Visit Us
Our café Bench at the Goldsmiths’ Centre is a great place to eat, meet and relax in the heart of Clerkenwell. Whether you need a speciality coffee to go or a cosy spot to enjoy your lunch or a glass of wine after work, we’re always here to welcome you.
Opening times.
Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm.
We are closed for our Christmas and New Year break from 22 December from 1.30pm and reopen on 2 January.
E: benchcafe@companyofcooks.com
Please note that we only take cashless payments.
How to get here
We are located a 3-minute walk from Farringdon station on the corner of Britton Street, Albion Place and Benjamin Street.
| By tube | The nearest underground station is Farringdon. |
|---|---|
| By train |
The Elizabeth Line services run from Paddington (to Heathrow and Reading), Abbey Wood and Liverpool Street (to Shenfield). Mainline rail services (City Thameslink and Southern Trains) run from Brighton, Haywards Heath, Gatwick Airport, East Croydon, London Bridge, London Blackfriars, Sutton, Wimbledon, London St Pancras International, St Albans City, Luton and Bedford to Farringdon. |
| By bus |
Buses 63, 55 and 243 pass near the Goldsmiths’ Centre. 63 – King’s Cross, Farringdon Station – Honor Oak 55 – Oxford Circus – Clerkenwell Road – Leyton Baker’s Arms 243 – Waterloo – Clerkenwell Road – Wood Green |
| By car | Please note that there is limited parking around Farringdon tube station and there is no parking at the Goldsmiths’ Centre. Paid parking is sited at 1 Bowling Green Lane, EC1R 0BD. |
For more information to help you plan your journey, visit National Rail Enquiries and/or the Transport for London Journey Planner website.
FAQs
Please note that we are closed from 23 December from 1pm to 3 January.
Bench offers a delicious selection of hand selected wines from around the world, which you can enjoy with a sharing platter after work.
Bench is mostly a walk-in café. All are welcome, any time, no reservations needed.
Our outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to sit in warmer weather.
Bench is a step-free venue. You can access Bench and our terrace through the main doors to the Goldsmiths’ Centre.
Dogs are always welcome outside on our terrace. Please keep your dog on a lead and do not leave your dog unattended. We allow a maximum of four dogs at Bench at a time.
If you have intolerances or allergies, please make sure that you speak to our Bench team to check what is in each dish. Our chef will let you know which ingredients have been used in each recipe.
Our toilets are located off the Goldsmiths’ Centre Atrium, which have baby changing facilities. We also offer highchairs for babies and toddlers.
Contact our Bench Team
Got a question for our team at Bench? Just fill in this form outlining your enquiry and our team will be in touch shortly.