The Artillery Arms is located in an intriguing part of London, where history and mystery and military might sit shoulder to shoulder with commerce and colleges. Its polished presence and impressive brickwork are warmly inviting and it deserves its reputation as a favourite venue for City of London workers, tourists and students alike.

The Venue
This is an area of tremendous historical importance; the Honourable Artillery Company and its Royal Charter from King Henry VIII sit nearby. Directly opposite the pub is the Bunhill Cemetery where, among the moss and fig trees, you will find the resting place for the minds that gave us Robinson Crusoe and the musical delight that is Jerusalem.

The nearby Cass Business School and College of Law primes today’s young minds for success in the City and beyond, while Old Street’s ‘Silicon Roundabout’ ensures the strong sense of history has a futuristic bedfellow. Absolutely vital to all this is the Artillery Arms which provides a place to take stock of all the activity outside while enjoying the agreeable atmosphere inside.

The Atmosphere
The Artillery Arms offers an intimate setting with the bar in touching distance on entry. There is an obvious pride taken in its appearance and one instantly feels looked after and well catered for. Militaria adorns the walls as the pub stays close to its roots while leather Chesterfield sofas, wooden floors and mirrored walls offer an easy comfort which has doubtless helped to extend many a visit.

An upstairs dining area doubles as a private function room while there are plenty of cosy nooks downstairs for solitude and quiet reflection. A newspaper may be explored or a crossword mastered while plasma screens ensure energy and excitement can be poured over the world’s sporting events.

The Food
The menu is both traditional and quirky and typifies the success of the Artillery Arms in catering to its eclectic customer base. The fish finger sandwich (£5.75) is something of an oddity but popular amongst students and underpins the pub’s child-friendliness. The fish and chips with mushy peas (£8.50) is both fresh and delicious while the steak and Guinness pie with creamed mashed potato, carrots and savoy cabbage (£9.50) will satisfy the most demanding of hungers. The classic ham, egg and chips (£7.50) is a local favourite while a selection of sandwiches including sausage with a red onion jam (£5.75) and rare roast beef and horseradish (£6.25) will always enjoy a strong following. Dessert is a straight choice between hot and cold with the sticky toffee pudding (£4.25) vying for prominence over its chilly neighbour, Jude’s ice cream (£4.25).

The Drink
The Artillery Arms is a Fuller’s public house so the usual suspects of London Pride, Chiswick, Discovery, et al are waiting to serve the real ale community. The wine list offers five or six varieties of both red and white vintage from France, South Africa, New Zealand, Spain, Australia and Italy. The house wine from the Pays d’Oc region of France is a solid accompaniment to the fish and chips, (£5.15 for a large glass, £15.50 for the full bottle) while a red crianza from Spain represents the top end of the price range at £24 per bottle. The geographic reach of the wines typifies the success of the Artillery Arms in having something to offer the broad range of patrons which visit this fine old public house.

The Last Word
The Artillery Arms caters for all paces of life. Whether you are on a pilgrimage to the graves of Daniel Defoe or William Blake, or exploring the layers and layers of military history in the locale, or for that matter, flitting around the city weighed down by legal documents, the friendly staff will ensure your visit is a pleasurable one in a comfortable setting. It really would be a pity if you passed this one by without taking the time to enjoy the charm within. After all, the occupants across the road would love to indulge in such an opportunity…

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