The Holy Tavern
Quick info
About The Holy Tavern
On Britton St in Clerkenwell, between Farringdon and Barbican, The Holy Tavern is a London pub that dates from the 1990s but sits in a building from 1720. Its interior was designed to look much older, in an 18th-century style, and the pub was formerly the Jerusalem Tavern. St Peter's Brewery beers feature heavily on tap, served on gravity, with no cask beers, and the bar also pours ales and fruit beers. The food menu includes truffle and Parmesan fries and a schnitzel burger with cheese and prosciutto, alongside fish and chips. Dogs are welcome, and a pub cat named Tommy also lives on the premises.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingUsually difficult to find a space
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention st peter's brewery beers, pub cat, truffle parmesan fries and schnitzel burger.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention st peter's brewery beers, pub cat, truffle parmesan fries and schnitzel burger.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the beer, with St Peter's Brewery on tap named repeatedly, alongside a cider on tap one diner calls not a mainstream kind. The pub cat is a close second, described as part of the crew and the nicest regular, and the old-looking, atmospheric interior with no fancy refurbs draws steady praise. Food gets a smaller mention: one diner praises the truffle and Parmesan fries and a schnitzel topped with cheese and prosciutto, while another lists a Caesar salad, calamari, fish and chips and padrons, though that diner wanted scotch eggs that were not on the menu. Service splits the reviews. Several call staff friendly or warm, but two low ratings describe a bartender left waiting for five minutes while lager ran out, and a server absorbed in her phone who made a customer feel like a nuisance for ordering pints. A couple of reviewers also call the drinks pricey, one citing a pint at seven pounds fifty. One reviewer notes no cask beers. One regular praises a bar shift covered by the kitchen lead, who then served two superb meals when the late shift arrived.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the beer, with St Peter's Brewery on tap named repeatedly, alongside a cider on tap one diner calls not a mainstream kind. The pub cat is a close second, described as part of the crew and the nicest regular, and the old-looking, atmospheric interior with no fancy refurbs draws steady praise. Food gets a smaller mention: one diner praises the truffle and Parmesan fries and a schnitzel topped with cheese and prosciutto, while another lists a Caesar salad, calamari, fish and chips and padrons, though that diner wanted scotch eggs that were not on the menu. Service splits the reviews. Several call staff friendly or warm, but two low ratings describe a bartender left waiting for five minutes while lager ran out, and a server absorbed in her phone who made a customer feel like a nuisance for ordering pints. A couple of reviewers also call the drinks pricey, one citing a pint at seven pounds fifty. One reviewer notes no cask beers. One regular praises a bar shift covered by the kitchen lead, who then served two superb meals when the late shift arrived.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“This was a discovery, hidden away between Farringdon and Barbican. The place looks like a Dickens era pub, beautifully casual in its old school charm, with many original features and a fantastic outside area with barrels that double as tables. It’s located in a quaint ant and peaceful street, and the food is seriously good, really above average compared to the other pubs in the area. I had the truffle and Parmesan fries and the schnitzel burger that was topped with cheese and Prosciutto crudo. The fries were amazing, and the Parmesan and truffle combo is one of my favourite things. The schnitzel was perfectly cooked, fried in a very light way, not greasy at all, and the quality of the cheese and the prosciutto were top notch. I had a couple of glasses of a Wolf Blass Chardonnay, a wine that I love and that is not easily found in your local pubs. The service is great, the atmosphere is very pleasant. This is the kind of place that you can take a date to, or come with your family, or take friends from abroad far from the usual beaten track of Soho, West End etc. A delightful experience and a great place where to go back to again and again.”
- Google user
“Interesting decor and architecture, beer on gravity. Service poor. I was left waiting by the bartender for five minutes when lager ran out while being poured for another customer. Another staff member eventually turned up. I'd not known he was staff as he'd been chatting to a customer until then despite customers waiting to be served. I know London is expensive but I was charged over eight quid for a half of bitter and half pint of lime and soda. I'll not be coming back.”
- Google user
“My new favourite pub around the City! Their cider on tap is great, not a mainstream kind. And Tom, the cat is the nicest regular such an establishment can have.”
- Google user
“Lovely old pub in the backstreets of Farringdon, 2nd oldest in London I hear tell!! great St Peters and others beers on tap. Better to see them if the two obstinate fellas at the bar would just move!!!”
- Google user
“Stopped for a pint, beautiful cozy place, no fancy refurbs, authentic, great layout, cool beer selection, haven’t had the food but looks to be nice.”
Highlights
“1990s pub in a 1720 building with a facsimile 18th-century interior, selling ales and fruit beers.”
- Great beer selection
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
- Food at bar
- Cozy
Show more amenities
- Beer
- Food
- Solo dining
- Restroom
- Trendy
- Usually difficult to find a space
- Crowd· 4
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safespace
- Offerings· 3
- Alcohol
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
- Dining options· 2
- Outside food allowed
- Seating
- Highlights· 1
- Great beer selection
Location
Bars near The Holy Tavern
- The Crown Tavern4.41,7620.1 mi
sunday roast, fish and chips, fries
- The Sir John Oldcastle4.12,6910.2 mi
fish and chips, breakfast, cheap pints
- St Barts4.26570.2 mi
chicken burger with chips, wedding reception food, balfour lager
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Holy TavernReservations · Outdoor seating | 4.61,378 | — | st peter's brewery beers, pub cat, truffle parmesan fries |
| The Crown Tavern | 4.41,762 | 0.1 mi | sunday roast, fish and chips, fries |
| The Sir John Oldcastle | 4.12,691 | 0.2 mi | fish and chips, breakfast, cheap pints |
| St Barts | 4.2657 | 0.2 mi | chicken burger with chips, wedding reception food, balfour lager |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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