Stapleton Tavern
Quick info
About Stapleton Tavern
On Crouch Hill in London, Stapleton Tavern is a pub split into a main bar and a separate dining and function room at the back. The bar is L-shaped with large windows and stools along the servery, while the back room holds a fireplace and memorabilia on the walls, alongside bric-a-brac decor and retro videogames throughout. Screens and a projector show live sport. The kitchen is run by Kamu, serving Sri Lankan dishes including kottu and lamprais, alongside fish and chips, and global beers fill out the drinks list. On Sundays diners choose between a traditional roast and lamprais. It operates on a walk-in basis, and a quiz runs on Thursdays.
Good to know
“Quirky pub with bric-a-brac decor and retro videogames, serves bistro fare and global beers.”
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention lamprais, kottu, sunday roast and fish and chips.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention lamprais, kottu, sunday roast and fish and chips.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers repeatedly single out the Sri Lankan kitchen now running inside the pub, with the kottu and lamprais drawing the most enthusiasm, described as authentic and flavourful, alongside curries and devils. The Sunday roast and standard fish and chips also get praise, with one diner calling the roast hearty and perfectly seasoned. Several note friendly, welcoming staff and a lively atmosphere for watching football and darts, plus quirky touches like the pinball machine and eclectic decor. A few practical gripes surface: one visitor found the kitchen had run out of several items by mid-afternoon, and another calls the back toilets atrocious despite liking the rest of the pub. One reviewer describes a severely overcrowded, overheated match-day event with no security present, though praising staff for coping, while stating the brewery had declined to fund extra security that day. Most visits close on satisfaction, with one diner recalling staff staying afterward to explain the story behind the Sri Lankan cuisine they'd just served.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers repeatedly single out the Sri Lankan kitchen now running inside the pub, with the kottu and lamprais drawing the most enthusiasm, described as authentic and flavourful, alongside curries and devils. The Sunday roast and standard fish and chips also get praise, with one diner calling the roast hearty and perfectly seasoned. Several note friendly, welcoming staff and a lively atmosphere for watching football and darts, plus quirky touches like the pinball machine and eclectic decor. A few practical gripes surface: one visitor found the kitchen had run out of several items by mid-afternoon, and another calls the back toilets atrocious despite liking the rest of the pub. One reviewer describes a severely overcrowded, overheated match-day event with no security present, though praising staff for coping, while stating the brewery had declined to fund extra security that day. Most visits close on satisfaction, with one diner recalling staff staying afterward to explain the story behind the Sri Lankan cuisine they'd just served.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“My first visit here and had a lovely time. Drinks were great and decently priced but I want to give a shout out to Rory for his excellent service, great conversation and for making it such a welcoming first time for me.”
- Google user
“🚇 Finsbury Park 🍺 £5.25 Amstel ❤️ A Solid Stroud Green Pub. The Stapleton Tavern is located on a busy junction on Crouch Hill at the edge of Stroud Green. The nearest Tube is Finsbury Park, it’s a ten minute walk to get here. The Stapleton Tavern is the historic home of The Corporation of Stroud Green, an historic drinking club dating back to the 18th Century. This is a large pub that has two separate sections, there is a main bar and a spacious dining/function room at the back. The main bar is ‘L’ shaped and is bright and airy as huge windows flood the bar with light. There is plenty of seating including bar stools that hug the long blue panelled servery. There are a couple of screens for live sport, a dartboard, table football plus a pinball machine which I haven’t seen in a pub for some time. The dining/function room is a large room complete with fireplace and an eclectic mix of memorabilia adorning the walls. The beer line up was good and included four cask ales. I opted for a pint of Amstel, my pint was very agreeable and cost just over a fiver. My mate tried the Rev James which he said was a lovely pint. There is a simple reasonably priced comfort food menu available, a couple next to us were having burgers which looked great, for comparison Fish & Chips costs £14, Roasts are available on a Sunday. We visited just after 2pm on a Saturday afternoon back in December. The pub was fairly busy with a dozen or so punters dotted around the pub. The atmosphere was great, there was a nice buzz around this high ceilinged boozer. The service was good, we didn’t have to wait long to be served. We plotted up at the front of the pub and watched a bit of the darts which seemed to have most punters engaged. As mentioned earlier the pub shows live sport on both Sky & TNT, if you want to test your general knowledge, there is a Quiz every Thursday. This was a nice visit, we really enjoyed our time here. This pub is a good all rounder with nice surroundings and a decent offering and price point. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 16.12.23”
- Google user
“Terrible organisation. Came for the arsenal match. Had people come and save seats, they had limited eating arrangements and food only available for those with seats! Lack of preparation at best. Its unlawfully busy today, so hot it definitely breaks some laws in terms of public safety. No security. Heard the brewery refused to pay for additional security and the poor staff were left to suffer. Its OVER 40°C in here. UNLAWFUL. Everyone is suffering, for what could have been a lovely event. This should have been risked assessed since Sunday. The risk was present and the brewery did nothing. No proactive quality from the company. I would say a audit is required to understand policies as a brewery. This isnt the only short cut they are taking. The No.1 rule is public safety first. Staff where amazing and hats off to all of them, I dont know how they managed to cope.”
- Google user
“I don’t usually write reviews but damm here’s one I would happily do over and over again. If you’re looking for the best pub dining experience in Stapleton, look no further than Stapleton Tavern. From start to finish, everything was absolutely 5-star quality. The food was outstanding — we ordered the lamprais (a traditional Sri Lankan delicacy), fish and chips, and a roast, and every dish was cooked to perfection. The lamprais in particular was packed with authentic flavour, making it a must-try for anyone wanting something unique and delicious. The fish and chips were crispy and fresh, and the roast was hearty, perfectly seasoned, and incredibly satisfying. The service was just as impressive — friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout our visit. The staff made us feel genuinely valued, which really elevated the whole experience. If you’re searching for top-rated restaurants in Stapleton, authentic Sri Lankan food, or simply a great British pub with excellent food and service, Stapleton Tavern should be at the top of your list. Highly recommended — we’ll definitely be coming back👏🏻”
- Google user
“Went to the Stapleton tavern to grab some drinks with frnds, to see they serve Sri Lankan food by Kamu! The food was so good as we’ve never tried traditional food like this before. After we finished the chefs talked more about the culture and the story behind the cuisine. Will definitely be going there again!”
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Bars near Stapleton Tavern
- Shaftesbury Tavern4.56180.4 miWheelchair accessible
thai food, sunday roast, etched mirrors and glass
- Big Red4.31,3720.9 miReservationsWi-Fi
pool tables, door refused entry (dress code), rude security/bouncers
- The Southampton Arms4.71,6921.7 mi
roast pork bap, cask ales rotating breweries, piano nights
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stapleton TavernWheelchair accessible | 4.4606 | — | lamprais, kottu, sunday roast |
| Shaftesbury TavernWheelchair accessible | 4.5618 | 0.4 mi | thai food, sunday roast, etched mirrors and glass |
| Big RedReservations · Wi-Fi | 4.31,372 | 0.9 mi | pool tables, door refused entry (dress code), rude security/bouncers |
| The Southampton Arms | 4.71,692 | 1.7 mi | roast pork bap, cask ales rotating breweries, piano nights |
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