EVERY IRISH PUB IN LONDON 2026 UPDATE:
Firstly, almost 10 years in, here is my map to Every Irish Pub in London- Please, let me know if any are missing!!!!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PwKXf7dzQ9UFJT7H6
As we reach the halfway point of the year of our lord 2026, as is customary, here are the London Irish Pubs visited so far this year. As always, an eclectic mix- cocktail bars, local haunts and chilling chain pubs. Follow on Instagram for more- https://www.instagram.com/publicanenemy/
1. THE ARCHWAY TAVERN, ARCHWAY
You dont need fun to have alcohol!
Now, I do do dry Jan, not just for the sense of self satisfaction but also for the smug superiority. But it’s at this time we must think of the pubs. On a walk Upper Holloway, I spy a chilling sight: the shell of legendary Irish Pub Mother Red Cap, still abandoned n’ boarded up, a telling reminder of the impermanence of the Irish Pub.
These parts used to be prime Hiberno-central, & we’re here at Navigator Square, named after the navvies – Irish laborers who built this city, not on rock and rolll, but on heaps of porter At the top or the square is the Archway Tavern. A listed building, dating back to 1814 ,The Tavern was said to be a rowdy hotbed of republican sentiment back in those days. And while those men had comitted themselves to the establishment of a 32 county republic , I have committed myself to a 31 day DryVeganuary. So who’s the real hero? Imagine trying to explain Dry Veganuary to the hardened London Irish Boozers of 1970’s Islington.
The pub has an additional claim to fame, appearing on the cover of the 1970 Album Muswell Hillbilles by the UK’s most underrated band, the proto-gallagher brothers of the Kinks. The Archway Tavern is a listed building , with its own wikipedia page so you know its bona fide. Inside , the pub is a nice spacious lounge, tables, pillars, giant mirrors and a distinct alternative bent. Small features alluding to its heyday are still intact- firstly on enterance is a beautifully tiled mosaic of the tube roundel accompanied by a Toucan. I contemplate not stepping on it, in the same way footballers dont want to step on the club logo on the grasd out of reverence. Games gone.
Outside on the western wall, a mobile featuring a tradesman being harassed my a menagerie of cartoon animals adds to the golden age of Guinness ads.
What of the modern day? The Archway Tavern still has nods to its Irish roots- the cead mile failte sign behind the bar. They host regular Irish language nights as well. Good stuff
2. THE HIGHGATE INN, HIGHGATE
After a brief Jan Hiatus, its back once again like some sort of renegade master as we have Irish Pub of the Week-📍 the Highgate Inn
The cosiest spot in town and a great rarity- a pub that only gets going at 11:00 . Having arrived at 8, we basically had the run of the place, including their secluded grotto bit. We had a fine time there to celebrate the end of Dry Jan and the anniversary of my nativity. And what have we learned from both? I Learned that taking a break from drinking is nice, but drinking is also nice, so no profound spiritual awakenings. Maybe next year…..
The Highgate Inn has the finest range of Taytos ever seen in London town, a wood fire and the landlady knew my friend from back home in Kerry, all of which mean this is proper Irish pub of note. Handy Defribulator outside as well. Sláinte.
3. The Whiskey Tumbler, Brixton
Its now 9 years of trying to visit every Irish Pub on Earth. You’d think the novelty might have worn off as you trudge around the arse-end of the South London on a dreary Tuesday afternoon, surely. But , no, on the contrary- “Strange Enlightenments are vouchsafed to those who seek the higher places”
Each journey is a voyage into the unknown, you can never be certain what your gonna get in terms of Irish Pub. Therein lies the wonder. In this case, I ‘ve reached the end of the line, as we rock down through Electric avenue in Brixton. The Whiskey Tumbler beckons you inside , literally, with its Cead Mile Failte sign among the greenery. Inside, you will be very Failte’d, as this is a lovely little spot, specialising in Whiskey and cocktails but also doing a fine pint of Murphys. Big fan of both the decor & , the service, and on a dreary Tuesday, with candles lit, its a spot you dont want to leave. They have a happy hour £5 pint so I spend 2 very happy hours sheltering in this fine interpretation of the modern Irish Boozer. Different, while at same time the comfortingly familiar.
4. Moyletts, Clapton
I used to live near Clapton during Covid, so at that time your neighbourhood became the limits of your entire world. I got to know Clapton’s fine range of varied boozers, from the cavernous wonder of the Clapton Heart, to the scuzz of Blondies, to the unfettled madness of whatever Biddle Bros is.
Now, to add to this illustrious list is Moyletts. A smooth, unshowy lower case irish pub, classy in its design with a laid back lounge aesthetic. Contained in one atmospheric salon, the lighting is subdued, the crips Hibernian and they bring over your pint of guinness, a sure fire way to win over any visitors. They may be an irish pub, sure, but this ain’t no Randy Leprechaun, I can tell you. Fits in nicely amongst the existing clapton offerings and a fine addition to the wide and varied London Irish Pub landscape
5. The Welcome Inn, Wood Green
To the land where cash is king and a £5 goes a long way. I travel to North London in search of shelter from the storm and excellent value.
