The Clink Restaurant Brixton

Me and my partner were lucky to dine at the clink this week. Along side us we only had 2 other couples who unfortunately did not finish the security questions and were turned away. This resulted in approximately a team of 10 workers at the ready and eager to impress just us. We were sat by our host and we asked what he would recommend for us to have for lunch. He suggested our own dishes to me and my girlfriend and we followed all his recommendations. The entree was out fast and the food that followed gave a little time to digest as you would like it too with the host clearing the table each course. We had nonalcoholic cocktails that were made with all the garnishes you’d expect to find in a high end bar. The food was presented beautifully with patterns, styling and garnishes. And the taste is spectacular. The food here is possibly the best food I’ve had in my life. As it was just the 2 of us we were able to easily speak to our host about his ambitions, experiences and places he recommended we try in London. The Clink is doing great work for the inmates at HMP Brixton and the inmates are working very well in their apprenticeships. On our way out our guide spoke about how hard it is to get people in, advertise and convince people to eat inside a prison. If you have any concerns. Please don’t, The restaurant looks and feels amazingly high end, the staff are very kind and genuine, the food is amazing and the experience is unmissable. Do yourself the favour.

A Hidden Gem with a Heartwarming Twist! I had the absolute pleasure of dining at The Clink Restaurant in Brixton, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget! From the moment we stepped in, the atmosphere was welcoming and inviting, which felt a bit surprising considering the unique setting within HMP Brixton. But this is what makes The Clink so special – it’s not just a great place to eat; it’s a social enterprise with a purpose. All the food is prepared and served by prisoners working towards rehabilitation and gaining culinary skills for life after release. The food? Outstanding. It’s not your typical prison fare! The menu offers a range of fresh, contemporary dishes, with everything prepared to perfection. The flavors were rich and balanced, and you could tell that a lot of care went into each dish. We tried the grilled lamb chops and the roast cauliflower steak, both were absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Each dish had a bit of a twist, showing the skill and creativity of the chefs-in-training. The service was also excellent. Despite being a training restaurant, the staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. They took the time to explain the dishes, and you could tell they were genuinely proud of the work they were doing. What really makes The Clink stand out is its mission. You’re not just supporting a restaurant, you’re supporting a charity that gives inmates real-life skills, mentorship, and an opportunity to transform their futures. Knowing this made the meal even more meaningful. Highly recommend a visit if you’re in the area. It’s a fantastic place to enjoy a great meal while supporting an amazing cause. Whether you’re a foodie or someone looking to support social change, The Clink is a must-visit!

A special meal for my birthday and it was fantastic, Tim our waiter was just brilliant. Was filling our water glasses before we even noticed, recommended drinks based on our likes. He was superb with my partner who had multiple allergies to egg milk and nuts. When a course accidentally came out with a sauce which he thought could have milk it in, he quickly made a replacement himself so we could eat together. He sadly had to go quickly at the end, so didn’t have time to thank him properly for how brilliant he was. He was credit to the Clink and HMP Brixton. Will come back for afternoon tea and hope that lovely Tim or his colleagues are working. And hope that I’m served by Tim again in the future!

Me and my partner of 8 years (anniversary meal) went to Clink for a Sunday roast, and it was absolutely superb. Food is nothing short of sublime. Very well enjoyed. We were served by Xavier, honestly a top man with a lot of chat and manners. Had a good laugh. Hygiene was great, restaurants can take a learning from here. Thanks so much everyone.

Lovely convivial atmosphere and Michelin star food with the added bonus of great waiting staff. Lovely ethos and a great cause. Special shout out to Ben who was our waiter, very personable and a great attitude. It was great having a chat with you and we wish you luck with your future plans.

Sunday lunch was absolutely delicious, very good portion sizes, good atmosphere, very friendly staff. Be prepared for rigid security (obviously) and no photos (again obviously); I'd recommend a visit, it's not really cheap, but it's definitely worth it. I will definitely visit again.

We recently had the pleasure of dining at the Clink Restaurant in HMP Brixton, and it was an unforgettable experience, especially with their festive Christmas menu. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, a refreshing contrast to the prison setting. The restaurant is well-designed, offering a comfortable dining experience. One aspect that surprised me was how many guests seemed unaware of the prison's guidelines. It's crucial to read the restrictions, as certain items are not allowed on the premises it will be emailed to you once your submission has been accepted. Additionally, be sure to arrive 30 minutes before your booking time, as this is necessary for the search and security protocols. The highlight of our visit was the impeccable service from Mohamed. His professionalism and attentiveness made us feel welcome and well taken care of throughout our meal. He was knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations on the Christmas specials that truly enhanced our dining experience. Now, about the food! The Christmas menu featured a delightful selection of seasonal dishes, all beautifully presented and full of flavor. It was clear that the kitchen team takes great pride in their work, and we appreciated the chance to enjoy such a festive meal in this extraordinary setting. Overall, our visit to the Clink Restaurant was not only a unique dining experience but also an opportunity to support an initiative that provides training and rehabilitation for inmates. We left feeling satisfied by both the excellent food and the meaningful impact of our visit. I highly recommend dining at the Clink Restaurant, especially during the holiday season. Thank you, Mohamed, and the entire team for an exceptional evening!

