and leads through to the outside area – a balcony with decking and enough seating for probably about 20 people overlooking the canal. It’s quiet and really lovely on a sunny day.

There is an upstairs which, at weekends, is often either hired out for private parties, or they hold specific events like funk and soul nights which charge a door fee (about £8). It has its own separate bar, and a few pub tables on the balcony outside, which faces onto (the quiet end of) Caledonian Road.

The Atmosphere
Unless you’re walking down the canal, it’s fairly unlikely you’d stumble across this bar. So, the crowd is more than likely to comprise of people that already know of its existence and know what to expect - mainly Islington-dwellers looking for a few drinks, with the option of heading upstairs for a bit of a bigger night out.

It’s quite a popular place for birthdays, and whilst the upstairs can be hired out, the downstairs is still open for all customers. There’s also TV in the top left-hand corner of the pub, so it does attract sports fans if a big match is on, but it doesn’t get particularly rowdy. It also means most people stay inside at these times, which is great if you want to sit on the terrace.

The Food
There are three menus at Canal 125 – lunch, dinner and a Sunday menu, but there isn’t a huge amount of difference between them. Essentially, the lunch menu has sandwiches and baguettes, and the Sunday menu has a breakfast selection (American blueberry pancakes, eggs Benedict and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (£5.25-£6.95), and a Sunday roast (£12.95). The meals offered are pretty good, particularly the seafood selection which includes sole, skate and trout, but some dishes are a bit pricy for what they are. The penne pasta with mozzarella is tasty but costs nearly a tenner. There is also a good selection of bar snacks like filo prawns and spring rolls with sweet chilli dipping sauce for £3.95, and the Greek sharing plate with tzatziki, hummus and taramasalata for £5.95. Again, these are flavoursome and are probably better value for money than the main meals.

The Drink
Wine ranges from £3.75 for a glass of house white, to £5.95 for a glass of Rioja. Bottles of white cost from £13-£25, while reds go from £13-£27.50, and there are a few rosés from £14.50-£16.50. There are a fair amount of sparkling wines and champagnes on offer, starting at £22.50 for a bottle of prosecco before peaking at £88 for Laurent Perrier. Pints are £3.80 and they serve Becks, Stella and San Miguel; bottles of Corona, Budweiser or Peroni are £3.50. Guest ales are £3.80 and there is a cocktail list, all of which are £8-£8.50.

The Last Word
Although some of the prices are a little on the dear side, Canal 125 is a nice place for a catch-up with friends on a summer’s evening. It’s easy to reach, and watching the barges drift past on the terrace really gives the feel that you’re miles away from bustle and noise of the metropolis.

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