The Engineer Public House was built between 1845 and 1850 for Claverts the Brewers by, it is thought, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, hence the name. It is thought that Brunel had his offices in the building for a while¹. This grade two listed building is built of brown stock brick with a stucco ground storey and stucco dressings in the Italianate style. Of particular interest are the projecting iron light fixtures in the form of dragons left and right of the entrances. There is thought to have been a tunnel leading from the nearby Grand Union Canal directly into the cellars, but this has long since been blocked off. Apparently there was a slot at the end of the tunnel for checking coins, (presumably if they were counterfeit they would bend). The Engineer's grounds originally ran all the way down to the canal, and situated in them was a brewery run at first by a woman.

In 1995 the tenancy was taken over by Tamsin Olivier an actress and Abigail Osborne an artist and The Engineer as we know it now was born.

One of London's first and finest gastro-pubs The Engineer immediately won the Time Out, Michelob award for "Best Bar" in 1995. Since then the restaurant has gone from strength to strength with outstanding reviews and an additional award from the AA and Seafish as the "Best Seafood Pub" in the London area in 1998.

The food is outstanding: Modern British with more than a hint of Pacific Rim. The restaurant and function rooms are gloriously "arty" and the garden in the summer must be the best place to eat in London. Particular attention has been paid to the wine list with something to suit every pallet and pocket. All served by a relaxed, helpful and friendly staff.

What the press say about us:-

After awarding us the accolade best bar in 1995, timeout magazine wrote:-" a bar with personality, where the staff are friendly and efficient and attention is paid to small details, is the drinkers Holy Grail. The Engineer, an elegantly converted pub which has become a civilized and relaxed bar-restaurant... Best fulfilled our criteria for a great and accessible place to drink. "
Since then we have always appeared in their "Eating and Drinking Guide ":-most recently they wrote: " the kitchen has real talent . . . Stretching from simple soups of of the day to imaginative creations such as whole roast sea bass with som tam salad, sweet chili and lime leaf sauce... Wines are good with a healthy number available by a the glass."

Charles Campion in the Evening Standard wrote of us in June 1999:-"The food is a rare combination of simple tasty dishes and sane prices, the service is friendly and the whole operation has a very genuine feel to it... For once a menu boasting: "...all our meat is free range or organic." , doesn't stretch your credulity as the meat eats very well . . . Someone in the kitchen likes food and deserves your support."

Sharon Watson in the Los Angeles Times wrote of us in November 1999:-"The pub interior is bright and pleasant, the garden in back can't be beat in nice weather... We dined lazily amid orange trees and lilac bushes and big white market umbrellas . The Engineer is the most health conscious of the pubs I saw, serving only free range or organically raised meat and a variety of vegetarian specialities."

Other recent reviews include one by Amanda Burrey in LAM:- " The open and relaxed atmosphere hits you like a warm blanket when you come through the door: Aretha Franklin on the stereo , tables of hippie chic Primrose Hill locals reading the Sunday papers between mouthfuls of eggs benedict and fries while a cheery bar staff weave in and out taking orders for food and drinks . . . Most main dishes are served with The Engineer's fabulous Baker fries... I challenge anyone who doesn't class them among the best chips in north London . "

Finally , the rough guide to London restaurants (2000 edition) says of us :-"Their cooking is accomplished with strong combinations of flavours, and a cheerful iconoclastic approach to what is fundamentally Mediterranean food... Thanks to the engineers' pub status there is always a decent pint of beer to be had and the coffee is excellent too -more reasons for why it is so busy... At the bottom of the menu it says proudly "All our meat is free range or organic" hurrah! They deserve your support.

If you require more information about us you can contact us by e-mail at: info@the-engineer.com

If you have any comments or suggestions about the website e-mail me at: nick@the-engineer.com

1. On 26.6.03 Harold Perloff emailed us the following: "The engineer who built the railway (the LMR) and bridge next to the pub was Robert Stevenson son of George Stevenson (famous for the Rocket) not I K Brunel who built the Great Western Railway from Paddington to Bristol. Do you have the correct engineer on your website?"

Well do we? If anyone can shed further light on this subject we'd be most grateful.