Nicely placed on a quaint, secluded Islington backstreet, The Compton Arms is so named in tribute to legendary local brothers Lesley and Denis Compton, who both played football for Arsenal and cricket for Middlesex and England. This pub was also a regular haunt for English novelist George Orwell, who wrote about The Compton Arms in his essay, The Moon Under Water.
Once owned by Greene King, The Compton Arms is now a free house, and rotates a varied selection of drinks including local craft beers and ales as well as modern brews and traditional classics. The drinks list also includes plenty of variety on the cocktails front too, and there's a compact, carefully curated wine list on hand too. Inside, The Compton Arms maintains the feel of a quiet country pub, despite being just minutes walk from the humdrum of Islington's Upper Street, thanks to classic wood-panelling and wooden ceiling beams.
On the food front, The Compton Arms plays host to different residencies. The kitchen at the pub is currently looked after by Belly - a restaurant concept run by Reece Moore (who's previous experience includes Bao, Texture and Dabbous). The menu at belly changes daily, with dishes that make the most of the best produce available each day and allow those ingredients to shine in simple, pared-back dishes. Emphasis, naturally is on local British produce and dayboat fish. Dishes include the likes of spicy Thai veal salad with rice powder, onions, mint, chilli and lime juice, crispy beef salad with Dorma peppers, pickled chillies, puntarelle, carli sivri peppers, ginger and lime dressing, and brioche with citrus custard, clementine, orange and grapefruit.