Is there a law that states a pub at the southern end of Holloway Road must be decked out with as much exposed wood and ambient lighting as possible? The Horatia, House of Hammerton and The Lamb all bear more than a passing resemblance to one another, but each manages to carve out its own niche.
You never feel crammed in The Horatia; the pub takes a spacious approach to its layout and is all the better for it. There are some tables that can amply sit 15 or so, without issue. It's got huge sofas, from which you can kick back and enjoy whatever sport is on. As we learned on a Sunday evening watching a rerun of an old cricket game, there's always a match to be found.
The beer selection is solid, with a few craft beers, and there's a pop-up kitchen that regularly changes to keep you coming back.
There's also a nice selection of old stuff for those into their nostalgia. Be they clocks, sewing machines or super 8s, they all go a long way to completing the room. There's even an old school candelabra.
There once were more recent old things here, a few video game arcades, but alas they are now gone. Perhaps one too many punter spilt their beer on the joystick.
A quick word to the wise — as with all pubs in this area, expect it to be rammed on Arsenal match days.
Follow the Horatia on Facebook, Instagram (@thehoratia) and Twitter (@theHoratia).
