The Jolly Butchers

Our local. Always a great choice of beer. Fantastic food at good prices. The dog loves it so much so tugs to go there on every dog walk.

Today I ended up here with a friend, after a stroll in the park, luckily there were still few tables not booked, and was pleasantly surprised by the range of beers, wines and few ciders they serve. It is Sunday, so we had little choice but to go with the roast, which worryingly arrived after a couple of minutes of we ordering it. Chicken for him and beef for me, both served with roasted potatoes (a bit chewy), broccoli, carrots and green beans (barely cooked) and pickled red cabbage (?) with a good amount of gravy and a Yorkshire pudding. Only difference was a bit of stuffing in the chicken meal that left my friend quite unimpressed, he actually left part of the meat, potatoes and cabbage as well. My beef was well cooked but really thin sliced. All in all the portions were quite small and a bit too pricey and the quality not the best even if we were among the first to be there. The real hit have been the drinks and we enjoyed quite a few. I'll try it again during the week to see if their regular menu is any better.

Exploring different parts of our city with the crew from The Londonists is always a much anticipated and stimulating pleasure and, on one of their monthly nocturnal ramblings I came across this wonderful establishment in North East London.

I used to live over in Hackney, back in the day, but would often pop over to Dalston and Stoke Newington for Ridley Road Market, The Rio Cinema, and The Vortex and see bands play at Stoke Newington Town Hall. I would always drink at the Three Crowns or The Magpie and Stump (now The Lion) in Stoke Newington Church Street. I decided to walk up from Dalston Kinsgsland to see how the area had changed. If anything, Dalston itself had become even more Turkish since I was last over that way; there seemed to be a Turkish restaurant every few meters, I wondered how they all survive.

After a brisk walk in the chilling night air along what was once the Roman Road to Lincoln, I finally reached Stoke Newington; it was the first time I’d been to the area in almost 15 years and my god, what changes! Church Street was unrecognisable and completely transformed and now full of cute restaurants, artisan bakers, delicatessens, fine wine shops, boutique hairdressers in fact all that comes with urban gentrification. In my mind however, I always link gentrification with social cleansing and wonder what former residents the anarchist Angry Brigade, previously known as the Stoke Newington 8, would make of the area now?

The last hostelry on our grand tour of “Stokey” was the Jolly Butchers, a large warehouse style gastro pub with high ceilings and a bar lined with fabulous craft beers, ales, ciders and a massive selection of bottled beers from Belgium, Germany, USA and beyond. The place was heaving for a Tuesday night with not a spare seat to be had in the house. So many great beers to choose from but I opted for the Windsor & Eton Brewery Park Life, an excellent rich tasting ale and full of hoppy flavour and perched at the bar.

The Butcher's has an open plan kitchen in the far corner where you can see all the food being prepared, now being a tad tipsy I certainly needed a snack of some kind. I spotted the specials boards and saw a “Jolly Butchers Hot-Dog, Bockwurst sausage with sauerkraut and crispy onion with fries (£7.95).” While pondering this, an elegant waitress glided out the kitchen with a German Sausage Platter, Bockwurst, Bratwurst, Paprika and Beef Sausages with sauerkraut bread and a selection of mustards. (£11.95). Not only did it have a most enticing aroma, it seemed like a better deal too!

In less than 15 minutes the platter was served at my bar side perch. Perfectly cooked and presented this was a great treat for a slightly tipsy food journalist in need of urgent sustenance. Each mouthful was sheer delight; the paprika sausage in particular was my personal favourite; I could have eaten a plateful of those alone. The spiciness perfectly complemented by the excellent ale. The sauerkraut was a weeny bit dry, but equally full of flavour.

Making my way back to North West London on the Overground I couldn’t help wondering what the Angry Brigade would make of the area now; would they see the changes as bourgeois decadence? Or would they welcome the new independent businesses and downgrade themselves to the “Slightly Miffed off Brigade” either way I look forward to coming back to explore more eateries in Stokey.

This place has great ales first and foremost! Worth a visit by any ale fan. However the food was a let down for me. I went for a Sunday roast, which was tired and limp. It was a sloppy affair which didn't impress much. As did the cheeseboard. Piled in a tubberwear of pre cut slices, again tired and lifeless. However they seem to be rammed every Sunday so maybe I was just unlucky.

My mate and I were down from Birmingham for one night only. The pub was deservedly busy at 5pm on Saturday 04.10.23, but we'd booked a table. Both of us had the chicken curry & naan at £11.50. It was VERY tasty without too much heat. The sauce was superb and we were glad spoons were provided. We both had a few pints of some crackin' real ales. This was a great place for food and ale before going over the road to the Three Crowns for a gig at The Waiting Room below. MALKA was totally brillinat btw. Note for management: 'reserved' signs on tables could do with being removed asap after people leave. I saw a few people pop in and leave after thinking there was nowhere to sit.

Lovely Sunday roast. Not much for kids to do like colouring etc even though there is a kids menu, so take something to keep them amused with you. Other than that it was lovely. Staff were great and considerate.

Full review on IG: hungrybelly.blog Fantastic menu and choice of beers. This pub has very relaxed vibes. The food was superb. Booma never disappoint, we would highly recommend the ribs. Shout out to Ross & Owen. Attentive and generous!

Service was very fast, all staff lovely. Selection of keg beer from near and afar in excellent and a couple of cask offerings too, including a bitter. Their house wine/medium is very well priced. Really nice atmosphere, would very much recommend. They do Sunday roast very reasonably priced and have a pop up kitchen.

Large open space, great food. Great staff, friendly. The food is absolutely amazing, great quality, good price, good portion size and the flavours are just beautiful, suitable for all palates as it's not too spicy nor too over the top with the flavours, just complex and unique. Great selection of beers, both regulars and specials. Dog friendly! Every time I've been there's a few very well behaved dogs Update; still awesome