What: The Clifton
In a nutshell: The Clifton in St John's Wood is saved and reopening as a new pub.
Summing it all up: Haggis sausage rolls, Wild Grouse ketchup and roast cod with arrocina beans will be some of the dishes on offer to those who visit The Clifton, St John’s Wood’s newest pub.
The low-down
St John’s Wood is set to get a new pub by the name of the Clifton. The Clifton (apparently it's yet another place Edward VII used to bring his mistress Lillie Langtry - there are a lot of these places about town it seems) has stood empty since 2013. But residents recently won a battle to stop it being turned into a swanky private mansion. The pub will be as much about the food as the drinks, and will have plenty of imaginative new riffs on classic pub grub to go around from a menu dreamed up by its new Kiwi chef.
Karl Calvert, who’s also gained experience at Providores, will focus on underappreciated cuts like mutton, pork neck and ox heart, while also giving the proper dues to brunches and bar snacks.
So for bar nibbles, which the Clifton is calling their ‘Drinking House’ menu, there’ll be the aforementioned haggis sausage roll with Famous Grouse ketchup, plus mutton rendang croquettes with banana raita. For bigger, all-day plates (‘Eating House’), there’s roast cod with arrocina beans, and brunch dishes like sweetcorn jalapeno fritters with chipotle onion jam.
Naturally there’ll be a healthy selection of beers from local and craft breweries, with a house beer in the works from the pub’s founders, Ben and Ed Robson, the brothers behind Boopshi's (which is now where Bao Fitzrovia is) who have gone back to their first love, running pubs. Raul Diaz, of Channel 4 sommelier fame, will also have a hand in the wine list.
The Clifton is also aiming to cultivate a relaxed, cafe vibe during the day, opening from breakfast with coffee and pastries up for grab, making it a good spot for freelancers, even if you may find yourself explaining why you're off to the pub at 9am...
More about The Clifton
Where is it? 96 Clifton Hill, London NW8 0JT
When does it open? May 15, 2017
Find out more: Visit their website or follow The Clifton on Twitter @thecliftonnw8.