Brilliant experience - would highly recommend. Yesterday four of us had the most delicious lunch here, served by lovely Jack. As a vegan I was apprehensive as there's only one option for each course but that option was excellent! The rest of my party also thoroughly enjoyed their food. This whole concept is a great one and I particularly loved the phone free aspect as we had to give our mobiles in for obvious security reasons and that meant we could fully focus on communicating with each other. I think it would have been great to make the most of the time with us waiting to enter by giving us info on the charity. We learned so many interesting things about the charity including how they are funded, who they take on etc but we had to ask rather than it being part of the experience, which is a shame I think. Not allowed phones so cant share pictures.

Michelin star style food.. In a prison? Yep that pretty much sums up The Clink. Everything about The Clink from the cooks, waiters, furniture to paintings helps in the rehabilitation of inmates. Food was comparable to any uk celeb chef restaurant and particularly reminded me of food from Jason Atherton's city social but cheaper and well.. in a prison. Our waiter Jamal was super sweet and made sure to make eye contact with both of us. He was happy to answer any questions about his life and even gave us a tour of the kitchen after our meal! Bookings must be made 72 hours in advance with a £30 deposit (for 2 people). Passport ID is required and all electronic devices must be left in a locker before entering the prison/restaurant. On the website it says that you're only allowed to pay by cheque but we couldn't find our cheque books so they agreed to let us pay by cash instead. Two 3 course meals + drinks came up to ~£60 which was reasonable for the quality of food served. It really sucks that there's a no photos allowed policy as the food and restaurant were both stunning. It also super sucks that it's only open mon-fri for lunch as most people have to work then :(

Fine dining where you wouldn't expect it, unless you believe what the Daily Mail has to say about the lifestyle of a prisoner. Whatever your opinion of the food it's unlikely you will be able to leave without paying here. The "dine and dash" difficulty rating is set to hard. The Clink is a charity funded restaurant initiative set within the prison walls and staffed by inmates for both front and back of house. The prisoners employed here are working towards attaining qualifications in the hospitality industry which can hopefully offer them a route into gainful employment upon their release. The menu and the presentation of the food is of the calibre you would expect from a high end eatery. Our waiter Craig assured me it was considerably better than what they serve on the wings! All the food I had was good, plated well and with distinct flavours which combined amicably to create very enjoyable dishes. I started with pressed game terrine, ciabatta croûte, fruit chutney and baby cress. I followed this with Three Little Pigs: caramelised pork belly, pancetta wrapped pork fillet, black pudding bon bon, mini fondants, shallot purée and apple jus. For dessert I chose spiced poached pear with hot chocolate sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. I'm normally a sucker for photographing my food at restaurants, not here though. Upon arrival you have to leave your phone, camera, keys, chewing gum, aerosols, cash above £50 and anything else they deem inappropriate in a locker outside the prison. You can try sneaking a camera in if you like, but you might end up working here if you do. Craig told me the rate of pay is £10 a week, and they only accept payment by cheque so no tips to top your wages up with. It's probably better just to leave the camera outside. The Clink really creates a bizarre juxtaposition. If you overlook the fact there is no alcohol and you have plastic cutlery you could almost be forgiven for thinking you are eating in a Michelin starred restaurant, until you look through the barred windows at the high walls topped with tight coils of razor wire snaking out of view in every direction. It was great though, unlike anything else I've ever experienced at a restaurant. Our bill was about £25/head including drinks which for the quality of the food was a bargain. I would definitely go again and recommend it to others. Things to note: No under 18s. You must book at least 72 hours in advance. When you apply to book they will ask you for various background information to carry out security checks before clearing you to book, for me this process took a couple of days. You can only pay by cheque (or invoice by prior arrangement). Reservations are Monday to Friday only for breakfast or lunch.

Had lunch here a couple of weeks ago. V friendly staff who were very attentive and the food delicious. Not too expensive, although not cheap. Would recommend to others, only problem was the wait for food, about 45 minutes. Great charity doing great things.

Woah! A fancy restaurant IN a prison? An awesome social enterprise that aims to reduce re offending rates by training inmates to cook and serve in a fancy restaurant setting. You don't feel like you're inside a prison, rather a high end restaurant instead. The service was superb and the meal was delicious (albeit, like a high end restaurant, the dishes were somewhat small). Make reservations online and you'll be back checked first and allow yourself at least 10 minutes to both get in and out of the prison due o security procedures. You won't be able to take any pictures for your yelp review as you'll have tot leave your phone (and other items) in a locker. Love this concept.