179 Upper Street,
Islington,
London,
N1 1RG
0845 604 9904
The ViewLondon Review
After a quick but incredibly effective renovation, The Vineyard has shed the TV screens to develop a great atmosphere and fun décor.
The Venue
Prepare yourself for a visual avalanche: The Vineyard is an amazing and amusing receptacle of different styles. Stylishly set into an L-shaped room with a large vault ceiling, the exposed bricks speak of the history of the site but the décor is - at least in part - contemporary and edgy. The inspiration is drawn from all periods: 60s retro is mixed with 30s Art Deco replicas, while a large circular booth has a 70s feel. The mix and match - which includes an oversized Rubik cube as a table - is extremely successful, youthful and totally unpretentious. Add to this a large outdoor space with similar décor and it becomes clear why The Vineyard is so popular.
The Atmosphere
The upbeat aesthetic is reflected in a vibrant atmosphere. The clientele is composed of Islingtonians, groups of friends, birthday parties and even small office groups dropping in for food. The regulars are surprisingly not particularly young: bargain meals usually attract students but not at The Vineyard. The air is filled with chat and laughter and even if the large space is not conducive to much interaction, groups have a great time regardless. To add to the greatness, on Thursday nights there is excellent live music like the Brass Volcanoes who are wonderfully entertaining and come highly recommended.
The Food
Not counting purely on pub food, there are a good number of unexpected ingredients on offer. However, the cooking itself lacks some sophistication but The Vineyard compensates with bargain prices and generous portions making dining here good value for money. From the starters (£2.50-£4), the battered mushroom is fried with a huge piece of goats’ cheese the size of a burger. The mains (£6.50-£8) include exotic couscous with peri peri roasted vegetables - fiercely spicy - and more common options like fish and chips (not spectacular but quite large), red snapper with chakalaka (a South African spicy relish), burgers (£7) on quality rustic bun, and grills (£10-£12). Sides (£1-£2.50) such as the onion rings are not what you would expect since the rings are uncoated, but they’re still nice. The desserts (£3.50) are well presented and very indulgent: the chocolate orange fondant has a perfectly gooey core and it is divinely rich.
The Drink
The wine list (£13.30-£17.30 for bottles, £3.45-£5 for small glasses and £4.60-£7.10 for large ones) has plenty of South African tipples. The Vineyard has strong ties to South Africa, but the pub successfully escapes pigeonholing. The beer selection is good, although not necessarily cheap at £3.20-£5.80 for draughts and £3.45-£3.60 for bottles. Pick from three ales, Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, San Miguel, Liefmans, Leffe, Corona, Sol and the novel Crabbie’s alcoholic ginger beer. The cider selection is excellent, with two Gaymers, three St. Heliers, three Koppaberg and two Brothers on offer.
You can also choose from fairly priced cocktails (£5.90-£6.65) including classics like Woo Woo, Pina Colada, Mojito or the more unusual Flying Saucers, Celtic Warrior or Scorpion Punch.
The Last Word
Unpretentious and extremely enjoyable, The Vineyard is recommended for those in search of a casual, vibrant atmosphere and even some live entertainment.
The Vineyard has been reviewed by 12 users