Bourne & Hollingsworth, Clerkenwell
If you follow me on Instagram you may remember seeing a photo I shared of Bourne & Hollingsworth. A beautiful bar and restaurant located near Exmouth Market. The perfect spot for brunch with a good friend, on a sunny Saturday morning!
I had hear much about this place before visiting, and had seen many photos on social media of it's stunning interiors. In person, this little gem is even more spectacular. With white wooden flooring, miss-matched chairs, leafy green plants adorning the ceiling, and beautiful period features, there is really no other restaurant like it. It's really an Instagrammers dream!
Upon arrival we were greeted by the lovely front of house staff who immediately walked us through the luxurious bar area, complete with decedent velvet seating and a piano in the corner, to our table. Although we were seated nestled away in the corner, it actually provided the perfect view (and photo opportunity) of the rest of space.
As we looked around at fellow diners it was clear that everyone comes here for brunch, and more importantly everyone drinks the house bellini! So we did just that, and immediately ordered a bellini each. Whilst Bourne & Hollingsworth offer a bottomless bellini for £18, it was rather early in the morning and neither of us are big drinkers, so we settled for just the one priced at £9. However, if I was to come here with a large group, or for a special occasion, I would definitely be tempted by the bottomless idea as it's great value for money.
On to our brunch dishes - what to choose?! The menu is relatively small and refined, and yet we found ourselves mulling over the options for a while. I decided upon the Huevos Benedictos which consisted of perfectly poached eggs on top of chorizo, avocado, bearnaise sauce, all sat on top of an English muffin.
My friend chose another savoury option, the braised beef, crispy potato hash served with HP hollandaise, crispy shallots and either a poached hen's egg or a fried duck egg.
We both enjoyed our dishes immensely. Every part of mine was perfectly cooked and perfectly proportioned in relation to the other ingredients. My friend equally enjoyed hers but found the portion size a little too big to be able to finish.
Whilst we were eating we overheard a conversation next to us from a lady who had clearly visited Bourne & Hollingsworth many times before. She recommended the drop scones to her friend and I was intrigued to see what these looked like. I hadn't heard of them before so presumed they would look similar to a scone, however to my surprise they were pancake like... And looked amazing! When I go back I will definitely have to chose one of those.
Our dishes were priced reasonably at £9 each, what you would expect to pay for brunch in London. However, considering the incredible surroundings, I would say that this brunch spot is worth much more! It's a must if you are in London, whether you live her or are visiting. Not only for brunch but also lunch, dinner or cocktails. It's worth noting that the other menus are more highly priced, reflecting the luxurious dining space.
One final point, if you'd like to visit at a weekend, be sure to book in advance. We ended up booking 3-4 weeks in advance to grab a Saturday morning slot!