The Clarence, SW1

This is a mid-19th century building, named after the Duke of Clarence, former Lord High Admiral and currently under the stewardship of Young’s. If the main bar area had been gastrofied as mentioned, than as BF later points out, it has now been rusticated, with exposed chunky wooden members, limewashed. The floor is rough boarded and the bar array is fairly modern, though there’s vanilla coloured wainscotting to dado height, then plain walls with some areas covered in thousands of postage stamps from around the world; likewise, there are four structural columns, similarly clad. Lampshades over the bar are designed to resemble bowler hats, otherwise lighting comes from recessed LED downlighters to the white ceiling. Décor amounts to a few framed prints and customers are of indeterminate origin, music being loud. There were three unused pumps, then Winter Warmer, London Original and Proper Job at £2.75 a half and nice. This pub is better than it sounds, but isn’t as good as its neighbour, the Old Shades, but is head and shoulders above the very poor Silver Cross, a couple of doors up.

Official site of The Clarence - www.theclarencewhitehall.com

Official site of The Clarence - www.theclarencewhitehall.com