Islington isn’t exactly wanting for good boozers. The fabulous Wenlock Arms and ultra-welcoming Britannia are both within spitting distance of the freshly-revamped William IV, which offers a more refined, gastro take on classic north London pub proceedings.
Head to the spacious ground floor for the kind of shabby chic backstreet experience you’ll also experience at places like the characterful Earl of Essex – but upstairs is where things get serious. The pub’s candle-lit Regency-era dining room, which comes with shades of the Quality Chop House, doesn’t just offer an excellent Sunday roast, but week-round dining that feels more King Henry VIII than William IV. We’re talking massive salty chops slathered with a Rorschach test of melted butter; an allotment’s worth of spuds with a creamy slab of plaice; meaty platters of perky oysters; chickpea panisse that are fatter than the fattest chips and William IV’s house speciality – malty and toasted Guinness bread which comes with a honking, ultra-savoury Marmite butter that looks not unlike a dollop of gelato. All of this to a sublime soundtrack of Scott Walker. Come hungry, and feast until you have to be rolled out of the joint like the decadent king you are.
Time Out tip
This might be a pub, but the wine list is epic and they also make a marvellous martini. The 2:1 Coastal Martini is a light-touch take on the cocktail classic, meaning you can get stuck into a bottle of lovely Savvy B after.