This pub was editorially chosen for inclusion by Londonist.
This place is, far and away, the most interesting thing on Farringdon Street, the Square Mile's dullest road, blighted by modern groundscrapers. The name remembers Robert Harrild, a famous printer of the early 19th century (and Wren-steeple saver) whose factories were hereabouts. His machinery is all over the food menu.
It's a spacious old building, from the same stable as the splendid Well and Bucket in Shoreditch. Indeed, the decor and concept is all very familiar, with skull portraits on the walls, a copper-topped bar and electrical fittings, light-coloured bricks and dark woods. A vast skylight illuminates the comfy back room.
Drinkers of rare ales will squeal, with two or three unfamiliar casks, many more on keg (including a couple of powerful tipples above 10%), and a lot o' bottles.
The food menu — in common with other branches of this chain — is among the best pub food we've ever sampled. Fresh oysters are a speciality, but they also do a stonking haddock if that's more your thing.
Like its Shoreditch cousin, Harrild and Sons boasts a dimly lit basement cocktail bar (called 5cc) for when the beer and wine is not enough. An early starters menu from 5ish sees some of the house cocktails served upstairs at a discount. A marvellous place.
On Facebook. On Twitter as @Harrildandsons
Last updated May 2023.
