What: A new gastropub that’s taken over what was previously The Engle Field in London’s Islington. Located on Essex Road, The Brave positions itself as ‘a fresh take’ on the British pub.
Who: The Brave is the latest venture from chef and restaurateur James Cochran, who closed his flagship Islington restaurant 12:51 in April last year. Cochran, who is of Scottish and West Indian heritage, has had an impressive career that’s included stints at The Ledbury and The Harwood Arms. As well as 12:51, he’s led several other restaurant projects including James Cochran E3 in The City and neighbourhood-style bar and fried chicken joint Valderrama’s, both of which are now closed. For The Brave, Cochran has partnered with the Seven-Eighths Group, the operator behind The Hemingway and The Hunter S pubs in East London.
The food: Cochran’s menu takes cues from both his culinary career and his mixed Scottish-Caribbean family heritage. The main menu features a selection of small plates with options including cheese doughnut with walnut ketchup (£5); Scottish razor clam ceviche with quince, bacon and pine nut (£8); and crisp mutton belly with pickled Cornish mussels and butternut squash (£12). There’s also a large sharing platter featuring roast haunch of Aynhoe venison with venison sausage, slow braised venison pie, neep and tattie hash browns, xo sauce, grilled hispi cabbage, roast onions and chicory salad (£40 per person). A separate menu of bar snacks includes a jerk spiced chicken scotch egg with scotch bonnet jam (£8.50); and a smoked eel, bacon and cheese toastie with bread and butter pickles (£10). The pub also offers a Sunday roast menu every week.
To drink: The Brave’s drinks menu features an extensive and approachable wine list with a glass of white or red starting at £5.75 and bottles beginning at £32 each. An extensive cocktail menu is also available that includes The Brave Gibson (£10) with Tanqueray 10, Dolin dry vermouth, lemon zest and chef’s pickled onions; ‘London’s Best Daiquiri’ (£12) made with Barbancourt Haitian proof rum, unrefined sugar and lime; and a tequila espresso (£12) with Cantinero Blanco, spiced chocolate liqueur and Square Mile coffee.
The vibe: The Brave holds 50 covers across various intimate and open dining and drinking areas. The interior design is smart yet comfortable, with plenty of natural light and walls adorned with pop art and retro-style food and drink posters.
And another thing: Cochran says he has ambitious plans for The Brave’s evolution, with ‘exciting projects and events’ lined up for the coming year, further details of which will be announced in due course.
340-342 Essex Rd, London N1 3PB