Junction Tavern Kentish Town

https://www.theinfatuation.com/london/reviews/junction-tavern

Junction Tavern - Review - Kentish Town - London - The Infatuation

"The JT is a gastropub that still takes the pub part of that label seriously. Its beer selection is great, and you can drink it in a sizeable portion of the pub without ordering food (as well as in the garden at the back). But the gastro side of things is no poor relation. Daily-changing menus always include creamy, filling vegetable-based soups and at least one vegetarian option which can often be the most intriguing thing on the menu. It’s hugely popular, so you’ll want to book at weekends if you want a meal - and be prepared for a two-hour time slot if they’re really rammed. In good weather, the quiet back garden is one of the best places in NW5 to eat and drink outdoors. photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch" - Richard Ehrlich

https://onthegrid.city/london/hampstead-heath/the-junction-tavern

On the Grid : The Junction Tavern

"A fantastic pub and dining room with original Victorian woodwork interior, fireplace and bar dating from 1885. Because of the different areas inside as well as a conservatory and beer garden, The Junction is both a cosy, informal pub and a classy restaurant. They offer a changing seasonal menu of incredibly delicious food, served by the friendliest of people." - Chrissie Macdonald & Andrew Rae

https://www.theinfatuation.com/london/guides/london-restaurants-keep-discounts-going-into-september-eat-out-to-help-out

81 London Restaurants Keeping ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ Discounts Going Into September

"From Tuesday to Thursday throughout September, this lovely-looking Tufnell Park pub is offering 25% of all meals." - oliver feldman, rianne shlebak

View Postcard for The Junction Tavern Kentish Town

"The Junction Tavern, Hampstead Heath. A fantastic pub and dining room with original Victorian woodwork interior, fireplace and bar dating from 1885. Because of the different areas inside as well as a conservatory and beer garden, The Junction is both a cosy, informal pub and a classy restaurant. They offer a changing seasonal menu of incredibly delicious food, served by the friendliest of people."

London

Johelle Tapper

Google

I don't have much to say other than this tavern is just wonderful. We had a Sunday roast, and I was accommodated for my dietary requests, so I'm very appreciative. The food was tasty, hot, cooked really well and presented as such too. The atmosphere was friendly, homely, warm with its flickering fire. We also made two little fur friends who are the tavern's doggos.

Reya Anand

Google

Such a cosy place for a perfect Sunday roast! So filling! Honestly the portions sizes are great! They have a house dog, who is so friendly and would come and sit with you. Service is a bit slow but the food makes up for it.

Ali Pollen

Google

We were visiting from Canada and found this wonderful pub. We LOVED the energy and atmosphere. We came back a few times because we loved it so much. Sunday roast was incredible and we came in to the pub to watch a football game (they have tons of tvs to watch games!). The food is so delicious (honourable mention for the beef dip and pastas) and the staff is incredibly friendly. The bartenders were great! Will definitely be back next time we visit London. A bonus for us was the very cute pub dogs! We don’t get to bring dogs into pubs in Canada so it was such a treat to have furry friends to drink with.

Kirsty A

Google

Had my dad's 65th birthday here, mike and his wife, as well as the rest of the staff were so accommodating. We had a great night, we ordered a buffet of food, the arancini balls were very popular as well as the beef burger sliders, and people are still talking about it, my sister in law previously had the fish and chips, and before the buffet was served she ordered fish and chips again and she enjoyed it so much, and said it hit the Spot once again. We also had a number of drinks at very reasonable prices for tuffnel park, thanks again to all the team, as well as all the pets including the tortoise for putting up with excited children

Ariane Cruciol

Google

My parents and I went in this place randomly for lunch and had a very nice surprise! The place looks great, the food was amazing and the staff was very friendly and helpful! For reference, we had the fish and chips, the Beef & Guinness pie with cheddar mash and a pan roasted sea-bream with beetroot risotto - all of which were very good!

luislukas

Google

Solid, tasty, juicy and generous Sunday roast. There's also a family roast option for 4-6 people in the menu which is quite a good option for groups or... families. Good selection of wines and beers. Good service. The pub itself is quite pretty, clean and well maintained.

