The Three Kings of Clerkenwell may be tucked away off Clerkenwell Green, but those in the know – especially but not exclusively the music industry crowd - have long been enjoying its unique, traditional pub atmosphere.

The Venue
With its vintage original glass-fronted windows and grotto-like appearance inside, the Three Kings of Clerkenwell is every bit the old-fashioned English pub, but with a musical twist. Alongside the roaring fireplace and rhino’s head protruding above it, the walls are covered with scores of photos and artwork, much of it, from the huge Chet Baker poster at one end to the jukebox by the loos and the photos of turntables purloined from the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royale magazine, in keeping with the pub’s musical theme. The seating is cramped and rickety, but there’s usually more space and more comfortable furniture available in the two rooms upstairs.

The Atmosphere
A mixture of suits from nearby offices, couples who dig its intimate candlelit vibe, along with musicians, agents, journalists and other music biz regulars, especially on a Monday night when its legendary pop quiz sees a strictly-enforced hush downstairs. It’s mainly aged late 20s and 30-upwards but otherwise generally inclusive. Celebs as diverse as The Mighty Boosh’s Julian Barratt and David Soul have been seen propping up the bar, and Blur’s Graham Coxon has staged recreations of The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ and ‘Sergeant Pepper’ albums with friends in the past, although live music is not a regular fixture here.

The Food
Cheap, tasty and hearty, it has that home-cooked feel that’s particularly comforting having come in to shelter from British winter weather. Both the meat and vegetable versions of their piping hot chilli con carne seem to be very popular (£6.50), as are the feta cheese and spinach pasty parcels, again large enough to really satisfy and like everything on the menu well under a tenner.

The Drinks
On tap there’s a fair selection, from Guinness, Beck’s, Red Stripe, Aspall’s cider – but the best are the ales, namely Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and the deliciously creamy Woodforde’s Wherry. Prices are shy of the £4 mark for a pint, but not by much. A decent array of usual and unusual spirits – the Dalwhinnie whisky with a few lumps of ice makes for an excellent end to the evening after a few pints.

The Last Word
Its charm is definitely of the haphazard variety - not everything is on all the time and the bar staff are endearingly brusque with the regulars - but if you like a pub rich with character, the Three Kings of Clerkenwell is worth seeking out.

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