Ex punk paradise The Albion
A Georgian pub, opened in March this year, with an enormous 400sq.m walled garden, complete with a ‘barn', where the Sex Pistols and the Ramones once played. Interior and Exterior were designed by Shaun Clarkson (Odette's, The Club Bar & Dining, etc) at a budget of around £40k to create a country retreat in Islington.
"We weren't looking for a garden particularly,"
admits Simon Anderson, who owns The Albion, along with Chef Richard Turner. "But for our next one, we will only look for pubs with gardens."
The new design is based on photographs of the garden from the 1930s. It's been transformed from a concrete slab to a glorious English country garden fragrant with wisteria, honeysuckle, jasmine and lavender. "We're waiting for it to ‘green up'. If it looks good now, it will look unbelievable in five years."
Shade's been an issue since the start, as the garden's not yet fully-grown for shade. The solution? Eight striped parasols in deck chair fabric (from www.deckchairstripes.com) provide more shade than the original short term solution: comedy sombreros, borrowed from celeb neighbour Sean Pertwee, which – following a newspaper diary write-up – are all the rage.
Lighting comes from up and down lighters in the wall, and storm candles and lamps at the tables.
Tables are heavy wood, currently enjoying a season's weathering. Next year, they'll be zinctopped and painted.
Future plans include converting the sunken area planted with herbs and vegetables into either a dining ‘room' or three separately bookable ‘picnic' areas.
On the Menu Roasted Mackerel with Jersey Royals and Gooseberries; Shepherd's Pie with Pea Shoot Salad; Whole Roast Suckling Pigs.
A three tier barbecue by Blistering BBQ will serve steaks by weight.
Size 80 currently, but with a capacity for 120. 60 covers inside, 40 at the front
Where The Albion, 10 Thornhill Road, London N1. 020 7607 7450 www.the-albion.co.uk
