The Portland Public House bar in Kingsland. Photo / Richard Robinson
The Portland Public House bar in Kingsland. Photo / Richard Robinson
Address: 463 New North Rd, Kingsland Rating:
First drinks: We attempted to order a Bombay gin and tonic, as listed on the stained, dog-eared menu but were informed they didn't have Bombay Sapphire. No alternative was offered. So we returned to the tatty list, which had all kinds of handwritten scribble throughout, and opted for a roséand a beer.
The vibe is: Sticky, hot and generally unpleasant. None of the windows open and the air-conditioning either doesn't work or isn't turned on.
It smells of: A musty old junk shop. It smells damp and mildewy and is seriously off-putting.
On the stereo: Old-skool hip hop, including Public Enemy.
Room for improvement: We get the whole junk shop chic vibe but these guys seemed to miss the memo on upcycling. A bit of reupholstery and some Spray n' Wipe would go a long way.
The perfect spot: To avoid!? We tried to settle in and enjoy our drinks but the smell and the heat were so overwhelming, we necked them and ran.
Most redeeming feature: The decor is actually really cool - if only it were clean.
Our drinks at Portland Public House. Photo / Joanna Hunkin
