A bar and dining hall bundled up in a majestic old building, The Londesborough keeps this little piece of Dalston singing.

The Venue
Situated a short walk from Stoke Newington Road, The Londesborough is accessible through gauntlets of tight terraced housing and, once spied, the pub sticks out like a beautiful, big green sore thumb. The interior is a mixture of old wooden furniture, low leather armchairs and low-lit lamps, making it a rather seductive tavern. The classic look is twisted by the appearance of wall-mounted cabinets that contain superfluous junky trinkets, lit up by sickly luminous lights that turns everything a little art-school. The look is refreshingly new and captures a spirit that most pubs only hope to.

The Atmosphere
This is Dalston, and The Londesborough attracts plenty of hip young families through its doors, keeping a large stock of high chairs for its long lazy Sundays for parents with children in tow. Family may not be for everyone though, and for those who prefer their drinking sans the underage there are loud nights on Fridays and Saturdays, when DJs play all sorts of sounds. During the week there’s a steady flow but the pub has enough room for you to be as sociable as you want, and there’s always a quiet spot to find.

The Food
The Londesborough intends to encourage those in the pursuit of food and one look at the menu tells you that you’ve come to the right place. Prices match most others of the gastro ilk but there are pleasant twists on British cuisine, served up with attention to detail. Somerset cider fish stew with mussels eclipses the weary mariniere for adventure any day, and while grilled chicken is hardly radical, when served alongside fondant potatoes, cabbage and bacon its wholesome panache is welcome. The menu is small and precise for weekday mains but on Sunday possibilities rain as the choice opens up to brunches of eggs Benedict (£8), roasts of beef or duck (£13) and a children’s menu to boot.

The Drink
The taps paint the same old picture here and this might be the only stumbling point for the pub. San Miguel, Becks Vier, Hoegaarden and Staropramen are a little too pedestrian for a venue whose calibre calls for more razzmatazz from the kegs. Maybe the cocktail list is where the glitz is at and the range contains some delicious tipples, all around £6.

The Last Word
The Londesborough has a classy comfort that marks it out from the crowd and with lively evenings and sophisticated sustenance, it’s not just a pretty face.

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