I believe many OTFers should be familiar with the Hackney/Islington frontier area, from Hoxton north to Stokey. I'm looking for suggestions to fill the gaps in my birthday pub crawl itinerary (if I can persuade the missus to come with me and maybe a friend or two on a pub crawl instead of doing the usual civilised restaurant meal thing).

Idea is to start near my work and end up at the Prince George in Parkholme Road, Dalston, as that is not too far from my home and also my all-time favourite pub in the world.

Itinerary looks like this:

1. The Mitre (just off Hatton Garden)
2. The Jersulasem Tavern, Britton St, Clerkenwell, a fantastically characterful 18th century place with St Peters beers on draught
3. [PLEASE COMPLETE - ANYWHERE HALF DECENT IN GOSWELL ROAD/LEVER STREET AREA?]
4. The Wenlock Arms (just north of City Road, near the canal - gets 5 stars on fancya pint.com)
5 [PLEASE COMPLETE - ANYWHERE IN DE BEAUVOIR TOWN AREA?]
6. The Prince George

Edit: "Jerusalem" Tavern, to be more precise

For those of us who know the area, I guess The Rosemary Branch is the obvious choice for the De Beauvoir Town area. The food there is good, from what I remember.

Seconded on the Rosemary Branch. It was my local when I lived there. Lovely pub.

Thanks v much guys. Perfect location too.

I reckon it'll have to be

5. Rosemary Branch
6. Duke of Wellington, Balls Pond Road
7. Prince George.

Just need to choose no. 3. I'll probably end up going for that ex-Firkin pub "The Old Ivy House" on Goswell Road, but it gets a pretty lukewarm write-up so any other suggestions welcome.

Rosemary Branch suggestion nthd, but the Scolt Head on Englefield Road is a great pub too, and is more properly in De Beauvoir.

For 3, you want the Sekforde Arms or the Queen Boudicea.

For 3 you could always try the Old Fountain (www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/27/27118..._Fountain/Old_Street) as it's on the way to the Wenlock. Closed weekends but since you're off to the Mitre I assume this is a midweek crawl.

Between 1 and 2 there is also the Gunmakers which has improved enormously over the past year or so. www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/11/11582/Gunmakers/Clerkenwell

Between the Wenlock and 6, you could maybe consider the Charles Lamb:

www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/27/27839...Lamb/Angel_Islington

It's a bit gastro but has some good beers on.

Thanks everyone.

I've had to keep an eye on even spacing of the venues and no massive detours, as it's a long walk from Fleet Street to Dalston even in a straight line. But with your help, the itinerary is settled:

1. The Mitre
2. The Jerusalem Tavern
3. The Sekforde Arms
4. The Charles Lamb
5. The Wenlock Arms
6. The Rosemary Branch
7. The Scolt Head
8. The Prince George

Just a half pint in each of the first 7, so I don't disgrace myself (at least not before I'm safely ensconced in the George).

The Queen Boadicea's reviews are mostly pretty damning, so I'll give that one a miss.

Sorry for the tardiness but I really owe you guys a pub-crawl report from my 17 December outing after all your helpful tips. So here goes:

1. The Mitre. Would be really good if the clientele could be reduced by 30% or so. As it is, it's a bit of a crush. But a good-humoured crush by city standards, with good beer.

2. The Jerusalem Tavern. Been there a few times before, but somehow a big disappointment. I'm a big fan of St Peter's Brewery's output in bottles but they sure had managed to make the draft version pretty unappetising that night.

3. The Sekforde Arms. OK (apologies if that's too much detail)

4. Charles Lamb. Full of Islington twats. No outrageous behaviour you understand, just the sort of quietly smug beardy twats that you'd rather not spend your free time in the same pub with.

5. Wenlock Arms. Good pub, good beer, but it was quiz night.

6. Rosemary Branch. Excellent pub, bit empty and lacking in the cosy feel though.

And at that point we stopped. Certain of our party were a bit wussy, moaning about the December snow and cold, and it must be said that Wingco, whilst not one of the main culprits, did not lend sufficient support for the completion of the mission. So we never made it to Dalston.

Six whole half pints, Lord six sheets to the wind?

Not having a map to hand, I don't know if this is too far out for you, but the Pembury Tavern in Hackney is excellent — very nice range of Belgian beers, decent food, pool and billiards tables and usually surprisingly quiet even on a Saturday.