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Detail Pages
The Holy Tavern, EC1
EC1
EC1M 5UQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
You would never believe that this place has only been a public house since the early 90s, it looks the real deal inside, the building itself is very old of course, but the pub fit out is relatively recent. Divided horizontally into three connecting areas, the front section is divided by a Georgian style glass screen and has four blue and white tiled insert panels depicting the four seasons. The middle section houses the bar, again a tiny area, easily filled at busy times. Curiously, opposite there is a small raised mezzanine area with minimal headroom, almost like a pulpit, accessed via a winding stair and with only room for one small table and two chairs.
Panelled walls, nicotine brown ceiling, the old style fit out really does convince. The rear room away from the bar has a fireplace and a stuffed fox in a glass case, as well as some artwork for sale, one of The Who for the princely sum of £300.
There is no TV or music in here, the calm feel is immediate although I suspect it may not be at busy times.
They serve only St Peter's Ales in the house as far as I know, the draught beers are served through false cask heads on the bar back, under top pressure I understand, so unlikely to feature in the GBG although I found my pint top notch. Today had Golden Ale, Fruit Beer, Mild and Green Hop (£3.75) plus ciders Upper House Farm Hereford Dry and Kingston Red Streak. The full range of St Peter's beers are available in bottles. Beer gift boxes are available. Two benches outside at the front have mini tables attached to hold glasses.
This is a cracking pub, in an area of great pubs, a must inclusion if crawling Clerkenwell.
On 21st October 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
A consistently pleasing pub with a range of beers available you can't find anywhere around this neck of the woods,The St Peters ales cover most angles and make for an interesting drink.I settled for the St Peters Organic Ale on our brief visit, and it didn't disappoint ,Always worth a visit but beware,not open weekends like many of the fine pubs in this area.
On 16th August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
One of my favourites in this part of Town and had to pop in again when in the area the other evening, although the busy after work period is not the best time to visit this small pub.
Well described by other reviewers so won’t repeat what’s gone before. Also the St Peters brewery is not one of my favourites and I’ve had a few not so good pints come out of the casks in the wall behind the bar over the years. But the excellent Dark Mild is usually reliably good , as it was again on this occasion.
But, even forgetting the beer, this is a pub you should visit if you haven’t before.
On 27th November 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
The Jerusalem Tavern is like stepping back in time. We visited yesterday lunchtime and it was an oasis of tranquility in an otherwise hectic London. The small interior is split into various drinking rooms and at different levels; it is atmospherically dingy and maintains a feeling of antiquity in its wooden furniture that many would have condemned to the skip years ago. The Jerusalem is tied to the St Peter's Brewery of Bungay, Suffolk and has seven ales on stillage and a sixteen in bottles - alas, on our crawl we only had time for one pint and the porter was fantastic and very well priced. The welcome was warm, the ale well-kept and very reasonably priced. All in all a fantastic experience of a pub and well worth seeking out. 2009 Town Pub of the Year.
On 5th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
An intriguing and very enjoyable pub tucked away amongst the quiet Clerkenwell terraces. As mentioned, it is the only tied pub in London (possibly anywhere?) to the St Peters brewery in Suffolk. Its also pretty tiny and unashamedly old fashioned in its interior. I can understand why it is so popular - because the beer is excellent - my pint of Ruby Red was exceptional and I also treated myself to some 'real' Black Country Pork Scratchings which were also delicious. I'd arrived just after lunchtime where clearly a few people had been eating the more substantial meals on offer as well. A GBG regular and no surprise - an essential one to seek out if on a crawl in the area, or indeed any other time between Monday and Friday.
On 5th April 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
St Peters owned ale house in central london. Very small and old, and has excellent character. There is more space at the back, though its all limited, dark green walls & has a nice feel of a back street boozer.
Full St Peters range, served from taps on 'casks' at the back of the bar.
Good beer, lovely pub
On 26th September 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
The exterior of this pub boasts the year 1720, but in fact this particular Jerusalem Tavern has only been a pub since 1996. But the name has been around this part of the world for hundreds of years. There was a Jerusalem Tavern near the Knights Hospitaliers priory gates, the remains of which are just around the corner, as far back as the 14th Century, and later versions were around until the 19th Century.
Anyway, the current pub is a pretty basic and cramped affair. Seating is at a premium, although there are a handful of tables, chairs and benches scattered around the place. And standing room isn’t much better; three people propping up the bar would make it tricky for anyone else to get served. The walls are painted a dark charcoal colour, and there is little in the way of decor, although for some reason there is a stuffed animal (the genus of which eluded me) in a glass case on one of the walls at the back. I don’t normally like these sort of visually dull and minimalist places, but this one is sufficiently different in an intimate sort of way, and possibly unique, from the run of the mill to warrant a visit. The availability of St Peter’s Brewery ales is a definite plus of course.
On 26th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
A nice, if somewhat small, old fashioned pub, tucked away in the back streets of the city, but well worth seeking out for the excellent range of beers from the St Peters Brewery, including at least five on draught behind the bar with the rest of the range available in bottles. I tried the Extra Gold (£3.10) which was very good and went down well in the hot sun as I sat out on one of the two benches fixed to the front of the building.
Space is at a bit of a premium inside, with tables set in any little nook available. It was pretty dark and gloomy inside when I visited and I suspect that the pub isn't best appreciated on one of the warmest days of the year, but I could see that it had a lot of character and appeal.
This isn't the easiest pub to just stumble across given its obscure location, which means that it tends to be frequented mostly by those that have made the effort to seek it out. I'm glad I made the effort myself.
On 14th June 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
A little difficult to find but well worth the effort. Definitely a pub for standing outside, mainly because there is only really enough room inside for those waiting at the bar. Wonderful old building, a bit like walking into someone's front parlour. Friendly service and of course they serve the full range of St Peters beers both bottled and on draught.
On 19th February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Jerusalem Tavern
It's only problem is size, which is a large part of its charm. If you don't want the atmosphere of a Victorian beer house, go somewhere posh. If you want to enjoy some fantastic beers in an authentic setting (and don't mind a bit of a squeeze!), this is the place to go.
On 21st November 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]