What a shame - AVOID!
This has the potential to be a decent Whitehall pub, with a great location and nice interior post refurb. The food isn't bad either.

However the service / quality of staff is well below what you'd expect anywhere in London and really lets the place down.

for example on a recent visit we were greeted by an aggressive and very poorly presented girl who insisted that we sat at a small table for two rather than a table of our choice despite the bar being only 1/3 full (it was towards the end of lunchtime). When we asked to sit else where we got a very rude response

No one would mind being asked politely or being told that if the placed filled up that we'd have to move. But the attitude was shocking and this particular member of staff was clearly not cut out for a customer facing role.

Unfortunately his wasn't a once off - and have hard many bad stories from friends and colleagues. If the Clarence wishes to retain customers and justify its high prices it needs to pay attention to more than just the food and the decor.

All in all there are better pubs on Whitehall, don't make the mistake of going here

Have just had working lunch at the Clarence with colleague. Requested ham and mustard cream sandwich £6.50 from Specials Board with chips £1.50. My colleague had fish finger sandwich £6.50 with chips £1.50. The food was very very poor. Old bread, one very thin slice of ham on bread which bizarrely had been toasted on one side (possibly old bread made good?). Fishfingers looked like they had been cooked 3 times previously, not a hint of salad or any kind of attempt at presentation. 4 Italian tourists on the next table had ordered 4 portions of fish and chips which they were very unhappy with and looking a their plates I would have had no hesitation in sending it all back and walking out. Time and time again in London I am embarrassed to be sat with tourists who look at food given to them with a non-smiling (in this case waitress). Is it just not possible to actually get somebody in who can cook, waitresses who can smile and finally the hard one give value for money? The waiters were all polite and probably are as embarrassed as the rest of us. The pub itself is pleasant, just don't eat there. I will not be going there again.

This pub is simply awful, service is incredibly rude and everything is greasy and dirty (we couldn't use our glasses and drank directly from the bottle). Fish & chips were not bad even if quite small. We asked for some mustard sauce which never came as on the table there was just ketchup. Will never go back and suggest to avoid if you're looking for a decent meal in a decent place.

Clarence is a busy busy put. Great for people watching on a Fri night. The service is a bit slow but the drinks are cheap. The Clarence is a decent pub but better for smokers as you can't really get away from it.