The Harlequin — Restaurant in London

🚇 Angel 🍺 £6.50 Pravha

The Harlequin is located on a quiet street at the back of Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Clerkenwell. The nearest Tube is Angel in Islington.

Prior to becoming a pub, this terraced house was built in 1822 and was the former home to a baker and then a lithographer. In 1848 the house was converted to a beer shop and has remained a Free house ever since.

Brian Reader, mastermind of the infamous Hatton Garden hole in the wall gang lived for a while with the landlady in the flat upstairs.

This is cosy and intimate one bar pub that has a rustic and homely feel. The servery is located on the right hand side and is clad in beach washed panels. The decor consists of burnt orange walls with more panelling below, a bare boarded floor and some ornate chandeliers. There are some nice touches, like the fireplace, Sadlers Wells advertisements and the piano located at the back. Considering the size of the pub, there is ample seating plus plenty of stools huddled around the bar. At the rear of the pub is a Secret Garden which is covered in flora and fauna.

The beer line up is good and included some craft ipa’s and cask ale. I decided on a Pravha, my pint was spot on, price point was above average. If you’re feeling peckish, there is a bar snacks menu consisting of Cheeseboards, Bastides Saucissons Secs and Pinchos.

I arrived around 6pm for an afterwork pint on a Friday evening in April. The pub was fairly busy with local punters and a few visitors to the area. The atmosphere was convivial and relaxed with a soothing soundtrack playing in the background. The service was excellent, the team member who served me was welcoming and friendly.

Visiting @theharlequin1848 has to be one of my most chilled and relaxing pub experiences ever. This pub environment is calming and seductive which makes it easy to settle into. I loved architecture and history, the beer choice was good, there are nice local pub vibes and the hospitality is on point. Maybe not one for the traditionalist but If you’re on a date on just want a chat with a mate, then this is the ideal spot.

📅 19th April 2024

More London Pub info...

A village community pub in old Clerkenwell. Established 1884 this narrow front terrace pub has a beautiful green tiled facade in front of a spacious, single room around a square centre bar. Gorgeous aged, original floor with cellar trap under a variety of low seats & plenty of tables. This well loved pub has modernised, pretty rustic wood cladding on the walls & bar to compliment from original floor through squared & harlequin windows to cladding ceiling. It's dressed down but features theatrical art & original centrepiece fireplace. An excellent beer selection from 20th century bar set near a well dressed sky light & a cute, backyard secret garden. Great tunes & no screens create a good, feel good vibe. There's an excellent quality about the care invested in making this pub a peaceful, destination of...

Waitress abominably rude despite how polite we were with our order. Upon our second drinks order, she snarled at us and then poured us the incorrect pints. When we politely told her it wasn’t our order, she challenged us and then eventually silently presented us with our ordered drinks with a scowl on her face. She threw the card reader in front of us without a ‘please’ or ‘thank you’. There was a trainee bar lady behind the bar who then apologised for her colleague’s behaviour, although it was only her first night on the job. I’ve been coming to the lovely pub for years and am sad at how I was treated last night. This pub deserves better than this terrible service. Yes, it’s a charming pub but London is full of pubs and I will not be...