The Pocket opened in Canonbury last March as a sister pub to the Southampton Arms in Kentish Town.
Owner Pete Holt, who also runs Howling Hops brewery in Hackney Wick, took over the derelict Four Sisters pub in Canonbury Lane – closed since 2021 – and turned it into a rustic, wood-panelled gem.
It has quickly grown a devoted following for its cosy old-school charm, serving multiple British cask ales and cider on handpump, and a minimalist food offer that features a hot pie counter of pasties, pork pies and sausage rolls.
Both The Southampton and Pocket do away with piped music in favour of vintage jazz and soul vinyl records, and both have a piano where live bands will bash out a tune.
The Pocket has clocked up an impressive 4.9 star rating on Google with one drinker writing: “It’s got this gorgeous historic interior with loads of old-school charm, but it still feels fresh and homely. Proper cosy vibe.
“The sausage roll was really tasty, proper quality with nice flaky pastry and a bit of mustard on the side. Beers were spot on. Feels like a classic pub done right. I’d definitely come back next time I’m up this way – proper little gem.”
Another wrote: “The small pub is beautifully laid out for conversation at the bar, and on a number of tables – tastefully decorated like a proper, traditional London pub of old – not fancy, but inviting.”
With many praising the decent prices – with a pint for less than a fiver – a third called it: “A nice old fashioned drinking experience.”
Time Out wrote: “One pub stands pump and cask above the rest, The Pocket in Islington, which we have crowned the best new pub in London for 2025.
“It was the only new pub to make our recently updated top 50 pubs in London list, and as such was the only real contender for the title.”
