The Clarence

Boo! Wife is sick after eating the awful fish and chips which she said tasted like fried leather. I had the burger which was ok at best. We ended up going to the McDonald’s next door. There must be better places to try fish and chips for the first time.

So. Came here after a show to watch some of the Masters. (⁴⁄₂₀₁₆) It was late (9:30 pm) but we were there 45 minutes before closing. 3 American women. One male and one female employee. Female told us they were closed, although we saw other patrons, male said, no they were open. Ordered, sat, watched some golf, chatted with other patrons. Female employee may or may not have (yes she did) set my friends’ coat on fire with a candle and proceeded to tell us that she hated Americans. The RUDEST and most hostile pub ever.
However, the cheese was good! (never fails)
Enter at your own risk late night.

The place was great. Casual dinning. Wait staff was wonderful. Fish and chips were delightful.

We were walking along Whitehall, hungry and jet lagged so took a chance and stopped in here. A great choice– the service was friendly and accommodating. The food was delicious and plentiful — we even split one dish. Highly recommend

We stopped in here after a long morning touring and walking around London. Truth is, it is one of the only pub/​restaurants that we could find nearish the Churchill War Museum, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and along the road to Trafalgar Square. However, it served good food, was moderately priced (it is London afterall) and the service very friendly, and personable! It was a typical British pub, with creaky stairs, and ample seating towards the back. It had a good selection of pub fare, and we ordered the steak and ale pie and the chicken burger — both were very good!
If you haven’t eaten before going to Big Ben/​the Parliament/​Westminster Abbey, I would recommend stopping in here. If you’re hoping for more selection, then eat before making your way to this region of the city because there weren’t many choices.

My friend and I popped into this pub for a late lunch on our walk from Trafalgar Square to the Westminster tube station. The inside is cozy, especially in the back. It has old world charm with a slightly modernish vibe. the menu has some classic favorites and some new modern cuisine. Order your drinks and food at the bar and then the food is delivered to your table.
Since it was my last full day in London, I stuck to a classic and had the fish and chips. The portion was huge — much more than I could eat — but incredibly delicious. The batter did not overwhelm the fish as some batters can. The fish was flaky and didn’t require a knife to cut. The chips were the perfect compliment.
By the time we left the pub was getting crowded as the after work crowd started trickling in. But if you can go in the early to mid afternoon, it’s not too crowded and you can really enjoy yourself.

I went for Sunday lunch with a large group. There was table service for drinks but this was very slow.
The lunch menu on Sunday has a good selection. Roast beef and chicken were the dishes on the day I went, along with a mushroom Wellington.
I opted for the roast beef, which was ok, but overcooked and could’ve done with a decent gravy or some horseradish. The roast potatoes were crispy and tasty and the veg was fine. There was a nice Yorkshire pudding to go with it. Others in my group had the chicken and professed it a little dry.
The place has a relaxed, traditional pub feel and, despite being in a very busy and touristy location was good for sitting and relaxing. At least until a bizarre group of Spanish strolling players came in traditional costume and started singing. It was one of those odd London moments that you just have to go with and was quite funny to see. Mercifully, they left after a little while and relative tranquility returned.
All in all, the experience was acceptable but not outstanding. It’s more a pub that does OK food rather than a gastropub and I may have set my expectations a little high. I won’t be rushing back and there are plenty of great pubs for Sunday lunch that I would prefer, but I wouldn’t rule out another visit.

Stopped in here for a pint and some fish & chips on a Friday evening after walking around the Whitehall /​Covent Garden area. Friendly service, reasonable prices, and a great location right down the street from the Horse Guards, Palace of Westminster, etc.
The weather was warm and sunny, so there was a large group of after-​work drinkers gathered outside enjoying the atmosphere, which was nice. As other Unilocalers have noted, there didn’t appear to be waiter service at the tables, so instead just order your food at the bar and they’ll bring it to you.

The fish and chips was entirely satisfying, served as a nice portion with a pea purée. The waitress was nice, and the location is very close to Trafalgar Square. It hit the spot.

Nice serene pub. Fish And chips were good and some tasty beers are on tap.

The Clarence is a great/​easy little pub in the middle of all the tourist hubbub.
I enjoyed the goat cheese/​spinach/​potato tart with a small salad– it was tasty! My guy enjoyed the pastrami sandwich with a small salad.
One note: be sure to order (drinks and food) at the bar, as no one will come to the table otherwise.

