The Jerusalem Tavern's seating is of the original kind: tall settles around large, scrubbed and unvarnished tables. Expect a deep creaking to accompany any seat-movement (providing you visit outside the 'crush', otherwise a perch will be unlikely). However, this is to an extent: an illusion. Although there has been a 'Jerusalem Tavern' in the area since the 14th century, this building has only been a pub since 1996. The previous 'Jerusalem Tavern', closed at the end of the Victorian era.

What instantly sets it apart, is the range of beers. It sells produce from the St. Peter's Brewery, based in Bungay, Suffolk - specialising in fruit and organic beers, and championing traditional methods of production. They also continue the all-but-dead practice of using seasonal soft fruits in beers (common until the 19th century). Grapefruit, cinnamon & apple, blackcurrant, gooseberry, Christmas orange peel and spice and some headstrong, but creamy stouts. For this there must surely be a premium to pay? No, in fact the pint was a shade under the nearby competition. Add to this, imaginative cooking, a loyal following and an atmosphere conducive to hours slipping away, once the clock-watching stops. The Jerusalem Tavern gets it right - and has awards so numerous; it makes no show of telling you.

The Jerusalem Tavern was operating as a coffee shop, when the owner of the St. Peter's Brewery selected it as a site for their proposed London pub - and resurrected the 'Jerusalem Tavern' name. The building is authentic, however, dating from the 1720s. Perhaps the Hogarthian image of a bewigged gentleman, crowding the settles in the dim candlelit bar and shrieking "He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man." Sinking a pint of honey porter, then wiping his chin with a frock-coat sleeve. Is no more than an unchecked imagination run wild.

"No matter Sir!", say I, "No Matter."

 

P.S. Check the map carefully, Britton Street is not the easiest of roads to discover, particularly from the Smithfield side.


N.B. Like many City pubs - it's closed at weekends.

The Jerusalem Tavern
55 Britton Street, Clerkenwell, EC1M 5UQ

Call:     020 7490 4281

Tube/Rail: Farringdon

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