Sat on a quiet little slope in an empty Clerkenwell side street, The Gunmakers looks and feels like more than just a regular old pub.

The Venue
The black frontage and gold font is a simple and classy façade but this doesn't mean that a warm and informal décor isn’t to be found within. Set over three different rooms, with platforms staggered at various heights, it is almost like a large podium in shape.

First, you’re confronted by a small bar, which is surrounded by bar stools and small groups of tables backed up with benches. The walls are stained with subtle dark shades, which add a moody edge under low lighting in the evenings.

The second level is a low-lit seating area where cosiness is enforced by a low ceiling and warm reds all around; a cradle of comfort that’s in stark contrast to the entrance. Only venture to the conservatory at the tail of the venue when all else fails, for here is the loneliest looking place of all, full of chairs yet empty at the same time.

The Atmosphere
The Gunmakers radiates friendliness in all the clichéd yet welcome ways that a pub should. The Geordie accent of the publican immediately sets you at ease as his personal welcome invites you to rub shoulders with the regulars at the bar and at once you're a part of it.

This pub is quiet and relaxed and attracts well-dressed patrons and an interesting mixture of people, generally thirty-plus.

The lack of noise allows punters to divulge in the art of conversation in the front bar and, on the next level, there’s a more intimate serenity. Diners and courting couples will find this cocoon a swell place to enjoy the food and each other.

The Food
The Gunmakers is a step up from the usual frozen pies of most pubs and offers a temptingly adventurous menu. Homemade lasagna and chicken and chorizo salad aren’t anything out of the ordinary, but the linguine tossed with clams, mussels and squid (£11.50) is a treasure, and there's also the 14oz rib eye steak (£14), served with French fries.

The Drink
A good selection of wine means you'll be able to match your meal with a pleasant bottle, or alternatively enjoy a fine glass on its own. The lager is slightly under represented if you're that way inclined, but Staropramen isn't a bad one to have on tap. A pint of Guinness will set you back £3.60 which is neither particularly good or bad, and there is a good range of ales including Harvest Pale and Woodeforde's Wherry.

The Last Word
Not satisfied with being a pleasant little pub, The Gunmakers manages to pack itself with pleasant people too, a reason enough to explore this quiet central gem.

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