This chain of Irish bars is renowned for fun and frolics and that little bit of Emerald Isle charm.

The Venue
This branch of O’Neill’s is situated on Upper Street in Islington within a heartbeat of some interesting pubs and bars on Essex Road and close to Angel tube on the Northern Line. There is an instantly recognizable marine blue facade which is continued inside with splashes here and there combined with traditional robust furniture with additional soft furnishings in which to sink back and converse over a pint or two of the good stuff. An outside terrace and garden will provide you with an extra level of drinking pleasure in the summer.

The Atmosphere
This O’Neill’s has weekly sessions of traditional Irish music to sing along to as well as a live band on Friday nights. A mainly work crowd flock to this bar and others nearby to unwind and have a craic or two. Be prepared for standing room only when the football’s on as this place tends to fill out.

The Food
Mains feature classics including an all day Irish breakfast with Irish pork and herb sausages, smoky bacon and a rich white pudding as well as salads and hearty burgers. The shank of lamb is soft and rich in flavour and comes with a traditional Irish favourite of Colcannon. The accompanying red wine and rosemary sauce enhances the meat and is more than enough to tickle your taste buds. The roast chicken comes with some crispy potato wedges and for under £7 is a real steal considering you receive half a roast chicken. The caramelised red onion chutney is an ideal accompaniment and is finished with an old fashioned jug of gravy. For desserts choose from a range of dishes featuring warm apple pie with most plates including an interesting Irish liqueur ice cream.

The Drink
There are the usual draught beers available to whet anyone’s whistle while the whiskey choice may just have you dancing an Irish jig. The Bushmills single malt and blend is intense as is Jamesons. There are also Scottish alternative featuring Glenfiddich. Bottles of wine both red and white start at under a tenner and there’s also an extensive soft drink list.

The Last Word
Fun and certainly not lacking atmosphere, O’Neills pubs have brought a taste of Ireland to England, and this branch is no exception.

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