Dai Tree

Google

As busy as a busy thing! The Junction Tavern is humming. Lovely offering of both keg and cask. Service is spot on. Half the pub is given over to a restaurant area but empty on my visit whilst pub part and conservatory was rammed, perhaps the reason? People like to dine in the absence of raucous accompaniment. I don't know but, saw a very popular venue with lots of happy people. I enjoyed my Amstel. Lovely staff behind the bar.

a karimova

Google

this used to be a gastropub - well not any more. I did not like: to get fish&chips with defrosted tasteless fillet to listen to loud TV w football on in the eating section to drink from a visibly unclean glass they lost their marbles, do not go there. many good pubs around, but not this one.

Daisy-may B.

Yelp

I've never eaten here, but I have tried one of their bloody marys. And oh my god was that a bloody mary. I crawled in on a Sunday morning and asked the really nice bartender for it to be extra spicy and with lots of tomato juice. It was a good size, made with homemade mix that was really spicy without being too... herby, with a celery stick and a little glass of tomato juice on the side to top it up with! Their beer garden is really lovely and the combination of that and the fantastic bloody mary pretty much saved my Sunday.

Natalie W.

Yelp

Beautiful place, there was one bartender who was slightly weird about us sitting at a reserved table (an hour before the party was due to arrive) but in the end they just left us to it so I could enjoy the elegant decor and my decent on-tap cider. The food looks good, would come back to try it if I'm ever in the area again.

Aash C.

Yelp

I'm a great fan of the pub itself and recently had the opportunity to have dinner there. It was on New Year's Eve and we had to eat from a set-menu, which wasn't a problem. There was plenty of choice and the service was great. They were keen to get us seated and out, but hey it was New Year's Eve and we clearly informed us that they had a booking after us. The starter was great. I was a little miffed by the main course turning up on a soggy bed of lettuce though! All in all very nice!

Alan S.

Yelp

I had no idea this place had a beer garden, having walked past it a couple of times - but a friend had a small gathering there and so we discovered it's loveliness! Very spacious indoors with a fairly decent selection of beers & ales - you'd be forgiven for thinking you were South of the river owing to the pairing of the name "Junction" with several South London beers (including from Samsbrook, Clapham Junction). It may have seemed more spacious however because everyone was outside enjoying the garden. It was a proper beer garden; picnic tables and lots of plant life - we enjoyed just relaxing and watching the bees & hover-flies on the elderflower... The highlight however was the food. Everything looked good, but it was too hot for a Sunday roast so I plucked for fishcakes, with pea puree - which I didn't think I liked, but apparently I do! The fishcakes were gigantic, and there were 2 of them, so no complaints about the amount of food I got. I realised I was supposed to have a salad with it, which never arrived, but no big deal - I don't know where I would have fit it. My wife enjoyed the polenta and the rest of our party seemed to enjoy the roast (think a slab of pork the size of a house brick). We also grabbed the last "chorizo croquettes" which were simply delicious with a spot of crème fraîche. It was a little expensive; as I said we were definitely well fed, but there was little in the way of choice for the lesser appetite or smaller wallets - and the menu (on this Sunday at least) seemed void of some staples like steak or a burger... all half chickens and Sunday roasts - I was lucky there were fishcakes left. Still, I can't complain, because I ate like a king, and the staff were very friendly. I would definitely return!

Steve B.

Yelp

I've eaten at the Junction Tavern several times and it's been consistently good on each visit. Booking by phone has been easy. Friendly manager and staff on arrival. Menu is always interesting and changes frequently, perhaps daily. On the last visit, the Sunday dinner roast chicken was excellent. Perfectly cooked and a generous portion with roast potatoes and other veggies. Perfect gravy too. We also had a very good vegetarian gnocchi dish and grilled tuna with lentils. Starters and deserts also excellent all round. Nice hearty portion sizes also. I like the fact they they bring a bottle of tap water to the table (no pushing expensive bottled water). The drinks menu is well thought through. You can have wine or pints from the bar. Some good sherries recently featured as well. The whole place is just well run with competence and efficiency in a nice relaxed setting. The chefs here really know what they are doing and the standard is very high. Service always friendly. In fact it's one of my favourite places to eat.

