Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings, Clerkenwell

I’ve recently discovered Exmouth market in Clerkenwell: the cutest semi pedestrianized cobbled street lined with fantastic bars and restaurants, and with an outdoor street market (which runs on week days only from 11am – 2pm).  Restaurant wise, Moro is meant to be amazing if you like Spanish food, and apparently its more affordable sister tapas bar Morito is also worth a try.  Other than that you’ll find the popular Caravan on the corner –  the Kings Cross property of which I adore – and the Metcalf Traiteur, which is ideal for a glass of wine and a sharing platter before crossing the road for dinner at another delightful establishment.

But if you go round the corner, not even a 5 minute walk away, by Spa Fields Park, you’ll find Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings.  Some of you may have heard of the Bourne & Hollingsworth bars – like the B&H bar on Charlotte Street, or the Simpson bar on Goodge Street.  This is their first foray into the restaurant world.

The food was varied.  I enjoyed the slow cooked feather steak with red wine sauce, sweet onion and baby carrots, but Alex thought it was a bit too heavy.  Vita opted for two starters instead of a main, and while she loved the asparagus with poached egg, she wasn’t blown away by the mushroom tart.  Pudding, however, we all absolutely loved.  Then again, what’s not to like about Chocolate ganache, ginger biscuit and vanilla ice cream?  It meant we ended the dinner on a high, and promptly forgot the lesser parts of our meal.

But the real reason to come here is for the décor.  I adored it.  White washed walls, with mismatching colonial furniture and wooden fans hanging off the ceiling, the large potted plans and ferns dotted around making it feel almost exotic.  The conservatory is beautiful – light and airy (as they tend to be) – the long table here would be ideal for a long boozy weekend brunch with friends.  Which brings me on to their brunch – which has been recently launched and is probably the best time to go as the décor suits daylight streaming in through the large windows.  Plus they have ‘bottomless’ Bloody Marys and Mimosas for £15.  And the food prices are very reasonable.

If you’d prefer just to go for a pre-dinner drink, try and gets the sofas by the large open fire at the front of the restaurant.  It is the cosiest place in the house and the perfect place to settle in with a bottle of wine and some nibbles.

Bourne and Hollingsworth

42 Northampton Road

London EC1R 0HU

0203 174 1156

Photos belong to Bourne and Hollingsworth