Sun in my face, cool breeze in my hair and a tall glass of ice and a slice in my clutches.
Oh yes, Sunday was a good day. I had my first Pimm’s of the year.
In fact, the bartender at The Canonbury said it was the first he’d served since last summer. No wonder he looked a little off his game, but the Pimm’s was on point.
This damn fine-looking Georgian pub not far from Upper Street in N1 has been refurbished after a period of abandonment.
Its well-manicured beer garden (the largest in London) boasts an impressive history. Apparently you can still sit under the same horse chestnut tree where George Orwell wrote parts of 1984. But in this leafy oasis, you won’t feel Big Brother looking over your shoulder.
We sat outside on the dark rattan furniture watching kids play football on the grass as we enjoyed our Sunday roasts. My hubby and mum-in-law tucked into juicy rib-eyes while I had a tender and flavourful rotisserie chicken. Each dish came with tasty trimmings including buttery mangetout and puffy Yorkshire pud the size of my baby’s head.
The Canonbury is obviously a popular haunt for babymakers as there were pushchairs and yummy mummies in abundance. But the open-plan restaurant and bar are so large and comfy that you could barely notice the chorus of babies amidst the friendly background hum.
One waiter admitted they do a brisk trade in Babycinnos (warm frothy milk with a cocoa dusting) during weekday afternoons. But if you’re after the harder stuff, they’ve got a well-priced range of spirits, beers and wine.
Apparently the joint is heaving in summer. It was busy enough on Sunday but this didn’t seem to faze the staff who oozed warmth, charm and competence.
The only dip in our moods came with dessert. My apple tart with ice cream AND custard (yes, mama rolls like that) hit the spot but I could have done with a bigger portion. Hubby and mum-in-law weren’t dancing over their too-sweet Banofee pie and exotic fruit cheesecake without enough base.
Even Ezra’s face fell when they brought his double-scoop ice cream in a glass he couldn’t reach. But he cheered up when they swapped it for a kids’ size portion.
Surprisingly for such a family-friendly venue there’s no kids’ menu, but there’s plenty on the main dishes and sides to adapt and appeal to younger tastes.
Overall we had a fantastic time at The Canonbury and we’ll definitely be back for more. Ezra’s already looking forward to their Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday.
Visit web site for venue info.
