North London Food & Culture

Free Weekend? Explore Stoke Newington – and a Top 5 pub guide


Review: Black Pig & White Pearls

Simple presentation at the Black Pig.
Simple presentation at the Black Pig.
It’s on the part of Stoke Newington High Street that has long languished, neither quite clinging to Church Street’s well-heeled coat tails, or Dalston’s hipster keks. But it’s worth booking dinner here whether you live locally or not.

The interior is all flickering candlelight, reclaimed furniture and bare floors, a painting of the titular porker on one wall. Specials are chalked up on the board, and the Spanish waitress is friendly and clued-up.

Things we loved? A spectacular wild boar paté, rich and meaty on a still-cold spring evening; the bonfire smokeyness of the chorizo; the arroz negro, a deliciously black, garlicky squid in its ink; soft, sweet pan rubbed with tomato; a crispy-skinned pork belly with slices of apple. The only dud? A dish of octopus and chewy, cold hard pots. A rioja at £22 was perfectly unoaked; and the house tempranillo at £16 decent enough.


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We’ve been twice now and the food dazzled more on our first visit, an early Friday night, than a second, Tuesday dinner when they were accepting cash only. Presumably the head chef was off that night. Still, it’s an enviable neighbourhood eatery. Oh, and it was empty until around 9pm, which, we agreed, gave the impression of Barcelona, or perhaps Bilbao off season.
61 Stoke Newington High Street N16. Meal for two with wine around £60. Words by Stephen Emms

Top 5 Stokey boozers

Just say no to  Jagermeister: Auld Shillelalagh
Just say no to Jagermeister: Auld Shillelalagh
1. The Auld Shillelagh
A Church Street institution, this is a trad Irish boozer with the best bar staff in the area. You’ll find me sneaking in to watch any major sport events; warning though, a couple of drinks in here and it’ll be hard to leave. Guinness is of course the tipple of choice, not a place for wine enthusiasts and you’ll be knocking back the Red Bull and Jagermeister if you stay too long. Ouch. 105 Stoke Newington Church Street

2. The Shakespeare
Tucked away amongst the residential streets of Stokey toward Newington Green, with its original Victorian tiled exterior, this attracts an off-the-beaten-track crowd. Not a whiff of gastro about this place and if it’s food you’re after then order a take out pizza from next door and bring it in or while away a summer day at a table outside. Good range of lager and ales and great wine list for the missus. 57 Allen Road.

3. Jolly Butcher
N16’s very own real ale and cider house; like a much bigger, rowdier Southampton Arms. Stinks of chips but constantly sourcing a huge range of artisan and craft beers, specialist London breweries when they can. Packed to the rafters on a weekend evening but pretty quiet and relaxing for a Bloody Mary and roast dinner early Sunday lunchtime. And yes, they serve Camden Town Hell’s. 204 Stoke Newington High Street

Pleasant walled garden at the White Hart.
Pleasant walled garden at the White Hart.
4. White Hart
For its enormous un-pretentious beer garden, summer BBQs and bohemian vibe. Mixed crowd depending on the day of the week. Good range of beers and wines. Right in the heart of Stoke Newington High Street, and handy for Mint Clothing. 69 Stoke Newington High Street

5. The Prince
A nod has to go to the very local locals’ pub, The Prince, on Kynaston Road, for being the most kid-friendly pub around. Mrs V and I have been known to take the ankle-biters here for their early Friday night dinner, with us taking a breather with a pint in our very exhausted hands. Will Verdon

Main feature: Nikki Verdon


5 thoughts on “Free Weekend? Explore Stoke Newington – and a Top 5 pub guide”

  1. Terrible write up for Stokey , I suggest you go and see it for yourselves there are many other pubs all through Stoke Newington and they are all in the top 5., By the way did you know Abney cemetery was where Amy Winhouse filmed Back to Black , that’s worth a visit on its own

  2. Kentish Towner reviewing Stoke Newington………..Sigh, why did I leave that place, oh yes because it become so dull, are our editors now applying the same criteria, do I have to move again…………..

Leave a Comment

5 thoughts on “Free Weekend? Explore Stoke Newington – and a Top 5 pub guide”

  1. Terrible write up for Stokey , I suggest you go and see it for yourselves there are many other pubs all through Stoke Newington and they are all in the top 5., By the way did you know Abney cemetery was where Amy Winhouse filmed Back to Black , that’s worth a visit on its own

  2. Kentish Towner reviewing Stoke Newington………..Sigh, why did I leave that place, oh yes because it become so dull, are our editors now applying the same criteria, do I have to move again…………..

Leave a Comment

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The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.