The Woodbine

I visited recently with a friend for some food, and the Thai served here came recommended. The interior is long and relatively narrow, with dark painted walls and a dark stripped wood floor. The effect is to look very gloomy as you walk in, until your eyes adjust. There are, as others have said, lots of tables. The food was fine, although there was no real ale on our visit. Bar staff were OK too, but my main gripes were that the music was a bit intrusive and the tables had obviously not been wiped for a while, and I don't like surfaces with gloopy blobs on them if I'm about to eat. All in all, it's OK, but I don't feel like I want to rush back.

The Woodbine is on the Blackstock road near Highbury, the old Arsenal stadium. Apparently it used to the local scummy place where kids could served. Now, however, it is rather flash. It is a decent sized pub with a very well done. There are handsome varnished floors, gilded mirrors and an attractive bar. There a mix of tables; ranging from sofas, low-slung tables, to chairs and tables for sitting and eating. They have a good range of beers and a gastro pub menu. The food is very well done and as a place it is perfectly suited for daytime hanging out. As one might expect from its location they show football matches. It is a good, relatively genteel place to watch games, particularly if you are an Arsenal fan.

The Woodbine is my favorite local pub...hence the 5 stars. It has had a face lift in recent years and damn does it look good...years younger and way classier! I love the mix of people that you get in here..everything from greasy rockers to hipsters and ladies adorned in fur...i've even spotted a granny or two in there. Everyone feels welcome and wanted here which is what gives it such an edge to all of the other pubs in the vicinity (I can't quite say the same for The Bank of Friendship but maybe that's just me) Their beer, wine, cider and spirits selection are pretty well stocked and there's always good music playing. The bar folk are very friendly and they'll even let you do cash back on their credit card machines, love that! If you're in the area, definitely stop in here for a drink...word has it that Dermot Whatshisface from XFactor stops in here! It's not quite like bumping into George Clooney or Robert De Niro, but I think Dermot is as hollywood as we may get in Highbury....for now!

I like this pub and the staff has always been friendly with us. The place is great to meet up with friends and spend few hours between a beer and another. Just wanted to confirm that we still like the place and that we love the beer of the month selection. On top of that, don't miss the quiz night and the delicious Thai food.

Wow, I first reviewed the Woodbine three years ago! That seems crazy. ANYWAYS, enough of my old woman mutterings. I'm upgrading this place to five stars. We've lived in the neighborhood for quite a while now and this continues to be our go-to local. It has only gotten better since we've been there and now serves Camden Town Brewery and Meantime on tap. Since my initial "wait, they have TVs?" comment, I have now watched several Six Nations matches, Arsenal games, Olympic events, and even watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony with a room full of warm-hearted strangers at the Woodbine. When we leave town, this will be one of the places I miss the most.

Love this place. It's got nice decor and a good atmosphere, although I'm not keen on the graffiti above the bar. The outside smoking area is nice and sheltered, meaning it's not too cold even though there are no heaters. The pub quiz on a Tuesday is nice and lively, but it's certainly not dead other nights. Not that fussed on real ale so nothing to say about that, but the beer is fine, vodka, fine, wine, fine. Thai food very good and good value. All in all, my favourite pub in Highbury and a million times better than most of the old man boozers.

If I'm not at the Swimmers at Grafton Arms on a Friday night, then I'm here. The Woodbine is a great little pub, with a good selection of beer, wines and spirits. A good jukebox, which they have here, is actually quite hard to find, so I always make sure I put on a few tracks when I pop in for a pint. As the previous poster stated, there are a lot of tables, but I don't think it's necessarily because they're focusing on food. After all, a pub needs tables, right? I'd be peeved if it was half empty and I'd have to stand! Plus, the layout of the place (it's fairly narrow with pillars) means that big comfy sofas, apart from the ones at the fron, are out of the question. However, the food is good here. A lot of pubs have jumped on the Thai bandwagon, but the grub here is much the same as any other good Thai establishment. I don't understand why anyone would be warned off it. Maybe that person just doesn't particularly like Thai - but it's certainly not an accurate reflection of what's on offer here.

