The Highbury Barn

The Highbury Barn is steeped in history. Having opened as a tavern in the 18th century, over a hundred years later it gained notoriety as a raucous night time locale, which soon irritated the locals enough for it to have its licence taken away. It wasn’t to last however, and it soon resumed business as a neighbourhood pub. It’s stood the test of time in spite of fashion - Highbury is one of those areas that has seen its house prices hit the skies and the area is now home to politicians and actors who live beside the older contingent of less wealthy locals. Therefore you’ll find a branch of La Fromagerie opposite a bookie’s, a delicatessen’s next to a kebab shop, and so on. The Highbury Barn, despite being just a few doors down from the smart cheese shop beloved of Nigella Lawson is resolutely non-gastropubby. Sure there is food, and it’s pretty good too, with the meat coming from the butcher’s over the road and dishes like slow-baked shank of lamb and chorizo fish cakes, but while the fare is decidedly upmarket the atmosphere remains relaxed, the sort of place where you can sit undisturbed with a newspaper and find a quiet spot on a Saturday night, seeing as there’s plenty of seating as well as an outdoors area. The prices won’t break the bank either with a small glass of vino starting from around £3, and main courses are around a tenner.