Grant T.

Yelp

I came here for dinner and drinks for a friend's leaving party. A bunch of us came in order to send our friend and co-worker back to Greece. The venue itself is alright. There's a big outdoor seating area in the back, and since it's a gastropub, there's a dining area as well (with table service). I wasn't too impressed with the beer selections to be honest. They were a bit strange and really were trying to go for interesting and unusual flavors instead of a really nice ale. So that didn't impress me too much. The food was fairly reasonable, but I wasn't impressed with anything on the mains menu so I had three starters: Pate, beetroot salad and mussels. The mussels were nice (and they brought me bread for the tomato sauce, even if the bread wasn't the nicest). The salad was good and the pate was decent. The toilets had a terrible smell of urine. I know it's a bathroom, but it's not hard to keep things clean, so that turned me off of the restaurant to be honest. So decent food, average beer, terrible toilets. Not on the top of my list of places to return to.

Jim Z.

Yelp

Still the greatest pub in Kentish Town, with a great selection of beers and perhaps the nicest staff in London. On a sunny day be sure to check out the beer garden.

Brian K.

Yelp

I really liked this place. A handful of "real" ales, fair priced and tasty pub food, and a lovely observatory room. A little out of the way, but if you're in the area check it out!

Jhenn S.

Yelp

Pleasantly surprised! When booking a table for a Sunday birthday, they said having a vegan meal would be no problem, just ask when we go there. Had a pile of fried polenta and asparagus- very impressed! Would love to come here again for another Sunday lunch. Nice beer selection. Nice waitstaff! Sunny, airy and wooden beams- what's not to love?

Chris F.

Yelp

This pub won the CAMRA pub of the year for the area last year but I can't really see what sets it apart from the others. I mean I liked it but I wasn't blown away. It does have some very nice ales on tap, not ones you find everyday, so its definitely high in my estimations for that. I wasn't so keen on the layout and the décor however, but that's a question of taste. It seemed more of a gastro pub than anything else. Apparantly they have a couple of beer festivals here every year so I think that might be one reason they won the aforementioned award. I reckon I will be back to enjoy one of the festivals.

Angela C.

Yelp

Sassy waitress, yummy chicken liver pate, loads of beers on tap...I'll be back. Next time I need to visit the garden and get a Sunday roast!

Qype User (scotti…)

Yelp

Ah the marvellous Junction Tavern. I've just moved in Kentish Town and I'm a lot closer to the Junction now - which is good news as it's very good place, if a bit of a hotch potch of things. The main bar is a big wood panelled room and it's split into a restaurant area and a small 'pub area' next to the bar with tables and chairs. It then expands out into a sort of big conservatory out the back with a load more tables and chairs and then finally it has a decent sized beer garden out the back with plenty of tables and plenty of cover. As already noted it has a good and frequently changing selection of real ales and also hosts a mini beer festival over the end of May bank holiday weekend which is always entertaining as the usually fairly young crowd runs into the beard scratching gang testing out the Dragon's Toenail from Dobeg and comparing it to the Badgers Facial Warts beer from the isle of Egg. The food is pretty good on the whole, though a little bit over priced in my view for what it is, and a little bit over complicated at times as well. The beer isn't the cheapest either but its not too bad. However, the service on the whole is friendly and pretty efficient. All in, it may be trying to do a bit too much and be a few too many things to a few too many different types of people - but on the whole it works and the mix of people you get coming along can be entertaining in its own right. Well worth a visit.

Qype User (Ms_Bli…)

Yelp

This is a large and accommodating pub on Fortess Road, with a big conservatory at the back and a paved garden with plenty of seating. There are big sofas to sink into too. Inside, there's a dedicated dining area with table service. Or you can order food from the bar for a more relaxed (and cheaper) meal. In summer, it's nice to eat al fresco in the garden. It's a good place to have lunch and meet friends. And there's a lively atmosphere in the evenings. The bar staff are very friendly and acknowledge you if you're a regular.

