Islington's acclaimed pub, The Pocket, is set to enhance its offering by opening a cosy upstairs dining room for a special culinary residency this March. The venue, which was crowned London's best new pub of 2025 less than a year after launching, will host the popular Big Plates supper club for four Saturdays.
A Month of Decadent Dining
The Big Plates residency will take over the first-floor space on March 7, 14, 21, and 28. Founded by chefs Josh Ebsworth and Hannah Larkin, whose experience spans venues like Cloth and Lucky & Joy, Big Plates is known for putting playful twists on classic dishes. Their philosophy is succinctly described as 'classics with cheeky riffs'.
For this month-long event, the chefs have crafted a dedicated menu celebrating 'powerful gravies and robust puddings'. The experience is a four-course feast priced at £40 per person, with lunch seatings at 1pm and dinner services at 7pm.
What's on the Menu?
The hearty menu promises to be a highlight for those seeking substantial, flavour-forward cooking. It begins with snacks such as pork and prunes, and confit leek with walnut and Worcestershire sauce.
Guests can then expect a starter of mince on focaccia topped with a brûléed egg yolk, followed by a choice of mains. Options include Piedmontese onions, a crispy pork schnitzel, and a comforting butter chicken pie.
The final, and perhaps most challenging, decision comes with pudding: a choice between a rich chocolate and stout steamed pudding or a generous slab of traditional banoffee pie.
A Pub with Principle
The Pocket, located at 25 Canonbury Lane, N1 2AS, has quickly made a name for itself with a straightforward ethos: 'No reservations. No green food. No shit beer. No terrible modern music.' While the pub's regular fare focuses on quality ales, ciders, and classic snacks like scotch eggs, the Big Plates collaboration suggests a temporary, delicious departure—vegetables might even make a welcomed appearance on the upstairs menu.
Tickets for the sought-after residency are available now, offering Londoners a chance to experience a unique culinary event in one of the city's most-loved new pubs.
