New Rose, N1 8LU
- 84-86 Essex Road, N1 8LU
- 38 Bus Route Pub Crawl, Now Closed
- 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
The New Rose was a pub on Essex Road in Canonbury/Islington. According to the June/July 2020 London Drinker, it closed in early 2020 and after refurbishment of the building a new business called the Alpaca opened in its place.
The information below is retained for historical purposes.
The interior is divided into three sections, though there are no doors between. All are served by the central octagonal bar.
The decor has a sort of faded-glamour feel, with black pleather-and-velvet banquettes beneath huge cut-glass-style light fittings. Candle wax dribbles artfully down an exposed-brick feature wall, and a large Renoir print hangs above the doorway dividing two of the sections. Black lino covers the floor, heavily worn in places to reveal wooden boards beneath. The effect is slightly spoiled by a collection of cartoonish Guinness advertising posters mounted on a clumsily-finished gantry.
Kake visited on a Tuesday afternoon in September 2019. Arriving a little before 5pm, I was the only customer. Rock/metal was playing, a little louder than ideal for conversation. A half of lime and soda was 50p.
They aren't doing food or real ale at the moment, but intend to once the refurbishment is complete.
Accessibility: A small step to get in, maybe a couple of inches. No steps to the ladies' once you're in, but the door is quite heavy.
See also: