A jolly friar stands above The Blackfriar, a gem of a traditional English pub.
The Blackfriar is a great example of the traditional English pub. Located on Queen Victoria Street, right next to Blackfriars tube station in the heart of the City of London, it was built in 1875 on the site of a medieval Dominican friary. The pub is an Art Nouveau Grade II listed building and when inside, it’s easy to see why.
In 1905, the building was remodelled by architect H. Fuller-Clark along with artist Henry Poole, both of whom were staunch champions of the free-thinking of the Arts and Crafts Movement, one of the most influential design movements with its British roots dating back to the 1860s. All around the interior of the pub, happy friars can be found in the form of sculptures, mosaics and reliefs.
Ambience aside, the food is pretty good too. They have a diverse menu ranging from the traditional fish ‘n chips to unusual takes on classic pub grub such as their wildboar burger. I stuck to the traditional and ordered the sausage and mash, which didn’t fail to disappoint.
For the beer connoisseur, they’ve got a pretty wide selection of cask ales.
