Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, Clerkenwell

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, just round the corner from Exmouth Market, has just launched a new brunch sitting, making the bar/restaurant an all-day proposition. And what a proposition it is!

The menu isn’t huge, which is a good thing, as you know what you’re getting is fresh and just prepared. Pride of place goes to the B&H (i.e. full English) breakfast, which you can customise to your desires. At the healthy end of the spectrum you can also have toast, granola, fruit salad and porridge, or if you’re feeling less virtuous, there’s French toast and scones. The real stars of the menu though are the varieties of the classic brunch staple Eggs Benedict, with the Florentine and Royale versions joined by ‘Huevos Benedictinos’, a Mexican take on this archetypal dish. Chorizo, avocado and pico de gallo make for a creamy, comforting and indulgent way to ease your way into the day. Add to this crispy potato hash with egg and a choice of beef, salmon or curried cucumber and you have a nicely rounded choice of options.

And not’s let forget the boozy aspect. Obviously, whoever invented the Bloody Mary just wanted an excuse to be able to drink before midday without judgement (thanks for that, by the way!), and B&H have embraced the concept fully, with a bottomless Bloody Mary at a ridiculously reasonable £15 (£7 for the normal size). You have your choice of base spirits, but the real genius is in the bespoke house spice mix, where you can choose the level of heat. Be careful, because even a ‘medium’ is pretty damn hot! Other cocktail choices include a ‘Bloody Screwdriver’ (vodka, Aperol, blood orange juice and Seville orange sherbet), and the clearly popular Bellini and Bucks Fizz.

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings is a beautiful airy space, with painted white floorboards, kitschy furniture, and a really nice antique-looking marble-topped bar. Big bright windows, tropical plants, whitewashed walls and shutters give it a luxurious, colonial feel. It’s a very civilised, sociable space. There’s a real buzz about the place, and it gets full quickly, though the social aspect means sharing a table isn’t the end of the world. Get there before word gets out!

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
42 Northampton Road
Clerkenwell
EC1R 0HU

Tel: 020 3174 1156