The Sekforde, Clerkenwell, EC1

Built in the 1830’s, this is an impressive street corner pub, especially when viewed from the intersection of Sekforde and Woodbridge streets where you can best admire the fine tiled exterior and colourful hanging baskets. The proprietors claim that Lenin and Karl Marx both drank in the pub when they were working on a newspaper in nearby Clerkenwell Green and Dickens is also supposed to have been a frequent visitor, although much of this appears to be supposition. More credibly, Pink Floyd owned a recording studio at the end of the street back in the 1970’s and were regular patrons of the pub. Today we find a traditional back street pub with a two room layout. Both entrances lead into the main bar which has a battered wooden floor draped with a few old rugs, half panelled walls and textured wallpaper above and on the ceiling. The bar is on the rear wall, to the left side of the room and has a display of pump clips running above the counter. Some comfortable padded benches run along the opposite wall, accompanied by a few low stools, with one other table on the right hand wall in front of a smart tiled fireplace. Two large archways lead into a second room with similar decor to the main bar, more of the padded bench seating and a discretely positioned dartboard. Some stairs lead up to another seating area, which I didn’t get round to exploring. The pub is run by Young’s, with Ordinary and Special on the bar alongside York Terrier (£3.70) and Bath Summer Hare. The Terrier was very drinkable and the price, whilst expensive, is probably the norm for a guest in a Young’s house. Despite visiting not long after the offices empty out, the pub was notably quiet, with just a small gathering around the bar and one couple in the side room. It was nice to find a traditional boozer of this sort so close to the city and I enjoyed relaxing over my pint and the paper. It would’ve been nice to catch the place when it was a bit livelier, but that’s a minor quibble and I would be more than happy to call in again.

Nice looking building from the outside with its rounded frontage, it continues inside with the character of a Victorian lounge perhaps, not overly comfortable but with a bag of character to provide a fine drinking experience. Nice wooden floor that London pubs do so well. Its a Youngs pub, with Bitter, Special, Bomb and also a St Austell Tribute direct from a barrel on the bar. The Youngs bitter, not one of my favourite breweries, was excellent and tasty. Good pub

The exterior of this backstreet Youngs house is quite appealing, with an attractive curved end with sleek tiling and leaded windows, topped off by a lovingly-maintained flower display. It also has an enviable location, on the apex of two pretty Georgian town house streets. The interior is a fairly basic old-fashioned affair – carpeted (a little worn though) floor, banquette seating and a coal fire, with a function room upstairs. Four ales – a decent choice of Youngs Ordinary, Special, Wells Bombardier and St Austell Tribute. My Tribute was £3.50 and came out well. The ladies behind the bar were friendly and welcoming to our group of wandering scruffs. We sat outside and felt a hundred miles away from the nearby bustle of Clerkenwell. As mentioned elsewhere, whilst this place won’t necessarily knock your socks off, it’s the simplicity and care afforded to the place that makes it a worthwhile stop as the epitome of what a London backstreet local should be.