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Poll for date of Halifax crawl. with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Wednesday, 27th December 2017
With picture contributions to 9888 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (24 more images)
Detail Pages
The Sekforde, Clerkenwell, EC1
EC1
EC1R 0HA
Served areas
Reviews of The Sekforde (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Sekforde
This was my first visit since its refurbishment, and I have to sat that I preferred it the way it was - mainly because there are now so few of the traditional unspoilt locals that this was, anywhere near central London. My guess is that I'm probably in the minority in this respect. But it's still a good pub, and although some features have been lost as mentioned by the previous reviewer, it has retained the fluted panelling on the bar counter and walls, and a nice tiled and walnut wood framed fireplace sits between the two rooms. It's bare-boarded of course, with the carpet consigned to memory, but it is furnished with normal tables and chairs. It also got a "highly commended" in the refurbishment category of CAMRA's pub design awards.
There were a couple of ales on - Windsor and Eton Corker, and Long Man Best Bitter (£2 a half) - so the beer choice has certainly improved since Tris' visit last year. This is still decent pub
On 31st July 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Sekforde
Situated in a tranquil street occupied by celebs such as Gillian X Files, this Georgian pub was built in 1829 on land once owned by Thomas Seckford (original spelling), 16th century lawyer and one of Queen Elizabeth I’s Masters in Ordinary of the Court of Requests. It was a Young’s house until it closed on 4th August 2015 and reopened on 15th December 2017 as a private venture, refurbished by a local barrister who lives upstairs.
The pub incorporates the most up-to-date environmentally friendly technology, including under-floor heating and a ban on plastics on the premises. Profits will be ploughed back into the local community to benefit the young and underprivileged; so far, so good.
Unfortunately, the fine 1930s’ Charrington’s tiles, including yet another Toby plaque, have been ripped off and replaced with a grained wooden shop front-style entrance with some bare brick; the Charrington's leaded lights have been removed too. Internally no part of the original pub remains which may or may not be a bad thing. It’s brand new with much brown wood in the form of part wood panelling, a wooden panelled bar with pot shelf, a bare boarded floor, cream coloured walls and ceiling and fairly contemporary furniture. Modern lavs are downstairs where there is an enticing cellar room. There are paper menus on the tables displaying restrained but refined fayre; not gastro but certainly not posh burgers or the like either.
In all it’s rather tasteful and will probably improve with age though unfortunately there’s no décor, the end result being that it's not that cosy.
Now onto the ale: premium lagers, craft and the like and in the seven-odd days since ROB Camra’s review, real ale has appeared and at just £4.00 a pint. Unfortunately, it’s the egregious Sharp’s Doom Bar Amber and served Carling cold – clearly the cellar was spared the under-floor heating then. Why, given that the Hammerton brewery is a stone’s throw from here could not their wares be stocked, such as the universally liked N1?
This pub is a good example of a modern conversion in a very pleasant locale with many other good pubs in close proximity. Its charitable aims are commendable, but the choice of this ale (or something similar like London Pride), served freezing cold, are reasons enough not to tempt me to rush back.
On 20th January 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Sekforde
Reopened after a long closure, but the real ale has disappeared.
Shame, I used to call in here regularly when working in London.
On 2nd January 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
View more reviews of The Sekforde (11)
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- Official site of The Sekforde - thesekforde.com
- Randomness Guide to London - Sekforde Arms entry
- Facebook - The Sekforde Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Sekforde - whatpub.com
City Thameslink, 0.79 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Old Street, 0.93 miles, 17 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- Darts : No last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Function Room : Yes last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- Pinball : No last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Wednesdays. - last updated 15 May 2019 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 02 January 2018 by ROB Camra
- Wheelchair Access : No - WCs downstairs. - last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 10 January 2018 by Tris C
