The Hare & Hounds
Quick info
About The Hare & Hounds
The Hare & Hounds occupies a three-storey townhouse on Upper St in Islington, with beer on draught, a wine list, and cocktails poured at the bar. Live piano runs by candlelight well into the night, alongside events and sports on the big screen. Sundays bring a roast served as two or three courses, with beef, veggie roast, or roasted pork belly, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, and carrot and swede mash, followed by desserts such as sticky toffee pudding or salted caramel tart. Burgers arrive on house-made buns with house hot sauce. It's a walk-in pub, with both inside and outside seating across the building. The top floor and an upstairs room are available for private hire, each with its own bar, subject to a minimum spend.
Good to know
“Our three-storey townhouse is the perfect setting to unwind over one too many drinks, tasty nibbles and lively conversation- a perfect hideaway for Islington. We have beer on draught, a thoughtfully curated wine list and excellent cocktails. Sundays are all about tucking into a delicious and comforting roast- the kind that makes a pub feel like home. As the night rolls in, settle in for live piano by candlelight—best enjoyed with a well-poured tipple (or two) well into the night... Wander about the townhouse and find your favourite corner to enjoy a drink, get a spot of work done, watch live sports on the big screen (bonus points if you're an Arsenal fan) or attend an array of events.”
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast beef, top floor private room, roasted pork belly and carrot and swede mash.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast beef, top floor private room, roasted pork belly and carrot and swede mash.
Customer Review Summary
The Sunday roast anchors most visits, with reviewers repeatedly naming the roasted pork belly, roast beef, and fish cake as standouts, alongside desserts like the rhubarb mess and sticky toffee pudding and starters such as the crab and sweetcorn chowder. Close behind, several describe hiring the top-floor private room for birthdays and an engagement party, praising the staff's helpfulness and the space itself. Wine and cocktails also draw praise from those just stopping for drinks. But the roast isn't universally consistent: one reviewer describes chewy beef and undercooked, sparse vegetables on a £140 bill, and another reports 45-minute waits per course and a manager who became aggressive when questioned about delays. A separate visitor called an £18 burger dry and overcooked. Elsewhere, one diner notes meeting the chef, who explained the burger buns and hot sauce are made in house.
Customer Review Summary
The Sunday roast anchors most visits, with reviewers repeatedly naming the roasted pork belly, roast beef, and fish cake as standouts, alongside desserts like the rhubarb mess and sticky toffee pudding and starters such as the crab and sweetcorn chowder. Close behind, several describe hiring the top-floor private room for birthdays and an engagement party, praising the staff's helpfulness and the space itself. Wine and cocktails also draw praise from those just stopping for drinks. But the roast isn't universally consistent: one reviewer describes chewy beef and undercooked, sparse vegetables on a £140 bill, and another reports 45-minute waits per course and a manager who became aggressive when questioned about delays. A separate visitor called an £18 burger dry and overcooked. Elsewhere, one diner notes meeting the chef, who explained the burger buns and hot sauce are made in house.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“The food is so good - met the chef who said everything from the burger buns to the hot sauce was made in house! I had the pork belly a the carrot and swede mash was absolutely delicious. The deserts are mostly gluten and dairy free - the cheesecake a must have!”
- Google user
“The burger was dry, overcooked, lacked squidge, with the lower half of the bun as thick as we two punters felt after paying £18 for it — daylight robbery. The small and forgettable caesar salad left us in no doubt that the grub in this place has a long way to go to catch with the quality of service (great!) and the atmosphere. We will not eat there again and had we not been rushing to a theatre show, we would have sent the food back.”
- Google user
“We visited this pub as a private hire for my friend’s engagement and it was incredible! The staff were so friendly, the drinks were flowing and we had the most incredible time. The drinks were strong and very delicious. A special shoutout to Steven, Preace, James and Rob for making the night so excellent.”
- Google user
“We booked the top floor of the Hare and Hounds for a 30th birthday party and it was a brilliant venue. The pub is beautiful throughout and it was perfect for a party that you want to feel special. There is a fairly high minimum spend, but we felt that this was a fair price for a very nice venue with our own barman. Victoria was so helpful and quick to respond throughout the booking process and lead-up and Stephen was absolutely fantastic on the bar on the night. Thank you so much for making it such a good do!”
- Google user
“Really disappointing experience. We came for the Sunday roast and ordered two courses each. The starters were fine, but very small and not particularly memorable. Unfortunately, the mains were extremely poor. The beef was chewy and difficult to eat. On the vegetarian meal, the “roast potatoes” were clearly not roasted at all, more like undercooked boiled potatoes lightly fried in oil. The greens were undercooked, and the vegetables were shockingly sparse: half a carrot, half a parsnip, and a tablespoonful of swede mash and cabbage, both served cold. For two people, with three drinks and one extra side, the bill came to £140, which made the whole experience even harder to justify. At that price point, we expected properly cooked food, generous portions, and a meal worth returning for. To add to the disappointment, the photos shown on their page are misleading and do not reflect where most diners will actually be seated. The images show the upstairs private dining areas rather than the standard dining space. The staff were pleasant and polite, but sadly that was the only positive part of the visit. Overall, very poor value for money and not a satisfying meal.”
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Bars near The Hare & Hounds
- The Pocket4.82540.1 mi£10–20
sausage rolls, cask ale selection, record player playing vinyl
- 0.3 mi£10–20
upstairs theatre performances, well-kept pints, match-day pub atmosphere
- The Marquess Tavern4.38580.3 miWheelchair accessible
sunday roast, yorkshire pudding missing, wine selection
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hare & HoundsWheelchair accessible | 4.682 | — | — | sunday roast beef, top floor private room, roasted pork belly |
| The Pocket | 4.8254 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | sausage rolls, cask ale selection, record player playing vinyl |
| The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar | 4.5776 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | upstairs theatre performances, well-kept pints, match-day pub atmosphere |
| The Marquess TavernWheelchair accessible | 4.3858 | 0.3 mi | — | sunday roast, yorkshire pudding missing, wine selection |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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