
Islington Sports Bar & Grill
Advertisements
Quick info
About Islington Sports Bar & Grill
Islington Sports Bar & Grill is an Arsenal-focused sports bar in London, set beside the Emirates Stadium at 274 Holloway Rd, with public transport links nearby. Nine big screens carry the matches, and Arsenal fixtures are the main draw. A pool table and a darts board give customers something to play between games, and sports memorabilia covers the walls. Live music gives the bar another purpose beyond the football. Drinks promotions run through the week. Food is not served on site. Match days bring a crowd that spills onto the footpath outside.
Good to know
- ParkingPaid street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Advertisements
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention arsenal matchday atmosphere, live music, sports memorabilia and many televisions.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention arsenal matchday atmosphere, live music, sports memorabilia and many televisions.
Customer Review Summary
Most reviewers come for Arsenal matchdays, describing an electric atmosphere, a friendly crowd and plenty of televisions for watching the game. Pre-match and post-match drinks come up repeatedly, along with live music that several say lifts the mood, a good beer selection and sports memorabilia on the walls. Positive reviewers call the staff friendly and quick with drinks even when the bar is packed, and one was too busy at the bar to try the food. Opinion on the staff is sharply split, though. Four reviewers report poor treatment: a bartender who sent customers out after a single drink, a manager who told a fan to move off the public footpath outside just before kickoff, and a customer who was asked to leave at half time unless buying an alcoholic drink, after spending the day on soft drinks and snacks. One also notes the bar has no food of its own, so pizza is ordered from elsewhere with a delivery fee.
Customer Review Summary
Most reviewers come for Arsenal matchdays, describing an electric atmosphere, a friendly crowd and plenty of televisions for watching the game. Pre-match and post-match drinks come up repeatedly, along with live music that several say lifts the mood, a good beer selection and sports memorabilia on the walls. Positive reviewers call the staff friendly and quick with drinks even when the bar is packed, and one was too busy at the bar to try the food. Opinion on the staff is sharply split, though. Four reviewers report poor treatment: a bartender who sent customers out after a single drink, a manager who told a fan to move off the public footpath outside just before kickoff, and a customer who was asked to leave at half time unless buying an alcoholic drink, after spending the day on soft drinks and snacks. One also notes the bar has no food of its own, so pizza is ordered from elsewhere with a delivery fee.
Featured reviews
- Fırat Kılınç
“First of all, the place does not have food but you order a good pizza from another place and they take delivery fee. The women bartender was so rude and after a single drink, she kicked us out. The customers laughed at her behavior because they could not understand what was going on with her. The atmosphere is also horrendous, the only positive thing is that if we were able to watch the match, people would be having fun and there were a lot of televisions. Would not recommend, do not go here.”
- Arsenal Lover
“Poor experience here, don't like the staff were rude to me and reading the reviews I probably will get a nasty reply from the owner. Wouldnt go again, lucky I know better Arsenal pubs.”
- Matthew Kenny
“**UPDATE 2ND** Wow how vulgar is this owner, cause im not a customer I dont have an opinion? talk about being self entitled. Hunny I can post many videos of all the non-customers outside the window, we both know you didnt tell them all to move and they were there all day for sure. So dont pick on me to move when im not customer and I wasnt do anything wrong, when you werent saying anything to other men to move who werent customers. All those drinks in pub must made you lose brain cells. Updated Atmosphere to 1 now for your rude hideous reply. Its not 1940 Germany anyone can have an opinion lmao **UPDATED** Just seen the owner response, I wasnt trying to get into the pub I was standing on the footpath, I wasnt annoying anyone I literally travelled from Ireland and back that day just to be there celebrate with Arsenal fans. There was a fight, the security guard broke it up and it wasnt the only pub in area not charging, I went to Nambucca ten times more polite. I aint muddying any waters. **ORIGINAL COMMENT** Not trying be a negative Nancy, big Arsenal fan and was loving my time celebrating Arsenal winning the league outside the pub but the woman manager telling me to move away just before Arsenal game was about to start when I was there outside for atleast 2-3 hours and I was on public footpath when there was many others doing same as me kind of ruined my mood, but 2 guys starting a fight were allowed to stay there (inside the pub), just doesnt seem right at all. Do better guys!”
- phoebe smith
“Was asked to leave if we wasn’t buying another alcoholic drink, I only came to watch the footy and was buying soft drinks with munchies the whole day. asked to leave just as football half time started unless I was buying an alcoholic drink… women manager is clearly judging your race when your in there. Disgusting behaviour would AVOID AT ALL COSTS”
- Emma
“Terrific atmosphere and a fantastic venue to watch Arsenal. Lovely staff, great management. My best place on Holloway Road ❤️”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“A vibrant Sports Bar adjacent to the Emirates Stadium & Holloway Road station with 9 big screens, pool table, darts board & an unbelievable array of sports memorabilia. Very reasonably priced drinks with numerous drinks promotions throughout the week. The atmosphere is friendly & welcoming #NorthLondonsPremierSportsBar #BestBoxingBar #No1ArsenalBar #ThePubThatKeepsGiving #No1ArsenalPub #FullyAirConditioned #NewlyRefurbed”
- Bar games
- Great beer selection
- Karaoke
- Live music
- Live performances
- Sports
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid street parking
- Good for kids
- Bar games
- Casual
Show more amenities
- Arcade games
- Beer
- Dancing
- Food
- Happy hour drinks
- Seating
- Highlights· 6
- Great beer selection
- Karaoke
- Live music
- Live performances
- Sports
- Trivia night
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Location
Sports bars near Islington Sports Bar & Grill
- Sway Bar3.72,3362.7 mi£20–30
poor crowd control at events, slow bar service, charging for tap water
- Dover Castle Bar4.22613.8 mi
hostel stay, dover combo, live football screens
- 3.8 mi£10–50
cricket batting nets, cricket simulators, smash burger
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islington Sports Bar & Grill | 4.3269 | — | £10–40 | arsenal matchday atmosphere, live music, sports memorabilia |
| Sway Bar | 3.72,336 | 2.7 mi | £20–30 | poor crowd control at events, slow bar service, charging for tap water |
| Dover Castle Bar | 4.2261 | 3.8 mi | — | hostel stay, dover combo, live football screens |
| Sixes Party Cricket, London Bridge | 4.4661 | 3.8 mi | £10–50 | cricket batting nets, cricket simulators, smash burger |
The 3 nearest sports bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Sports bars nearby
More to explore in London

468 places
Bars in London
Photo: Barrio - Shoreditch · 4.5 · 10,155 Google reviews
See all 468 bars in London
4.5 · Be At One - Regent StreetCocktail bars
49 places
4.5 · Hoop & ToyPubs
288 places
4.6 · Gordon's Wine BarWine bars
27 places
4.7 · Royal Nawaab PerivaleRestaurants
1,436 places
4.6 · L'ETO Wardour StreetCafes
324 places
4.6 · Nails&SpaBeauty
48 places

