
The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
“Cheerfully decorated pub with upstairs theatre, British menu and speciality draught beer selection.”
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Quick info
About The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
Above the bar at The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar, a first-floor theatre stages plays and often experimental performances, and audiences can carry on the evening downstairs, chatting with the actors over a drink once the show ends. The Victorian pub sits on St Paul's Road at Highbury Corner, close to Highbury & Islington tube and bus routes, and it opens daily. Draught beer runs across cask and keg, Pravha among them, with wine and cocktails such as an Aperol Spritz or a Campari alongside a Guinness or a whiskey. A short British menu of eight dishes covers pub cooking including fish and chips. The interior is small, with tall seats and high tables for sitting and catching up, and dogs are welcome. It also serves as a match-day pub and fills up when games are on.
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Menu & Prices
8 dishes- Guinness
- Aperol Spritz
- 2 Pints of Prraha
- Whiskey
- Fish and Chips
- Campari
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention upstairs theatre performances, well-kept pints, match-day pub atmosphere and chatting with actors afterwards.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention upstairs theatre performances, well-kept pints, match-day pub atmosphere and chatting with actors afterwards.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Lovely place! Very efficient service. Nadine behind the bar was very welcoming and quick with the drinks!”
- Google user
“I really like this pub. The wine selection is great and the tall seats tables are a really nice place to sit and catch up with a friend.”
- Google user
“Nadine and Harley were such lovely bartenders who made me feel so welcomed! The bar is clean and such a good vibe for any occasion!”
- muna ibrahim
“nadine was so lovely and took such good care of us. what a joy to have people like this behind the bar. thank you for your hospitality and kindness. amazing pub!!”
- Google user
“🚇 Highbury & Islington 🍺 £5.25 Pravha ❤️ A Victorian theatre pub on busting Highbury Corner. . The Hen & Chickens is perched on a corner plot at busy Highbury Corner, Highbury & Islington station is just a short walk across the road. . The pub was built mid 19th century and is a handsome little bugger. The most talked about part of this pub is the large illuminated Bass sign which is a fantastic nod to this pub’s previous Charrington’s ownership. . I first visited this pub back in 1988 with my old man on the way to see The Arsenal. My Dads mate Pat ran this pub which was a spit and sawdust boozer back then. I remember leaning against the fruit machine and the bottom panel below the buttons fell against the back of my leg, Pat was fuming as it was the second time that month the fruity had been turned over, those were the days. . Today this pub is a more elegant affair and times have moved on. The decor here is contemporary with some nice decorative touches throughout. The lighting is modern and stylish, the fireplace and mirror Victorian and tasteful. The seating is primarily poser tables with some low level seating around the fireplace. Upstairs is a fringe Theatre which host shows, comedy nights and live music. . The beer selection was good with a couple of cask options for the connoisseurs. I opted for a Pravha, my pint was lively and reasonably priced at just over a fiver. There’s no food on offer here. . I arrived just after 5pm on a Friday and the pub was busy with the afterwork crowd in full swing. I couldn’t see anywhere to sit so I went oldschool and perched my elbow at the bar. The atmosphere was buzzy and upbeat, the soundtrack was 80’s & 90’s classics which set a nice tone here. . The Hen & Chickens is an enjoyable place to have drink and great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Highbury Corner. There’s a good atmosphere here and the booze is a fair price. Part of me wishes the pub was how it used to be but that’s me being nostalgic. A nice boozer this, well worth a visit. . ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 23/09/22”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Customer Review Summary
The upstairs theatre is what most reviewers come back for, describing performances as engaging and often experimental in an intimate setting, with one calling the comedy show "Yoga and sex...for women (over 40)" side splittingly funny and urging others to catch it. Close behind is the beer, praised as well looked after with pints tasting as they should, and one visitor notes the Pravha on tap; others single out the wine selection and cocktails. Several highlight the bar staff as friendly and efficient, with no long queues for a pint even when the pub fills up on match days. A performing company describes a warm community feel after staging a play on the first floor, and regulars mention being able to chat with the actors over a drink once a show ends. Also noted are the tall seat tables as a good spot to catch up with a friend, and one reviewer recalls a member of the bar team helping them with their jacket on the way out.
Amenities
- Has bar games
- Has toilet
- Serves beer
- Serves food
- Serves spirits
- Has live performances
Show more amenities
- Facilities· 4
- Serves alcohol
- Serves cocktails
- Serves wine
- Has great beer selection
Location
Bars near The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar
- Famous Cock Tavern4.22,0300.1 mi
bottomless brunch, booths with screens, Korean wings
- Islington Arts Club3.8900.1 mi£10–20Wi-Fi
rancid pints, rude bartender, indie music
- The Alwyne Castle4.32,5920.2 mi
miso salmon, miso chicken skewers, outdoor area with screens
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar | 4.5776 | — | £10–20 | upstairs theatre performances, well-kept pints, match-day pub atmosphere |
| Famous Cock Tavern | 4.22,030 | 0.1 mi | — | bottomless brunch, booths with screens, Korean wings |
| Islington Arts ClubWi-Fi | 3.890 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | rancid pints, rude bartender, indie music |
| The Alwyne Castle | 4.32,592 | 0.2 mi | — | miso salmon, miso chicken skewers, outdoor area with screens |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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