After some more salubrious pubs in Brixton and Clapton, it’s a more homely affair in the Welcome Inn. Part of the genre of pubs that are built into shops, the welcome inn is no’-frills pintage for £4.40, football on the tele and Elvis posters.
The excellent value extends to the Juxebox, where you get free Garfunkel with every Simon hit. The décor is studied non-chalance- random art , carpet and covid-19 government advice still prominent.
I always come into these type of pubs feeling like an undercover narcotics agent but end up wanting to stay ..
Taste the Savings at the Welcome Inn
6. The Fox, Dalston/ Hackney
Rejoyce as this once derelict corner pub is reborn. They’ve done a lovely job with this one, the complimentary taytos a furhter touch of class.
Guinness was delightful at £6. A fine smattering of rare wall art ranging from Guinness astrology ads from the 80’s to tasteful buckfast murals. Like it.
Like its namesake, the urban London fox is a resourceful and resilent beast. And this boozer will undoubtedly prove likewise.
7. The Bricklayers, Putney
All of the best pubs, I find, require a bit of a pilgrimage. The Blythe Hill Tavern. Skehans. The auld shillellagh in the transport black hole of Stoke Newington. A couple of weeks ago before Paddys Day, we dropped in to see the much heralded Bricklayers Arms. Word round the campfire was that this was the real deal, a pub worthy of the fame bestowed on it from those in the know. The Bricklayer’s was built-up, for sure.
Pleasingly located at the end of a street, hemmed in the corner, it is a place of absolute 200% 24 carat solid gold silver service mixed metaphor brilliance. It’s futile to argue where, if any pub, does the Finest Guinness in London, but know this: this pint was as good as any had on a recent trip to Dublin. Look at the pictures and judge for yourselves.
As a final flourish, pedants may question if it is actually Irish. So the presence of the signage as Gaelige cements the Bricklayers as the cornerstone of Finest Irish Pubs in London and indeed globally.Even worth going to Putney , and I don’t say that lightly
This is a pub for the ages. If you build it, they will come.
8. The Peacock, Stepney.
Peacocks are class. When I was a kid, there was this multi-milliinaire who had a big aul house near where we lived. He kept a flock/ herd of them, and they could be found wandering around the place adding a touch of glamour to North Kerry where ever they strutted their stuff.
Similarly l, this pub has undoubtedly added some panache to East London. From the people who brought you the Bricklayers, so you can rest assured the pints are of premium quality. Also have Beamish if you’re into that kind of Cork thing. See evidence attached.
This is a beautiful local pub, a little out of the way, sure but when the pints are this good, why not? As befitting the bird on which it is named, its a beaut- the gold and green tiles and the vintage Guinness taps.
(Before anyone comments , yes, I am aware the taytos are the Northern Irish ones, yes yes yes. But hopefully my stance on Crisp based sectarianism is clear.)
9. The Red Bull, Peckham
In Celtic Irish Culture, there was nothing more valuable than a load of cattle . Epic wars were sparked over the pilfering of prize livestock , most famously in The Tàin, the Irish Odyssey. As I live in Walthamstow, the trip to Peckham was a bit of an odyssey in itself. But for a different sacred cow.
The Red Bull is a boozer with character that comes from being an independent pub. Alongside a stunning tiled mural depicting a regal scene, lovingly preserved, you also have random stickers from Father Ted, including the best one-off character, Fr Fintan Stack, with the motto I live by:
“I’ve had my fun, and that’s all that matters”
The pint is one of the best in the South East – prove me wrong, and if your heart desires more, they have some fine fodder in the shape of scaldylondon , alas I did not partake cause I had the dinner waiting at home, a decision I sorely I regret as I had the pleasure to watch the pub’s equally epic hot wings challenge, living vicariously through the brave souls who ploughed through the gauntlet of spice and scoville.Very enjoyable, and I do say that with full disclosure that they gave me a free pint , cause they’re sound. No Bull.
10. The New Moon, Turnpike Lane
People have little idea of the depths of research needed to visit Every Irish pub on Earth. Even in the age of AI , no one can say for certain how many Irish pubs there are in the fine city of London.
Luckily, your humble narrator has the trained eye of a seasoned pro , so it was on I spotted the telltale Cead Mile Failte sign from atop the 123 bus on the way to Wood Green. Duly noted.On my visit to The New Moon, the day was brilliant sunshine, totally obscured once inside the confines of the new moons cavernous interior. Dark side of the Moon etc….
On ordering the usual, It was to my absolute surprise that the barman gave me back a full pound coin from a crisp fiver I took out cause sometimes these spots prefer cash. £4. The cheapest I have ever had. Cheaper than a recent flat white at cafe Nero, poured by a harried and disinterested Euston barista.
The New Moon is a contradiction: numerous St George’s flags alongside signs in Irish and pictures of Croke Park. To add to the confusion, by the pool table is a wall mounted public defibrillator. Presumably for patrons reacting to their low low prices.
As salty as they come, the New Moon has risen in my estimation.
KERRYMAN ATTEMPTS TO VISIT EVERY IRISH PUB ON EARTH : Psycho-geography, Anthropology, Pints. 