The Wenlock Arms

Walk into the Wenlock Arms and you're stepping into the kind of pub that makes you wonder why you ever bothered with anywhere else. This isn't some Instagram-bait gastro-pub—it's the real thing, all dark wood and the sort of convivial chaos that only happens when you get the drink selection right. The real draw here is the cask ale programme, which is taken seriously enough that proper enthusiasts make the trip to N1 just for it. You'll find yourself wedged in with architects from Shoreditch, locals who've been coming since before the area gentrified, and anyone with genuine taste buds. It's the kind of place where talking to strangers at the bar is expected, not awkward.