The Earl of Essex is an independent beer focused pub at 25 Danbury Street in Islington. Established in 2012, it combines an air conditioned bar with a substantial garden, creating distinct spaces for a quick pint, a full meal or a longer group visit.
The daily food menu is designed to match the pub’s changing beer selection rather than operate as an afterthought. Seasonal snacks and sharing plates sit beside more substantial choices, allowing diners to build a meal around several flavours or choose a single main.
Sunday has its own roast menu, giving the kitchen a traditional weekend focus. Vegetable dishes are included alongside meat based pub food, helping mixed groups find suitable choices while keeping the menu grounded in relaxed neighbourhood dining.
Local and international beers rotate regularly across cask and keg lines, encouraging repeat visits and comparison between styles. The Earl of Essex suits curious beer drinkers who also want a proper meal, as well as local diners drawn by the garden and easy atmosphere.
Address: 25 Danbury Street, Islington, London N1 8LE, England
The Earl of Essex Menu
Snacks & Picky Bits
MAIN MENU ONLY ON SUNDAY X
Whitebait & tartare sauce
Jalapeño bites with blue cheese dip
Beer battered pickles with vegan aioli
(Vg)
Chips
(Vg / Gf)
Truffle & parmesan arancini
Parmesan chips with truffle mayo
Confit garlic hummus and homemade flatbread
Starters
Jalapeno bites with a blue cheese dipping sauce
(v/gf)
Beer battered pickles with smoked paprika aioli
(vg / gf on request)
Whitebait & tartare sauce
Confit garlic hummus and homemade flatbread
Veggie scotch egg
(v)
Mozzarella fries with a smoked paprika aioli
Truffle & parmesan arancini
Burrata with flatbread & salsa Verde
Sides
Parmesan chips with truffle mayo
Chips
(vg/gf)
Homemade Curry sauce
Sandwiches & Baps
Roast Beef Sandwich, lettuce, horseradish
Chip butty, curried beet ketchup
Bhaji bap served with mango chutney & vegan mint yoghurt
Breaded fish finger bap with lettuce, tartare sauce
Chicken Caesar bap with bacon, baby gem
Mains
Classic Wagyu cheeseburger served with burger sauce, lettuce, pickles and chips
Homemade vegan curry & rice with chickpeas, cauliflower and lentil
(vg/gf)
L & G Helles battered fish & chips, minted mushy peas, tartare sauce
Halloumi burger, curried beet ketchup and chips
Classic Caesar salad with chicken, anchovies and homemade croutons
Desserts
Sticky toffee pudding & ice-cream
Cocktails
BLOODY MARY
Vodka, tomato juice and our house spice mix, 100% vegan
LONG ISLAND ICE TEA
Vodka, Tequila, Triple Sec, Tequila, Gin, White Rum, fresh lime, topped with coke.
PALOMA
Calazal blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, grapefruit soda and salt
NEGRONI
East London gin, Campari & Cocchi di Torino vermouth and orange
Beer & Cider on Tap
LOST AND GROUNDED – HELLES – LAGER
Solid. Tasty. Lager.
ASAHI SAPPORO & HOBDAY – LONDON BLACK – PORTER
“Have you got Guinness mate?” No, this is better.
SAINT MONDAY – APA – AMERICAN PALE ALE
Juicy with balanced bitterness & extra hop intensity. G/F
SAINT MONDAY – WEST COAST IPA – WCIPA
A heavy and fruity WCIPA.
Bottles & Cans
Augustiner – ‘Helles’
The original ‘Craft beer lovers’ lager
Garage – SOUP
one of the very best hazy boys.
Ayinger – ‘Hell’
Big staff favourite, real nice.
Tegernseer – Spezial
Classic and beautiful.
Wines
COLORI D’ITALIA MALVASIA DI PUGLIA – ITALY
Subtle and delicate fragrance with hints of exotic fruit. Dry, tangy and well balanced with good acidity.
LA MÉCANIQUE DU VIN VERMENTINO – FRANCE
Aromas of citrus, ripe peach and white flower notes. The palate has all the fruits – dry and refreshing, but with a lovely rounded creaminess.
ALBARIÑO – ALBARIÑO – SPAIN
Spanish wine of the year and you will see why once you try. Beautiful minerality and expressive palate.
ESCAPADA VINHO ROSE – PORTUGAL
Pale, pink rose, with redcurrant & raspberry pip aroma & ripe strawberry on the finish. Expect delicate, fresh, red berry fruits.
Sharing Bottles
3 FONTEINNE – OUDE GEUZE
A blend of 1,2 and 3 year old lambics fermented for 6 months in the bottle for its iconic champagne like spritziness.
CANTILLON – GRAND CRU BRUSSELSA
Multiple beers blended together to create bold vintage lambic with a wine like taste.
TILQUIN – RHUBARB A L’ANCIENNE
Spontaneously fermented in the bottle using a whopping 240g of fresh rhubarb per litre of lambic. Expect big hits of rhubarb with mouth-watering sourness.
CANTILLON – GEUZE
The quintessential lambic, fruity and slightly acidic.
Low & No
Always something on Draught! Check the board to see x
Crodino
Crodino, a slice of orange
Real – Sec
Alcohol – free sparkling white wine.
Pathfinder Spritz.
Alcohol – free spritz, like a Botivo but better!
Heaps – Normal – A/F Lager
Shots
PICKLE BACK
Shot of Evan Williams with a shot of house pickle juice
FERNET BRANCA
Also know as the bartenders handshake, bitter, Italian Amaro
DEVILS BOTANY CHOCOLATE ABSINTHE
A truly irresistible mix of chocolate and absinthe