Qype User (Yankee…)

Yelp

Though I lived in Enfield and worked in the City during my two-year London adventure, The Junction was pretty much my local pub of choice. A bunch of mates worked nearby, and it was where we always ended up meeting up. It's a nice, spacious pub with really high ceilings -- none of that grotty pub claustrophobia here! The decor is all nice historical pictures with some interesting modern ones interspersed, and dark wood bar and fixings. The food is pretty decent for pub grub, the chips are nice and thin and actually offer something to bite into, unlike soggy horrifying chip shop chips. The selection of red wines here really suits me as I'm a bit of a Cab Sav Queen. The wines aren't super reasonably priced for a pub, but they won't break the bank either. The staff are always really friendly for a pub, and the selection of ales, bitters and other quaffable liquids is fine and eclectic. If you're the liquer type, they have a lot of different flavours of vodka, and even had Tequila Rose the last time I went. Yums. I've not been out into the beer garden, as I was still climatising (or acclimating, if you're from the Land of the Free), but everyone says it's nice. The locals are all friendly and in my dozens of times here I've never seen so much as a cross word between patrons, which is saying something for the strangeness that is Kentish Town.

Christian T.

Yelp

Great interior, just like you wish a pub to be. Good selection of Ales on the tap. My favourite moment of the evening: I had ordered an Ale, had finished around a third, and didn't notice anything special about it (fairly bitter, but that's what I like in an Ale). Suddenly a waiter stops at our table, ogles at my Ale, grabs it, and exlaims, "this is too cloudy - no good". Off he is before I can say mmh or but, and brings me a new one. Food: had braised lamb on mash and kale, and my mate had a ribeye. Both properly prepared and good quality. It's a bit of a schlep up Kentish Town, almost at Tufnell Park, but if you're in the area it's a gem.

Qype User (koschk…)

Yelp

The Junction Tavern on Junction Road is equidistant from Tufnell Park and Kentish Town tube stations. The wood panelling and its selling feature the wonderful conservatory at the back make this pub and eatery very homely and cosy indeed, especially in autumn and winter. The food is good and the menu changes regularly, although there is usually only one choice for veggies and it is a little pricey for the area (£10+ for a main course). Strangely enough for a gastropub, the sides available do not include chips, but since they are served with their Fish & Chips, you can ask nicely and the waiting staff will probably agree to make an exception. Definitely worth a visit for the conservatory alone, but also for the food if you have the cash to spare.

Clive E.

Yelp

This place was suggested to me by a friend whom lives local. And I have to say even on a cold rainy night the vibe in there is worth coming back to on a better weather night or day. Somewhere that I am sure gets very full on summers day with a restaurant, bar and garden. Comfortable feeling and good selection of beers and wines to choose from. But the service was very slow especially at the bar. Perhaps they were a bit short on that particular night but I did have to wait too long considering it wasn't very busy.

Qype User (ali-…)

Yelp

What looks like a normal old-fashioned bar from the outside is actually a gastro-pub with a traditonal but elegant and delicious menu. The large conservatory at the back is a great spot any time of year and, what's more, the prices are very decent for London (and trendy NW5 in particular). Expect £10 for a main course and £15 a bottle of wine.

Laurent S.

Yelp

My favorite pub in London, luckily I was living close by. The pub is old-school with a nice restaurant part and a garden in the back. We'd come a few times a week to play card on the big wooden tables. The pub is cosy, never too crowded. The staff is very nice and the steak is perfect.

