The Ale Trail: The Pocket (Islington)

Another trip into London for footballing reasons allowed me to spend a few hours in what has recently entered my shortlist of favourite pubs in the capital. This is not surprising as another pub on that shortlist is the Southampton Arms in Kentish Town and the Pocket was designed to resemble the former with almost eerie precision when it opened on the site of the old Four Sisters pub.

There are eight hand-pulls and the ale selection prioritises independent breweries, so the place is immediately ticking all the right boxes as soon as you enter. It's also dog-friendly (tick) and the service is first class (double tick). Having chosen an intriguing stout, the barman advised me it was nearing the end of its run and, aware it may not be at its best, offered it me for nothing if I chose to risk it.

Instead, I went for the Tring Mansion Mild, at 3.7% a steady option for afternoon drinking, followed by the Howling Hops Saddle Up and Kirkstall's Abbey Ale followed by a return to the Mild. We had a game of chess in there with a few pieces missing so, fuelled by the ale, it quickly began to resemble that scene from Bottom, before chatting with fans from the opposition, many of whom congratulated us on our choice of boozer given the wide range of options available in that part of town.

I can only advise that, if you're a stranger to London, you turn right out of Highbury & Islington station and keep going until you turn left on Canonbury Road when you'll see the pub standing unobtrusively before you. Go in. You won't be disappointed.