Mon: 17:00 - 23:00
Tue: 17:00 - 23:00
Wed: 17:00 - 23:00
Thu: 17:00 - 23:00
Fri: 17:00 - 23:00
Sat: 17:00 - 23:00
The Harlequin is a traditional friendly pub with a garden in historic Clerkenwell, just behind Sadler’s Wells theatre.
It has had a ‘beer shop’ since 1848 and the pub remains a Free House with a great selection of real ales, lagers and spirits, a Malt Whisky Collection and some excellent wines by the glass or bottle.
Finding the perfect traditional pub in London is tough, but we think we've done it
Some have pop-up burger residents, others rotate street food vans outside and many employ a list of craft beers as long as your arm. It seems that finding a ‘regular’ cosy bolt-hole of a pub in London these days is something of a needle in a haystack scenario. Lucky then that we recently stumbled upon the charming Harlequin on Arlington Way.
No burgers, no street food vans outside and no craft beer behind the bar. The Harlequin runs on low ceilings, open fires and an ‘everyone knows everyone’ type of charm. This is unusual because these days it isn’t practical to run a pub without the latest hip food trend or micro-brew. And while we love the pubs that give us both those things, we appreciate The Harlequin for keeping it traditional. The pub is located on Arlington Way, tucked far enough from Angel Tube so as to resemble something of a hidden gem (don’t think speakeasy). Evenings are quiet and even on weekends the liveliness isn’t enough to interrupt quiet conversation. We like to call this a ‘thinker’s pub’, a place you can imagine taking a book along with you. Not a destination for food and the beers on tap – barring Leffe – wouldn’t look out of place in a working men’s club. The Harlequin appeals solely on atmospheric merit.
London wouldn’t be the city it is if pubs didn’t change with the times but there’s still value to be had from the quiet and the cosy ones, it’s finding them that’s the problem.
Reviewed by T.A.O
Published on Jul 3, 2013
Angel has its fair share of traditional pubs but none of them can claim to provide the homeliness that The Harlequin can. There’s an open fire, a soothing atmosphere, no music and nothing more exotic than Leffe on draught. Some may say that this is how all pubs should have remained and to those people we say, hush, at least the harlequin is still here for you.
If you are lucky enough to be able to live in Angel then you are also lucky enough to have The Harlequin on your doorstep. A beautiful pub both inside and out, it plays its heritage card to perfection. It is all simple pleasures here; good wine, good beer and an open fire.
Mar 18, 2014
Nov 18, 2013