Qype User (Ador…)

Yelp

My local, and it's great. Just down the road from Tufnell Park tube, The Junction is a nice, big, wood-panelled pub, split into restaurant and bar; though food is served throughout. I've not eaten there - it isn't cheap, and I am - but it does look tasty. I would recommend this pub for smokers and / or those who hang out with smokers, as the large outside area is covered and speckled by heat-lamps. I would also unhesitatingly recommend it to people who are fond of their real ale, as its selection is wide, and changes frequently. There is always a flyer detailing which real ales are on tap at the time, and the bar staff are generally very knowledgeable. The selection of ciders is also notable for being good, and you can usually get fruit beers too. Just be warned, they aren't cheap. It's a pretty young crowd you'll tend to find in the Junction; quite a large crowd, too, as the pub is popular, but despite this it's big enough that between the bar, the conservatory, and the garden it rarely feels uncomfortably crowded. Overall, a fantastic place.

Laura Kate S.

Yelp

Absolutely gorgeous garden! Probably bigger than the whole inside, and full of nice seating with table service. The food was quite delicious. I had the polenta and could've eaten another plate if you'd put it in front of me! A real winner of a spot.

James W.

Yelp

Awesome pub. Epic steak. Quite expensive though at £20, asked for it to be done blue and came medium rare, still tasted amazing though. £50 dinner for two plus two fine white wines. Friendly staff

Alex R.

Yelp

Good pub excellent beers, think they won camra pub award in 2010 or something. Little bit on the pricey side but the garden in the summer is nice to relax in.

Alejandro S.

Yelp

Very nice Pub, it has been my local for over a year now. Great food, real fireplace, beautiful back garde for either summer or for cold days. Superb selection of wines, great ales and beers. Ale festival every so often is so much fun. All of the above and a very friendly staff makes the Juction one of the best locals in North London.

Mark B.

Yelp

This is as close to an ideal pub as I have ever visited. The staff is always on top form. They know their beer and they keep it and serve it right. They have great beer festivals. The food is excellent. They have a proper restaurant area but you can have food anywhere in the pub. For a pound you can get a bowlful of nuts. The outside beer garden is fabulous, I have whiled away so many hours there. Fabulous!

Katie A.

Yelp

Work took is here for a social, having rejected a couple of other, closer pubs. The Junction has a relaxed atmosphere reflecting its residential surroundings. The rear conservatory is huge and, makes a great room for large groups, as it is quite isolated from the rest of the pub. We spent quite a few hours here, drinking and eating sharable snacks, though I suspect the food may have been a ploy to prevent us from ending up too hammered. The music is unobtrusive, and service was efficient and friendly. Definitely worth a try if you are in the area.

Qype User (char-l…)

Yelp

This was my favoured local before I moved away from the area out east. It was the favoured local of all my friends who lived local. We'd invariably end up in here of a Sunday afternoon. I remember when this place was dripping with busy lizzies on the outside and cheap beer on the inside. And so many of us threw our hands up in the air when yet another old boozer was to be gentrified and turned into just another Gastro pub. But I've spent many a good rolling afternoon/evening here and had some really good food. And having had some great conversations with perfect strangers about great food and travel, politics and dogs rather randomly. It's always packed. The food is expensive but reserve a table in the dining area and you'll have a sense of occasion and feel your money has been well spent. Or just treat yourself to a big slab of fish sitting by the fire or in warm weather out back in the garden. And even if you are penny pinching have a starter and fill up on the mammoth basket of bread dipped in the oil and balsamic vinegar. What ever you do, go home happy and go back, go back, go back.

paola b.

Yelp

I loved the Junction Tavern: the food is gorgeous and the venue is lovely, I wish we were in the winter garden but we were sitting opposite the kitchen so we saw the magic happen as the cooks were strutting their stuff without a drop of sweat! I had the set menu with a starter (pea and ham soup) and a main (roast lamb with kale and barley), a very healthy and confidently cooked meal. The dessert was divine: chocolate mousse tart with an espresso cream. Most of us had this dessert and our table went quiet while we ate our delicious pudding. It was superb. I will go again

Mariana P.

Yelp

Best blood mary I had in London, but get ready to queue and stand. Hard to get a sit inside, but for a good reason: the bar is packed with interesting people.Over summer make sure to check out the back garden. Did not try the food.

Tom P.

