Ryans Bar sits at the top of trendy, up-and-coming Church Street in the heart of Stoke Newington. Its colourful front and extended happy hours make it a local favourite but it lacks the soul to make it a truly great watering hole.

The Venue
Most locals know Ryans Bar for its bright yellow exterior and substantial beer garden. The interior of the bar is cosy but it lacks any real imagination or personal touches and feels a little generic. The garden is large, but it is crammed full with tables in fairly regimented rows, which makes it feel a little military. Due to noise issues the garden often closes earlier than the bar and summer nights can be a little dampened by being herded in doors.

During the day, free Wi-Fi is available and sports are often played on several different screens. There is also a basement where live entertainment can be found most evenings. Open Mic nights happen every Monday but you can also find comedy, jazz and DJ sets at other points in the week.

The Atmosphere
As with most Church Street bars, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. Summer afternoons in the beer garden at Ryans Bar are usually popular and fairly buzzing, but if there is a big game on much of the attention focuses on the screens. In the evenings it can be hard to get a table as it gets busy but the clientele are mostly social, easygoing and largely local, making this a fun place to grab a few drinks and a meal before heading into town.

The Food
The menu at Ryans Bar is Thai-inspired and includes a good selection of all the expected dishes such as tempura (£3.80), spring rolls (£4.00), red and green curry and Pad Thai, and some not so expected such as BBQ spare ribs. Food is served after 5pm on a weekday and all day at weekends and main courses range between £6.50-£8.50. The food is served on clean white plates and always arrives in plentiful portions. The curries are spicy with a clean, fruity flavour, although the spring rolls are a little greasy.

The Drink
There is a good choice of reasonably priced wines at Ryans Bar, with bottles ranging from £12.75 for a Vermentino to £21.99 for a Cabernet Sauvignon. There are several beers available on tap, including Staropramen, San Miguel, Fosters and John Smith, and there is also a substantial spirit selection, all of which cost a reasonable £2.30 a measure.

The Last Word
A loyal local set ensure this bar is often busy - the large beer garden is a fantastic feature in summer, whilst the Thai food proves to be a local specialty. However, the interior is a little dull and during the day the sports screens can take over, making the atmosphere a little flat.

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