Harden's says
Great news for Stoke Newington: the Anchor & Hope team have taken over this Grade II listed boozer (once known as The Daniel Defoe but now reverting back to the older name that's literally written in stone on the walls), complete with "seedy" basement wine bar. Chef Harry Kaufman (formerly of Great Queen Street, RIP) will be at the stoves, so we fully expect this place to be as popular as its siblings.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Decent hearty gastro food” that’s “great for sharing” distinguishes this Grade II listed pub in Stoke Newington as a popular choice. But while it’s “a cut above most gastropubs” – and its team even helps run the food for Kettners in Soho – it’s yet to achieve the stellar ratings of some of its siblings in the Anchor & Hope stable.
Summary
This Grade II listed Stokey boozer was taken under the wing of the gastropub magicians behind the Anchor & Hope and Canton Arms three years ago, and now boasts a “delicious seasonal menu” and “very good Sunday lunch”. The move has been such a success that the Clarence team now has a West End outpost – at no less an address than Soho’s historic Kettner’s (see also). Top Menu Tip – “the pies for two: I’m still dreaming about the chicken and leek”.
Summary
The food is “a comforting delight – never lacking in flavour” at this Stoke Newington boozer, for two years part of the Anchor & Hope group and with former Great Queen Street (RIP) chef Harry Kaufman at the helm. “There’s the kind of consistency emerging that one would expect of the team – which is pleasing to see in a bit of town with no shortage of choice, but often very little of consistent note”. Grade II-listed, the Clarence was known as the Daniel Defoe under its previous ownership before reverting to its original name.
Summary
Great news for Stoke Newington: in March 2020, the Anchor & Hope team took over and stripped back this Grade II listed boozer (once known as The Daniel Defoe but now reverting back to the older name that’s literally written in stone on the walls). It comes complete with a terrace, beer garden and basement wine bar. With chef Harry Kaufman (formerly of Great Queen Street, RIP) at the stoves, this has the makings of a major neighbourhood asset.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Clarence Tavern?
102 Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 0LA
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £19.00 | £23.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £8.00 | £19.00 | £9.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £4.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
102 Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 0LA
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑5 pm |
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