Samantha Lutes went along to check it out.
The exterior and interior of the newly refurbished Hat & Feathers. Photos: Samantha Lutes
In the heart of Clerkenwell, a five-minute walk from Farringdon station, is the newly opened and renovated pub, Hat & Feathers.
The building is Grade II listed and just reopened a few months ago after being closed for over a decade. A section of Hotel Indigo, the hotel offers one other restaurant and a bar as a part of their dining selection. It operates as a pub with dining options, so you can go for just drinks or if you decide you’re a bit peckish you can order at the bar and have table service. The space splits nicely into two, so you’re greeted with your classic pub surrounding. If you venture further, it offers a section which is more allocated towards sit down meals. You can also just enjoy your drinks there if you’re after more privacy.
EC1 Echo was invited to have a free meal at the pub last week to explore their new offerings. The pub menu is pretty stripped down but has all the classics, focusing on comfort food.
The day I went the kitchen had a few things out of stock, including the vegetarian option I originally ordered. With the pub being connected to the hotel, it was easy to order from their other places and still enjoy the cosy pub interiors.
With what they had in stock, I went for the penne arrabbiata pasta dish which was a nice portion size and came out piping hot. The sauce was on the creamier side of what an arrabbiata usually is which gave it a nice warming touch for the rainy evening. I went for chips on the side and doubled up on the carbs and they were served equally as hot as the pasta. They were proper chips, nice and fluffy with a good selection of condiments to choose from.
Penne arrabbiata, and ice-cream. Photos: Samantha Lutes
The dessert menu was the hardest choice, but I went for something on the lighter side with the ice cream option. Again, there were many different flavours to choose from as you were able to mix and match but all the classics you could hope for were there. It came presented with some fruit and a chocolate curl which added a nice touch to the bowl.
The service here was impeccable and friendly, with all the staff being very accommodating. The vibe inside was very chilled out, which is all you can really hope for when in central London.
The pub/bar portion was the highlight, with a great wine and cocktail menu (all the seasonal classics you could want). So, if you’re looking to try somewhere a little newer in the area, you should definitely give it a go.
Hat & Feathers, 2 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5PQ
Lunch – daily 12-3pm. Dinner – daily 5-9.30pm.
