The Clerk & Well

British, Pubs·
££££
·

SquareMeal Review of 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.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
British, Pubs
Ambience
Cosy, Fun, Lively
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Alfresco And Views
Outside seating
Special Features
Dog friendly, Vegan options, Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Child friendly, Group dining [8+]
Food Hygiene Rating

About

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.  


FAQs

Does the pub serve a Sunday roast?

Yes, roasts with all the trimmings are served on Sundays

Helpful? 0

Are there vegan options on the menu?

Yes, a small handful of vegan options are available

Helpful? 0

Is the pub dog-friendly?

Yes, dogs are welcome

Helpful? 0

Location

156 Clerkenwell Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 5DU

020 7870 2245 020 7870 2245

Website

Opening Times

All day
Mon 11:00-23:00
Tue 11:00-23:00
Wed 11:00-23:00
Thu 11:00-23:00
Fri 11:00-23:00
Sat 11:00-23:00
Sun 11:00-23:00

Reviews

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2 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Charlotte C

30 June 2017  
Food & Drink 4
Service 3
Atmosphere 4
Value 4
Birthday Lunch
Delicious Asian tapas including duck spring rolls, chicken gyozas, chicken satay, steamed edamame and a big bowl of duck fried rice in the middle! The food was just as nice as the last visit, but the service wasn't as good. Forgotten items from drinks order and I had made a note on the booking that this was for my friend's birthday lunch and asked if we could arrange a dessert, unfortunately my request was not acknowledged which I just think is a little bit of a shame on a £100 bill... some of our side plates were also cleared away whilst we were still picking at food which was surprising!

Charlotte C

26 June 2017  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 4.5
Thai FriYay
An excellent spot for a TGIF work lunch with your colleagues. It's pretty busy with crowds of guys coming in to play some pool and grab a few pints in their work hour, so if you want an intimate lunch then this is probably not your thing. The Clerk & Well is lively, full of atmosphere and quite fast paced in its service. On this occasion we shared a selection of starters that were authentically flavoured with Thai spices and were delivered on dark, rustic plates with cute little dipping pots. Special mention has to go to the chicken satay and the Thai fries with the spicy mayo, just delicious! They automatically add service to your bill, which would usually annoy me as I like to add a tip based on the service I have received, however, the food, drink and service meant that the applied tip was completely deserved. Look forward to coming back and eating from the main courses...
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