The Horses in Clerkenwell is next to get the posh pub treatment from the Public House Group

Updated 14/9/26 with menu details and soft launch info

It was known as The Coach & Horses for 228 years before a rebranding turned it into The Coach. Now, new owners the Public House group are dropping the coach, but reinstating the horses. The Horses in Clerkenwell will be the next pub to get the stylish makeover that's seen their other pubs like the Pelican, the Hart and The Fat Badger become such huge hits.

Let us give you a little potted history. Having been nothing more than a much-loved backstreet boozer for years, beloved by Guardian journos whose offices used to be next door, the pub has had more of a chequered experience of late. First it suffered the ignominy of being closed for three years before being reopened in 2018 as a fine dining pub by Henry Harris (now of The Three Compasses and Bouchon Racine, just down the road). That was in conjunction with the pub company who used to own The Hero of Maida, which then became The Hero (keep up!). Now the Public House group own both The Hero and The Horses too.

As with most of their pub ventures, they're keeping a lot of the details close to their chest, but we do now have a soft launch menu to look at which reveals that this is a strongly seafood-focused affair. There are whole sections devoted to oysters, shellfish and smoked fish, with mains including your choice of fish like John Dory, hake and skate served with a choice of sauces. 

In the pub, along with their always-on pork pie, which they serve in their other establishments, snacks are also of the seafood variety with a scallop and bacon roll, spider crab roll and fish sandwich on offer. 

It all sounds very enticing, and although there are plenty of pubs in this part of town, there aren't all that many places specialising in seafood, which will make a trip to The Horses very much worth booking.