By: Ariel Brittain
Normally, a prison is the last place you would think of to grab a meal, but in the UK it’s the latest hotspot. Despite popular belief, they’re not serving grey mush posing as “sausage”; instead they serve Michelin-style cooking with a taste built for the Queen herself . The process of reserving a seat in south London’s The Clink (found inside the doors of Her Majesty’s Prison) is a bit tedious, but the unique experience pays for it all. In order to dine you must reserve 72 hours ahead of time and be eighteen years or older. Prepare to hand over both your cell phone and handbag, empty your pockets, and, possibly, be required to give a fingerprint and photograph at the door.
The concept was originated by The Clink Charity, a non-profit organization that was created to reduce the chance of the inmates re-offending once out of prison. They also aim to place graduates into steady jobs when they’re released. Notably, the statistics are more than accurate when it comes to the released chefs and waiters of The Clink. Despite UK’s shocking 49% of released prisoners who re-offend, in 2012 those who graduated from The Clink and re-offended were only 12.5%. This number is expected to drop significantly by 2016.
Worried about your safety? Don’t be. The only inmates that can participate are those convicted of non-violent crimes and who have shown good behavior behind bars. All the knives and sharp utensils are put away when not in use, and only the best inmates get to work 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) to perfect your meal. The menu changes every day, so pick a day when your favorite thyme-roasted guinea fowl with celeriac rosti and char-grilled vegetables, or pan-seared cod loin with pea crust and confit potatoes is being served and voila! A meal so good, it should be an offense. By 2017, The Clink Charity is to add 17 more restaurants like The Clink, across the UK.
“We’ve had 12,000 visitors to the restaurant so far,” said Chris Moore (chief-executive of The Clink Charity) in an interview with BBC. “That’s 1,000 people a month – a real cross-section of society. So we’re changing the public’s perception of what life in a prison is like, and we’re helping out the hospitality industry. It operates like a normal restaurant, really – you just can’t sneak out for a cigarette break.”
So whether you’re studying abroad or just taking a trip to London with the family, The Clink is the perfect place to grab a quality meal. Just make sure to leave your expired parking ticket in the hotel.
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