The Gunmakers, Clerkenwell, EC1

Another good Clerkenwell pub.5 real ales always including a London beer. Has a couple of beer fests a year which are always good.Slightly expensive but worth it as the beer is in top condition.Good to see these little pubs thriving so well worth visiting.

Now this is good: very good indeed. Instantly made to feel welcome, landlord, bar and table staff were all friendly and seemingly couldn't do enough for us: yes, you can have that table; we can bring drinks to the table; there's the menu; tab - no problem. And all that towards the end of a busy Friday shift. Frankly I felt like a regular, despite this being my first visit. Beer is sourced from interesting breweries and changes regularly. Food tends towards the expensive end, but also towards the quality end as well. I'm keen to return, hopefully for more of a session as a friendly welcome seems assured.

I quite like the Gunmakers and usually pop in to see what’s on alongside the Mad goose Purity and Woodforde’s Wherry, and on my last visit these were Windsor & Eton Conqueror and Redemption Brewery Fellowship Porter, both of which were on top form. It’s hidden location means it relies on trade from the surrounding offices and as these include arts and fashion companies, such as the HQ for Ben Sherman almost opposite, the food menu and ambience caters for this audience. But the decent beer choice usually drags in a few after work ‘suits’ and early evening visitors like myself more interested in the beer, and the front bar area has always been a comfortable place for a pint.

A little different, a narrow long pub opened up with the bar in the first room by the door - soft bench seating opposite, then its up a few steps to another little seating area, folloe on down steps for more of a barry area with flags on the floor. Plain walls with the odd mirror and pistol, its all a bit cramped. After a cosmopolitan London trendies market, with a very interesting menu chalked on boards, and there were plenty of people eating on my visit. Its ok, but does feel a little strange and pretentious, but its friendly. Real ales, including St Peters, kept quite well.