The Clarence Tavern, Stoke Newington, N16

This Charles Wells house is in two sections with the open plan bar area being on the left and a quiet seating area being past the toilets to the right. It is clean and fairly traditional in looks with old pictures and a few historical items relating to Daniel Defoe up on the walls, but a boozer this is not as there is a leaning towards the highly priced food and there were more people tucking into bottles of white during my late Saturday afternoon visit than were sampling the ale selection. The ales available were Tribute, Merlins Oak, Bombardier and St Austels Tinners and some premium and standard draught products were also available. There was also a single malt menu on each table with plethora of choices that would keep the reddest nosed Scotsman happy. There are no distractions from TVs and the background music was light jazz, which I find extremely depressing. There is a decked area out the back that leads down to an enclosed paved area and there are plenty of picnic tables. This pub doesn’t open until 13:00 during the week and midday on both Saturday and Sunday, but it is open until ‘late’ everyday – whatever time that may be? To be honest I thought that it was a little dull in here and I would be more likely to visit here with the in-laws than with friends. I can’t see a return visit in a hurry.