The Baring in Islington has been one of the biggest success stories among the new wave of London food-first pubs
It opened to rave reviews in 2022 and has been perennially booked out for its high-class Sunday roast. And now the team, made up of Adam Symonds, Rob Tecwyn and Jay Styler, have done it again, taking over The Crooked Well in Camberwell and reopening it as The Kerfield Arms (the pub’s original name). The Crooked Well needed a bit of a spruce up and the guys have done a brilliant job decking the place out in their signature stripped back style – if you’ve been to The Baring you’ll know what to expect here…
Eat This
… and the same could be said for the food, except with the benefit of experience, The Kerfield Arms has launched in even stronger form than The Baring even did. Definitely start with the must-order taramasalata with chunks of warm pizza dough for dipping. Then there’s the Cornish squid and lardo shish with a pul biber chilli oil, and the stupendously good crispy pig cheek and smoked eel croquette swimming in a warm tartare sauce. You’ll be wanting a side of bread to soak up everything from these two plates too.
We visited on a Sunday lunch, so next up we had charcoal grilled Vendée chicken with spring greens and bread sauce, and Swaledale rack of hogget with violet artichoke and bagna cauda – this one is also available on the regular menu, but minus the roast potatoes and hispi cabbage that come with all the roasts of course.
Dessert is a death row meal-worthy strawberry and chamomile custard doughnut. Outrageous.
Drink This
Whereas The Baring is usually pretty hard to get in to on a walk-in, The Kerfield Arms has a whole section that’s more pub-like, which is saved for walk-ins only. So you could quite happily pop in for a pint of Deya Tappy Pills or Lost & Grounded pale ale whenever you please. There’s also a whole lot of outdoor seating coming very soon so drinkers are very well catered for. And if you’re settling in for dinner, there’s a great wine list too.
Why Go
Camberwell residents can count themselves very lucky to have The Kerfield Arms in the ‘hood. And for the rest of us, it’s absolutely worth the journey.
Key Information
Address | 16 Grove Lane, London, SE5 8SY
For more information | thekerfieldarms.co.uk
