Some places are just cool. They don’t have to try too hard or overthink the concept, and that’s The Elderfield in Clapton all over. Located in one of East London’s trendiest neighbourhoods, this down-to-earth boozer has style and substance, with a fabulous drinks list and foodie collaborations.
The Elderfield feels both traditional and contemporary all at the same time. Its interiors include retro wooden panelling across the walls, a high-gloss mustard-hued ceiling and an assortment of vintage lighting. Furniture generally consists of burgundy bar seats primed for perching, but you’ll find a few antique-looking pieces in there too, like an ornate wooden bench - just to mix things up. It’s off-beat, slightly eccentric and effortlessly chic, in a public house kind of way.
At The Elderfield, the focus is mainly on the drinks. The team here like to have fun with events and weekly themes and in the past, this has included nights like Martini Mondays - count us in? Cocktails wise, they’ll happily mix you up an Old Fashioned, Venetian Spritz or Spicy Margarita on the rocks, but it’s the wine list that really sings. All bottles are organic or natural and prioritise sustainability with options across Pet Net and sparkling, light to full whites, orange wines and an impressive spectrum of reds. Beers are, of course, also a big focus with Murphy’s Stout on offer, as well as Brixton Coldharbour Lager, Birra Moretti and Timothy Taylor Landlord.
The food menu isn’t entirely that - it’s more bar snacks, but they sound tasty all the same. There’s sausage and mushroom rolls, fries studded with scampi or bacon, as well as nuts, wasabi peas and Nocellara olives. The gang over at The Elderfield also enjoy teaming up with other London-based businesses and have collaborated with the good people at Mes Pies, offering a selection of their hearty, award-winning pies with a mix of fillings.