Now this is a very pleasing establishment, a pleasent atmosphere and good music. There is a good selection of drinks and this includes some real ale, a fine pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord. A lovely heated and covered garden is a fine addition for smokers, with plenty of seats for hangers-on. The Woodbine also serves Thai food, I've not tried it and indeed, been warned off it, but the patrons eating when I was there appeared more than happy. The staff are quick if a little surly. The real problem with the Woodbine is possibly a personal one, it's clear that this place is focussing on food; there are just so many tables in the place. When the place is busy it's not easy getting around, you'll also be hard pushed to get a seat; when you do it's pretty cramped. It's a good looking place though, and essential in an area with so few good drinking spots. Worth a visit.

I'm a big fan of The Woodbine. The staff are friendly, they have events every now and again (Real Ale festival, recently) and a good selection of tunes on the jukebox. The thai food is good and decently priced as well, for when you just can't be arsed to cook for yourself. Used to be one of the darkest places I've ever drunk in, but the recent refurb lets a bit more light in these days. Can't decide if that's a good thing or not! Gets busy on Fridays and weekends and not a whole heap of room to manoeuvre but that's just one of those things. Perfect for having a low-maintenance drink with friends.

Recently under new management and re-decorated - lost some of its atmosphere and not quite as busy as it was. Reasonable selection of beers and good music. Young bar manager a bit of a smart arse - with a sarcastic manner - could put off some customers. However probably the best pub in the immediate area.

Great local pub, classic pub inside, nice staff, the other locals are good people, tasty/reasonable thai food and a 'secret' smoking area out back, with a awning and lots of heating! great pub for spending time with mates chatting (all afternoon!)

There is a nice warm feeling to this place. It would probably be a even more pleasant experience sans the quiz that was going on. There were 3 beers available, including Redemption Pale Ale and the unusually nice Caledonian Trick or Treat.

I haven't tried the food here, but it is a nice upscale pub for socialising. Probably my favorite pub in the immediate vicinity--it feels like an old pub rather than an ultra modern bar, there wasnt a strong sports/TV presence, the music was decent, and it didn't feel like an old-man pub. Update: the place is really dark inside. So dark that I had a real problem reading the thai menu. I finally got to eat here and had a very reasonable pad thai for not too much money. It's still a nice place to meet friends for a pint, but I wish they would turn up the lights a bit more so that you are not bumping into furniture on the way in. They also cram the tables a bit too tightly together.

This is a nice pub, certainly the best on Blackstock Road. Couches, dark wood, decent Thai food and a great jukebox

A friendly local pub with a good selection of beers. Perfect place for a couple of drinks, casual conversation, in a couple or with a group. Very chilled. 10 minute walk from Finsbury Park tube - and worth it. Quick food service, though if you want something a little more special head on to Garufa for a steak up the road (warning: Chelsea prices!)

This place has class character and style. It is busy on most nights and with good reason. The staffing is good and efficient and the range of beer is great. The owner recently acquired "The Ban of Friendship" around February 2014 which has since seen a vast improvement.

I am fairly new to Highbury and have to say I was pretty disappointed with the local pubs. The Woodbine is an oasis in the dessert! It's not the biggest pub but serves better beer than most with some interesting spirits. It seems to always have people in it and there is a good atmosphere. They have a Thai Kitchen which is clean and tasty whilst being extremely good value. They do Sunday roasts too! By far the best pub in Highbury.

This place looks good - decent decor - good jukebox - good clientel. great Thai food. But the staff with their sour & miserable attitude sadly overclowds anything positive about this bar. I have been going for years as it is my local. Last night I was refused entry - the Barman actually saw me and my girlfriend getting out the taxi and approaching - (we were specifically coming to his pub) - we were greeted at the door by a bouncer saying that we could not enter as the place was too busy - which was such a blatant insult (and lie) as we could see thorugh the large windows that the bar was only half full. Only last week we were there chatting to staff and eating the great Thai food. This bar is a business - like so many institutions these days - the staff are cold, distant and unfriendly. I am very offended to be refused entry to a bar that I have gievn loyal custom to over many years. If you value a bar that treats loyal long term patrons with even the slightest semblance of respect - then avoid the Woodbine and head to the Bank of friendship across the road.