<![CDATA[Greater London - Islington - Clerkenwell - Eating, Drinking and Nightlife - Pubs - Reviews]]> http://www.welovelocal.com Reviews from welovelocal.com en Good if your local http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-wilmington-ec1r4rl.html#r54205 A nice little pub in the heart of clerkenwell, great for after work get togethers. The food is top notch with a great pub menu of classic dishes like pies and bangers and mash. The room next door is a great gig venue if you fancy seeing some bands in an intimate setting. I can recommend the monthly night BORED which offers up new bands and DJ's, always a fun night with a good crowd.

]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:03:27 UTC Seek and ye will find... http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-duke-of-york-wc1n2pb.html#r28447 Possibly easier to get to from Doughty Street than down the Mews from Guilford Street The Duke (as they now like it to be called) still has a weird art deco atmos which is worth seeking out even if £3.30 for a pint of Adnams Broadside is a bit cheeky...

]]> Wed, 07 May 2008 11:37:48 UTC Rustic and Charm Pub http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-duke-of-york-wc1n2pb.html#r23665 I like the style of Duke of York, this pub has a rustic an charm mixed with art deco. Food was impeccable, very good, I can't say anything bad. I really ate well. The waiters were polite and funny and the restaurant was quite clean...apart the toilet...

]]> Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:53:43 UTC new owners, new style http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-wilmington-ec1r4rl.html#r13961 This pub has just got new owners in fact its the sister pub to the Hawley Arms but without the pretentiousness. The best bit is that there is a separate room for gigs, Tuesday nights Ive seen some new bands play to a small crowd.

]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:25:16 UTC Peasantly surprised http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-peasant-ec1v4ph.html#r11174 I met up with a bunch of friends at Peasant last night and having not been there for a few years was peasantly surprised (sorry).

It's a nice, big, airy pub with lots of charm but not overly sophisticated. They have some good beers on tap (Budvar for one) and a good wine selection. The pub has lots of space and never feels that cramped or crowded which makes it perfect for a quiet pint or for a rowdy, bigger group - you can reserve tables.

The only think that isn't great is the food. They try to pitch themselves as an eating-pub and have a decent sounding menu, however the execution lets it down. They offer a fairly standard a mix of fish, meat & vegetarian dishes but all were a little dry and the mash potato sticky enough to glue your mouth shut.

The staff also seem a little overworked and i spent a good 20 minutes at the bar watching the solitary barman hurrying & cursing his way to serve the gathered crowd. Not great for him or me!

Overall verdict - worth checking out and better than other pubs in the area but don't expect to be blown away.

]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:22:22 UTC A better pub than it is a restaurant http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-peasant-ec1v4ph.html#r3244 The Peasant is a huge-ceilinged place, made up of two parts: and inviting pub and an upstairs restaurant. Decent beers are on tap downstairs (the rotation will change every so often, and they are holding their 2nd beer fest this year), and you can get bar snacks and lighter meals by sitting downstairs. The chips, in particular, are great - thin French bistro types like the kind (shh) also served by McDonald's. The bar area gets crowded in the evenings, with office workers from the area piling in. Reserving a table (even just for drinks) can be a good idea.

I have found the upstairs restaurant to be a bit stuffy for my tastes. The service is a little over the top for what's supposed to be a gastro-pub, and the food seemed to have a few too many trendy ingredient without them actually making the meal taste better for it. I'm happy to stick with the downstairs bar (which I would have given 4 stars on its own) for the drinks and the chips, which they 'don't do' upstairs.

]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:02:33 UTC The original Gastro Pub? http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-eagle-ec1r3al.html#r2806 A fantastic place with a deservedly good reputation. Allegedly where the gastro-pub movement started. Rubbish or not this is definately worth a lunchtime visit.

The single room contains the bar and the kitchen and the sitting area. Standard drinks and the like but people mainly come here for the food which is utterly fantastic.

An eclectic mix of styles and dishes from huge steak and ale pies, racks of lamb with cuscous, steaks etc. No mass produced dishes or burgers here. Main course for two and a coffee and two beers will cost you around £30+ but you will come here again and again.

You can while away the time waiting by watching the chefs beaver away or simply relax in an environment that looks like it has been decorated with the contents of a old school.

It is crammed at lunchtime though so get there before 12.30 if you want to get a table. Service is quick, speedy and polite but you'll be waiting around for sometime otherwise.

]]> Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:49:23 UTC Was there for a birthday party http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-betsey-trotwood-ec1r3bl.html#r2681 and had a great night out.

Bar staff were really friendly and chatty.

They had a dj set upstairs playing 1960's girl group bubble gum pop which went down well. When you consider some of the other pubs nearby, this one stands out from the rest.

I recommend it...

]]> Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:31:58 UTC Top-notch gastropub http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-peasant-ec1v4ph.html#r2661 The word "gastropub" is overused and has almost become a dirty word, but The Peasant is one of the originals and still one of the best. On the site of a former gin palace, there's a lively bar downstairs and wonderful restaurant upstairs. The food is inventive, the look and ambience is far above the standard you expect from a regular gastropub and it's not even desperately overpriced. The one slight downside is the slightly erratic service - but for that, this would have been a five-star review

]]> Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:36:56 UTC Top-notch gastropub http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/islington/clerkenwell/pubs/the-peasant-ec1v4ph.html#r2661 The word "gastropub" is overused and has almost become a dirty word, but The Peasant is one of the originals and still one of the best. On the site of a former gin palace, there's a lively bar downstairs and wonderful restaurant upstairs. The food is inventive, the look and ambience is far above the standard you expect from a regular gastropub and it's not even desperately overpriced. The one slight downside is the slightly erratic service - but for that, this would have been a five-star review

]]> Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:36:56 UTC