Period pub re-opened in 2001 after being closed for over 3 years and reverting to its original name. Built by the Drapers Livery Company it probably originally had three bars. It has been opened up around a central bar and three fireplaces, and has a light and airy feel. It has a mixture of pub furniture, dining tables and settees. Apparently, Islington Labour Party was founded here in an upstairs room, so now you know who to blame! The pub closed again in 2008 but reopened bought by Ben Maschler (son of restaurant critic, Fay Maschler), who has expressed a firm commitment to keeping the Drapers very much as a pub for locals, as well as one offering good food and wines. Certainly, the comprehensive refurbishment has been sensitively handled and the pub and upstairs dining room look all but the same as before. The intention is to continue with a policy of regular guest beers and there are three real ales on at present. Per their website, their dining room is available for private hire for parties of up to 50 people.
Historic Interest
Grade II listing:- Public house. c.1830. Stucco, roof of slate. Three storeys over basement, five windows. Ground floor decorated with banded rustication. Two flat-arched entrances at either end of facade, one narrower to centre; two flat-arched windows beteeen them, all with engraved glass of uncertain date and origin; fascia with console stops at either end with lion heads; all windows flat-arched, those to the first floor of piano nobile proportions with pilasters and cornice and round-arched archivolts, the tympana left plain; the two outer windows are broader and flanked by giant Doric pilasters, the three inner windows also flanked by such pilasters, and there are pilasters to the angles of this front, all carried up to a moulded parapet, for the second floor is slightly set back, with plain eared architraves to the windows; eaves cornice; hipped roof; corniced side stacks. The interior contains a bar front and cornice to the front room both of which may have been in the pub in the C19.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 1 regular beer.
Drapers Arms, London
from London micro breweries
Changing beers typically include: Redemption - Kazbek
Source: Local