The Clerk & Well, Clerkenwell, EC1

They had a couple of ales on when I visited on Wednesday evening - Doom Bar that you see everywhere, and London Beer Factory Session (£2.05 a half), a 3.8% session ale I guess. Like so many Central London pubs, food is an important player here. The menu is labelled Pan-Asian, containing what appears to be a variety of dishes mainly from East Asian countries, with main courses between £9.50 and £11.50. There's a 12.5% "discretionary" service charge where table service is provided. The L-shaped bar is on the right, with a pool table at the back on the left. The main bar area at the front is bare-boarded, with what looks like the original boards, as you can still see where divisions/paneling between different rooms would once have been. There are a couple of tall tables/tall stools in the middle of the room; a couple of sofas and a low table on the right; and plenty of normal tables and chairs (some of which were reserved when I was in). But the most striking feature here is the ceiling, which appeared to be made of patterned stainless steel. I've only ever seen this in one other pub. Most unusual. There was a TV on, screening a football match. This looks like a pub frequented by City workers; at least it was when I was in, when the place, as well as the pavement outside, was busy with workers enjoying a swift one or two on the way home. It's par for the course, although it does do a couple of real ales, one of which comes from a local micro-brewery. Good for them.

Nice modern pub which was very busy.Lovely pressed metal ceiling.Leather sofas and chairs are a nice touch and a change from the wooden chairs in most pubs now.Comfy.Still a pool table to the rear.Woeful selection on the two handpumps.The two D,s Doombar and Deuchars.

Official site of Clerk & Well - www.theclerkandwell.co

Official site of Clerk & Well - www.theclerkandwell.co