The Clarence is situated close to the corridors of power and its walls must have witnessed many whispered confidences, character assassinations and other choice snippets. It has even been suggested that the PM him/herself might take a late night lubrication or two there after a heavy day. Stranger things have happened.

100 yards up the road is Trafalgar Square; Horse Guard's Parade and the MOD are both equally near and it's a great place to take on fuel before a night at the theatre or in the West End. All told, what might be termed "strategically placed".

Downstairs in the friendly bar it's possible to find some very fine real ales, whilst the Pol Roger dining room upstairs caters for the more measured approach and private parties as required. The wine list has John Clevely, Master of Wine's fingerprints all over it, and no further evidence is needed to obtain conviction when you view, or better still come to taste, the contents.

What then of the rations? Ignore the soup at your peril, particularly on one of those days when the wind comes off the Thames up Whitehall and small brass monkeys are all over the place. On more clement days perhaps some whitebait with bloody Mary sauce, or a rare roast beef sandwich with onion chutney and creamed horseradish. Sausage and egg on toasted muffin with cheese might well fortify you for a brusque dust-up with a senior colleague in the Treasury in the afternoon, especially if assisted by a bottle of something robust from Mr Clevely's list.

Larger dishes for those with more time could include steak and kidney pudding with smashed carrots and swede, a baked vegetable cobbler, some cured gammon from Wiltshire with duck eggs and hand cut chips, or a crafty chicken curry, but don't forget the mouth freshener before you touch base later in the day.

Banana split might well indicate a divided Cabinet meeting, and the lack of any fudge on the menu is a deprivation that might just be met by the presence of treacle sponge and custard.

The Clarence is the sort of foodpub that encourages comradeship and continuity. To assist the growth of these excellent qualities The Geronimo Club has been launched. The initial benefit is a drink on the house for giving your details, followed by regular information on what's to do, a little present round your birthday and joining anniversary date, maybe an invitation to a party, a few recipes, some vouchers. Should you inadvertently receive a data base containing the full details of every consenting adult in the United Kingdom you can be reasonably sure the system has failed you.

Business meetings, lunch and dinner parties, champagne breakfasts, tasting events, charity events and sporting dinners are all grist to their mill. So don't hesitate to give them a chance to quote when the time comes.

Meanwhile keep a weather eye on their Website, which also gives you access to all other Geronimo Inns - each one different, all focused on their own patches, each giving the same genuine and cheerful service to their customers.