Compton Arms

"For much of its modern life, The Compton Arms was a bungalow-like neighbourhood pub behind Upper Street, almost solely serving local Arsenal fans. Then, things got a bit gastro, with changing chef residencies like the guys behind The Plimsoll who created a now-legendary cheeseburger here. The carpets came out and the cod’s roe came in. Yet miraculously, despite all that, it’s remained a brilliant pub. These days, whoever’s in the kitchen is usually worth checking out. But even for a noisy Friday night pint or a quiet Tuesday evening catch-up, this pub remains a destination. A night spent in one of The Compton's low-lit corners is usually a very good one. During winter, hold onto your seat like your life depends on it. But come summer, the deceptively well-sized garden comes into play. The demographic skews younger in the evenings, although there’s still a mix of old heads at the bar. Especially on match days. photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli" - Jake Missing

"The Compton Arms is a little boozer off Upper Street that used to be frequented by Arsenal fans and is now frequented by Arsenal fans, as well as those seeking very good food. The residencies in the kitchen are generally very enjoyable and the current one, Tiella, is a delicious and homely selection of Italian small plates. It's just as good for hunks of bread with honey and chilli-drenched sheep's ricotta, as it is for big plates of polenta and cuttlefish. Book ahead whatever you do, especially if you want a seat in the pub garden." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna

"A lager to start. A Guinness for main. And a gin and tonic for dessert. Plus a palate-cleansing course of scratchings. That’s how most group dinners at the pub tend to go, but that isn’t the case at The Compton Arms. This little Islington pub is home to a superb and always-changing rotation of kitchen residencies. Currently, it’s Tiella, with a 10-dish menu of rustic Italian dishes like crunchy sage and anchovy fritti with perfectly unsociable aioli and a scoop of sheep’s ricotta smothered in honey and Calabrian chilli. " - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna

"You’ve been out of the game for a while and now you’re back, kind of. The prospect of meeting someone via an app who appears to have been born out of a witches pot full of cashmere and cheekbones is, frankly, terrifying. You need some Dutch courage and you need to be somewhere comfortable but cool, like The Compton Arms. Pubs are a safe bet and this little Islington one is a surefire winner. It’s a little bit hidden, it’s got a good crowd, and there are some excellent small plates on the menu." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna

"The Compton Arms has long been a firm favourite and in Tiella, its latest kitchen residency, it has an Italian menu of gorgeous simplicity. Getting a spot on the patio of this Islington pub is one of the best things you can do for the foreseeable future. Particularly once you throw in a plate of crunchy sage and anchovy fritti with perfectly unsociable aioli. A hunk of bread and a scoop of sheep’s ricotta smothered in honey and Calabrian chilli is the kind of combination that makes you think that everything is going to be alright." - jake missing