Three Kings Of Clerkenwell

Deuchars, Old Speckled Hen, London Pride & Stella Peetermans head the beers at this agreeably laid-back unofficial social-club-cum-gallery-cum-performance-space for the area’s pre-club monkeys & style bandits. They are drawn to its retro charms, scuffed decor – a grungy hotchpotch of tatty kitsch – & a vibe that is both cosy & inclusive, something that’s not guaranteed in these parts. There’s even a contented pub cat toasting itself by the fire. Rammed at the weekends, there’s an upstairs room with a fabulous jukebox. The Three Kings honoured in the pub’s moniker are Henry VIII, Elvis & Kong & there’s comfort food as ballast, although ‘fit for a king’ might be overdoing it.