The Marquis of Lansdowne appeals to both locals out to watch the football and visitors looking for a well-priced watering hole in equal measure.

The Venue
Sat on Stoke Newington High Street, this pub is easy to find with bus stops practically on its doorstep and Dalston Kingsland station a five minute walk away. Although there's nothing that outstanding about its exterior, it is housed within a large welcoming building with a couple of benches just outside on the pavement.

Once inside, you'll be impressed by the pub’s size. The decor combines modern furnishings with traditional pub features without going over the top. There’s a selection of low sofas and high chairs as well as larger tables for groups. There's a small section where the DJ plays, a lot of screens if you're looking to watch the sport and there's a good area for playing pool, too. The bar area is large and includes attractive blue fairy lights scattered at the back. There's also a 'party here' sign, which seems pretty appropriate considering the nature of the crowd.

Venture to the back through a door and you'll find a small staircase that, on first approach, you'll probably assume is a staff area. It actually leads to a smoking terrace, commonly referred to as Smokers Paradise, on top of the pub. This is well covered and nicely lit with a mixture of fluorescent lights and lanterns. The Marquis of Lansdowne also has a basement bar, which plays host to DJ nights and other musical events.

The Atmosphere
Despite the common perception that Dalston is full of pretentious people who simply care about image, the Marquis of Lansdowne is nothing like this. There are a few people who do fit into this category but this generally isn't the case and if you were to wander into the bar on a normal day, as a complete outsider, you definitely wouldn't feel out of place.

Although the staff here aren't the chatty East End types you'd get in some of the older localised pubs in the area, they're still really smiley when they serve you. On Saturday nights a DJ pumps out everything from northern soul, indie classics and ‘80s pop to rock ‘n’ roll and cool beats. Downstairs is more music focused. You've got a DJ booth, space for bands and the venue regularly plays host to local music festivals.

The Drink
The prices at this pub are hard to beat. You've got the atmosphere of a relatively modern pub with the prices of an estate local. It's only £2.70 for a pint of Guinness, £3.50 for a bottle of Bulmers and £2.80 for a single spirit and mixer. The choice is reasonable, too.

There's a good selection of drinks on draught – Guinness Extra Cold, Stella, John Smiths, San Miguel, Fosters, Kronenbourg and Stella Extra Cold. There's also a reasonable selection of wine on offer - glasses start at £3 for a small (£4.50 for a large) and bottles are priced £12-£17. There's a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Chablis and two roses.

The Last Word
Whether you're a local or just visiting the area, the Marquis of Lansdowne is a friendly local with bargain prices that are hard to beat.

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