The Clerk & Well

We felt immediately at ease in the contemporary gastropub setting, with its very in-vogue forest green and navy colour palette, exposed bulbs and gold accents. Two excellent house cocktails kicked things off; a tangy, aromatic blackcurrant and rosemary gimlet, and a maple pecan old fashioned - a great riff on a classic, which came with a welcome maple toffee popcorn snack.

For starters, we chose a crispy, peppery katsu Scotch egg and a sphere of burrata which was pleasantly creamy and paired well with mint and borage flowers. The starters had certainly whetted our appetites for what was to come. For mains Harissa chicken arrived with a pesto side salad scattered with pickled walnuts, an unexpected highlight of the dish.

The British summer cheeseboard was delicious, and well assembled with creamy mild cheddar, tangy blue cheese and sea salt crackers, but the sensational red onion chutney was the star of the show - packed full of rich sweet flavours and notes of caramel. A silky, creamy strawberry panna cotta satisfied our sweet cravings, though it was slightly overwhelmed by a mountain of strawberries poured on top. Serving chocolates made by autism charity Harry Specters at the end of the meal was a wonderful touch before we went on our way.

The Clerk & Well is a proper British pub brought to Clerkenwell by The Stonegate Group. Located between Chancery Lane and Farringdon, it’s one of the oldest pubs in central London, although it re-opened after a major refurbishment in 2022. Serving traditional pub classics executed to an exceptional level, a curated cocktail list and its own signature gin that’s infused in-house, The Clerk & Well has honed its food and drink offering to one-up your typical local.  

Inside, the décor is smart yet cosy and has clearly been designed with a contemporary feel in mind. Marble-topped tables and velvet seating add luxe finishes to the space, along with hanging pendant lampshades, geometric patterned flooring and charcoal grey surfaces (walls and bar). Snug booth seats allow for privacy over a quiet drink, while standalone tables and stool seating are great for casual meet-ups and groups.  

The menus have been prepared using the freshest, seasonal ingredients with a range of options to choose from: lunch, dinner, Sunday roast, children’s and bar snacks menus are all available. For dinner on a standard evening, one might expect to start with the likes of a tonkatsu cacklebean scotch egg with pickled white cabbage and katsu sauce, or a sausage and cranberry roll with homemade piccalilli. Main courses feature hearty classics such as a beef, merlot and wild mushroom pie with clotted cream mash, and halibut with sweet potato, buttered asparagus, samphire, crab and lobster glaze. End on an indulgent note with a rhubarb and custard knickerbocker glory.  

The drinks menu has been curated to suit every preference and taste. Alongside re-imagined classic cocktails, such as a salted caramel espresso martini and a spiced pineapple mojito, are a range of draft beers, local cask ales, the pub’s on-site infused gin and a carefully-picked selection of wines.