Old China Hand, Clerkenwell

pub details:

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location:

Clerkenwell

address:

16 Tysoe Street, EC1R 4RQ

phone:

0871 258 7371*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Angel London Underground station
(600m) - zone 1

Farringdon railway station London Underground station
(780m) - zone 1

King's Cross Thameslink railway station
(890m)

Chancery Lane London Underground station
(980m) - zone 1

Barbican railway station London Underground station
(1Km) - zone 1

bus routes:

19, 38, 341

how to find it:

From Angel: Turn left out of the station and head toward the lights at the intersection with Pentonville Road. Cross over Pentonville Road and proceed down St. John Street on the right hand side. Turn right into Chadwell Street and then immediately left into Arlington Way. At the bottom of the street turn right and head down Rosebery Avenue and the pub is on the corner with Tysoe Street. From Farringdon: exit tube, turn right and then head right up Farringdon Road till the junction with Rosebery Avenue. Turn right there, keep walking along Rosebery Avenue and you'll see the pub on your left.

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nearby attraction(s):

Sadler's Wells Theatre (290m)

Business Design Centre (940m)

Host Gallery (970m)

Street View - click to see the area around the Old China Hand

This one's changed hands and changed names a fair bit over the years, so it's no surprise that last year's relaunch as Old Gringo - a bar and grill working a Brazilian and Mexican theme - hasn't lasted the pace. It's now back as the Old China Hand - which it was before its sally south of the border, down Mexico way - with its unique selling point of real ale & dim sum. And the selection of ale is excellent, with four hand pumps and a offering a range of interesting ales and an excellent and eclectic (Vedet extra White, for instance) range of continental beers on tap. The previous version of the Old China Hand on this spot, had wooden furnishings straight out out of Frodo's house (or at least Waxy O'Connors): strange stumpy stools and tables, which thankfully, haven't made a return. It's a pub that attempts to stand out from the other pubs of the area and for that at least, you've got to give this one some credit. It attracts a fair cross section of locals, and whilst not always the busiest of pubs, it's certainly one worth investigating if you're in the area.

reviewed:
19/11/2009