I stumbled across this cool little pub after walking around Londontown for hours on end one weekend. Located just a few blocks south of Trafalgar Square, I decided to go in based on the fact that it has a Derby hat on the sign out front and looked really inviting inside. It was also fairly bustling, which was a good sign.
It’s a part of the Geronimo group of pubs, which seem to have a good thing going for them in that they mix old world pub charm with a bit of modern/​hip cool factor. They have a simple menu that features both traditional pub fare and something a little more modern — not many pubs serve hoummous or Pastrami sandwiches. The first time I went there, I nestled myself into a corner table w/​my kindle, ordered an ale & some chips, and spent a few content hours just enjoying the moment.
The next time around I brought my father in, who was visiting me from overseas, and we had a traditional roast for dinner. It was good, but not amazing — lacked a bit of flavor, but my north american palate found that to bet he case for most British cuisine, so I don’t hold it against them! The portions were very generous and the prices were reasonable.
If they had a pub like this where I live (Washington, DC), i’d surely be a regular. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for something other than a Nicholson or Fuller’s-owned pub.

Great pub! It wasn’t insanely crowded like some of the other spots that we wandered upon in London. The fish and chips were yummy. The red ale was delish. The prices were really reasonable if I recall correctly. We got to experience the British after work pub crowd at its finest. The bartender was SUPER awesome and friendly, especially after we mentioned that we were going to the big rivalry Arsenal v. Spurs game the next day. :)

I struggled a bit on this one. 3 or 4?
This place is on Whitehall just steps off of Trafalgar Square. Great location and a roomy place.
I settled in for a pint and started perusing the menu. I’ve been to London before but decided on the fish & chips. On the plus side, it was a very fresh piece of white fish with an ample, golden fried batter coating. On the down side, the portion had not been properly boned and I removed about 10 potential puncture wounds. Nice portion of chips. With the small exception, it was a great take.

Came on a Saturday for lunch on way to Big Ben, Parliament, etc.
Ordered one of the specials — Geronimo Fishcakes and Handcut Chips — I’m guessing a derivative of standard fish and chips. Also had a delightful warm mulled cider.
Waiter was super friendly, which was a nice surprise.
Overall, I suspect I’m overpaying due to proximity to major tourist attractions. Nonetheless, the restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and tasteful music. Free wifi is a bonus.

I think this place was pretty cool. Might have been a little buzzed when I went. I remember all the places I visited that night were nice.
Cool stuff.

I had a surprisingly lovely Christmas lunch here with 30+ colleagues in tow recently. The lovely smell of mulled cider as you entered the front doors was instantly warming and the staff weere efificient if looking a little overworked.
The meal itself was much better than I had expected for a pub. My starter of chciken and pork terrine with toast and chutney, followed by a crispy sea bass fillet with vegetables was perfectly adequate. Whilst the chocolate and cherry roulade to follow was much bigger than my belly could handle.
All in all a very lovely hic experience. Well done to the staff at the Clarence.

This pub is practically next door to my office, and has been fully refurbished about 18 months ago, and is our regular post-​work watering hole.
It’s in tourist central and is priced as such, so is a little bit on the pricey side. However, I have eaten here and the food is good and the surroundings are pleasant.
I wouldn’t mission it to this pub, but as a work local, it’s not bad at all.

This was one of the very first pubs I went to upon arriving in the U.K. I was wide and eyed and impressed with my pint and pork scratchins! Too bad most of these pubs close at 11:00 pm, I learned… boo to that! Guess I will just have to drink earlier if I ever lived here.
Extra bonus points for bartender being super friendly and talkative and taking an excellent pic of me and my fiancé.

This is a pub i would avoid at all costs, the meals are on the budget size which makes the menu look good.
I was tempted and fooled i ordered two meals one for my partner and myself, we waited and waited half hour after ordering are meals arrived to the table only to find out they were served stone cold. I Put a complaint in about this and they were hurriedly taken away and warmed up, there no real apologies for this.
My partners meal included toast which was found to be toasted on just one side, the tables were filthy as though they had not been cleaned since they opened in the morning.
Overall a big disappointment and a pub i will never use again.