Yelp

Like a lot of North London gastropubs, the Junction Tavern isn't the cheapest place to eat, but, should you choose to visit, you will certainly get what you paid for. The food is excellent. After dining you can head out the back and sit in the gorgeously lit conservatory, or, if its a warm, summer night, the garden.

Qype User (sophie…)

Yelp

The best pub in Kentish Town. The food is delicious. Very wide variety of beers. Staff is very friendly. The only problem you may face is to have a free table, I would suggest you to make a reservation for any case.

Hailey V.

Yelp

Fantastic food with a great atmosphere!! Perfect place to relax at a pub or have an upscale meal. The menu is a bit limited but what they do have is great.

Qype User (jensla…)

Yelp

Nice local pub. Good food, although a bit pricey. Open kitchen can make for noise. Very friendly staff. Extremely nice beer garden at back.

Qype User (Ehopki…)

Yelp

The Junction never fails to impress me. The staff are friendly, efficient and professional, the food is always prepared and presented to perfection. Whenever I have been here, I always find they strike the prefect balance between good service and allowing you to really relaxed and enjoy the experience. Not to be missed..just try it!!

Barry R.

Yelp

Disgracefully rude and ungrateful staff; North London is full of gastropubs that exceed the quality available here. The management feel it necessary to treat their customers extremely poorly. One of my companions wanted a hot whiskey. However, after our third round, when I approached the bar to order another, the barman serving me got frustrated at having to make a hot whiskey, one that he had already made three times before. The manager then quite obnoxiously and proudly told me that this was the last hot whiskey we were allowed, on the grounds that he didn't have enough staff on that evening to make the drink whilst serving others. I told him that that was very bad form for bar service in London. He didn't care and was quite dismissive. With such crap service that is so rude to regular paying customers, I can't think of a single reason to throw quite a lot of money at this establishment. These sort of places are a dime a dozen in London; you might as well discriminate by not patronizing those who aren't even humle enough to serve you well.

Laura P.

Yelp

I dont know.... maybe it's my luck, but the 3 times I've tried this place I've not liked it. My hubbie doesn't rate it either so it's not just me. The staff are great though... so it's not all bad, but each time i've ordered food it's been pretty underwhelming, especially given the price. Don't know if I'll try it again.... others seem to like it but maybe I'm banging my head against a wall and it's just not my thing and I need to move on (doublehands pointing at sky curling into fists as i slowly kneel).

Scott H.

Yelp

It is nice to see a London pub with a selection outside of Fullers, Greene King, Shepard's Neame, etc. Great beers you will have here. The venue is nice, dark wood and an outdoor beer garden. However, I hate places that overcharge and here, overcharge they will. The food is good, but grossly overpriced . . . especially for the not-central location. £12.50 for a cheeseburger. . . good, but come on [Gordon Ramsey's The Narrows "only" charges £9.50 for the self same cheeseburger]. Come for the beer, but beware your budget for the food, there are plenty of ethnic choices kinder on the wallet around.

Qype User (captai…)

Yelp

really nice pub, its my after work local. they have a decent selection of rotating ales and premium larger. the drinks are on the more expensive end of things for the area, but the atmosphere is nice and cosy and for the summer there's a generously sized beer gardenthe food is also pretty decent!

Qype User (badbid…)

Yelp

Nice bar, service was good. We went for the food though and that was nothing more than ordinary. Which is fine but it's not cheap either. It's not OTT expensive but definitely overpriced for what it is. Will go back to the bar though.

Qype User (scolli…)

Yelp

On of my favourite pubs around K Town. Can't fault the beers, food or staff. Enough said !

https://www.theinfatuation.com/london/reviews/junction-tavern

Junction Tavern - Review - Kentish Town - London - The Infatuation

https://onthegrid.city/london/hampstead-heath/the-junction-tavern

On the Grid : The Junction Tavern

https://www.theinfatuation.com/london/guides/london-restaurants-keep-discounts-going-into-september-eat-out-to-help-out

81 London Restaurants Keeping ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ Discounts Going Into September

"From Tuesday to Thursday throughout September, this lovely-looking Tufnell Park pub is offering 25% of all meals." - oliver feldman, rianne shlebak