The Gunners Pub on Blackstock Road, a 150-year-old pub near the former Highbury stadium, remains a central part of Arsenal's matchday culture, hosting up to 450 fans and partnering with the club for events.
Eddie Altun, the pub's manager, says the venue is the go-to spot for Arsenal supporters. "The community always comes together at this pub. This is the place for Arsenal fans to come," Altun told MyLondon. "When we won the league, it was crazy. They were chanting and playing football."
A pub steeped in Arsenal history
Located at 204 Blackstock Road, the pub has been part of the matchday ritual since Arsenal played at Highbury. Twenty years after the team moved to Emirates Stadium, a 10-minute walk away, the pub remains entrenched with the club and its fans.
The pub is independently owned by Altun's childhood friend. "There are so many pubs in the area, but the location here, with Highbury just there, the fact we are called The Gunners, there's no other pub called that," he said.
Inside the pub and its matchday atmosphere
The pub's black exterior makes it hard to miss, but the inside is where it shines. Arsenal memorabilia lines the walls, posters and pictures of iconic players grace the beer garden, and classic shirts from different eras offer a trip down memory lane.
On matchdays, the pub can hold up to 450 people, with every inch filled with fans. The pub even has its own Gunners Lager, underscoring its dedication to being the pub of choice for Arsenal fans.
Club partnerships and community pride
Arsenal sometimes uses the pub for campaigns; one recent example was the debut of its new partnership with Oakley Meta, where runners descended on the pub and ran along the parade route that millions of Arsenal fans lined during the summer.
"We get big crowds here all the time. If it's for the ladies' game or the men's," Altun said. "Seeing Arsenal choose us for events like this, it makes us so proud to know they've chosen us. There are so many options, but there's no place like ours."
Altun added: "We try to keep our prices low where we can. We love how the community comes here. I feel like we are one of the most famous ones in the area."
One Google reviewer wrote: "If you're looking for a proper football pub with an electric atmosphere for major matches, The Gunners Pub is definitely the place to be."
Altun expects the pub to be "rammed" this Sunday as both the men's and women's teams are playing, with the men away at Liverpool while the women host Aston Villa.
