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An
uncharacteristically modest
David Knight |
A pub for 130 years and a listed building for the last quarter
century, the Auld Shillelagh is something of an institution on Church Street. Originally
the Horse and Groom, and known as the Jerry House after its 1950s German owner, the bar
was acquired by brothers Tomas and Aonghus Leydon in 1991.
The brothers, from County Roscommon, changed the name to the Auld Shillelagh and the
memorabilia on the walls celebrates their homeland. (For the uninitiated, a shillelagh is
defined as 'an Irish cudgel of blackthorn or oak'.) The pub was small, cramped even, and
you had to squeeze your way through to the toilet, from where you had to exit with caution
as the dartboard was fixed to the toilet door.
Then three years ago the bar was completely refurbished and extended through to a heated,
south-facing back garden, which was furnished with tables and benches, a small outside bar
and a video screen. The interior was also revamped, the toilets moved and a flat screen
digital TV was installed, excellent for watching the football. (The Observer and the
Evening Standard discovered this when they sent reporters to the pub to cover the Ireland
v Spain match in the World Cup finals.)
Meanwhile, ex-rock n' roll manager, club promoter and local businessman David Knight had
noticed the potential of the Shillelagh and he and the Leydon brothers set about expanding
the pub's cultural horizons. David believes the pub is 'all things to all people. The
physical dimensions long and narrow encourage conversation. You can join in the
craic and banter at the front, chat and watch TV in the back, or sit quietly reading in
the garden'. Described recently in this magazine as a 'Svengali', David prefers the modest
title 'Director of Communications'. He established 'An Evening with Frank' two years ago
(believing that Sinatra's appeal was across the generations) and the event was an
outstanding success, packing the pub with merry punters listening to Frank and watching
videos of his movies. We treat with scepticism David's claim that Mick Jagger was spotted
weaving his way to the Gents, but the event certainly pulled in people from across London.
Since then, David's inventive brain has produced several other theme evenings at the
Shillelagh, including Green Room hosted by Belinda, Other Brothers, Peel me a Grape, The
Sons of Lee Marvin, Music Temple and Democracy. We don't have the space to describe these
here and suggest you go along to experience them. He also recently set up the World Famous
Barfly Book Fair buying and selling quality second-hand books in the garden an
engaging notion, marred only by an extremely wet afternoon. For next year, the pub is
planning Stoke Newington's first Singles Evening, with cajun music providing a swampy,
steamy backdrop to the event, and An Evening with the Mob (self-explanatory).
Happy Fish-mas!
Tired of Turkey?
Try our wild Trout!
Find us on the High Street next to
the "Cookery Butchers", No:111
Telephone:
020 7923 9471
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With all this activity, including frequent DJ sessions, the
Shillelagh is now pulling in local bands, musicians, artists, writers and various other
creative people, as well as the long-established regular trade. During the day, the pub is
presided over by Vera (acknowledged by Tomas as 'the boss') and is one of the last
remaining true North London boozers, with the racing permanently on the TV (Ladbroke's is
only a minute away), while in the evenings the pub takes on a more cosmopolitan feel.
Seamus Ryan, an internationally renowned advertising and portrait photographer, is
currently displaying on the wall beside the bar an exhibition of some of the regulars in
the pub. Subjects include 'Pops' (a user of the pub for over twenty-five years and who
featured on our last issue's cover) and Mr Knight himself.
The Guinness has been described by Tim Bradford in his book Is Shane McGowan Still Alive
as 'the best in London' and has won two London-wide awards. If you're not a regular
Guinness drinker, don't feel that Vera or Tomas have forgotten you after you order a pint.
Good Guinness takes time to settle. The wine selection has improved dramatically over the
last couple of years, but there is no real ale the pub cellar is just not big enough.
Nor is there any food (aside from pizzas at the theme evenings) but, hell, you're in
Church Street.
And then, of course, there's the outside table, chained to the wall in case anyone nicks
it. It's the perfect place to catch the last rays on a summer evening and watch the
promenaders and general hoi polloi going about their business. www.theauldshillelagh.com
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