Penny Blood's Black Book - My Independent Guide to London » Gastro Pubs

The Duke (of York)

Penny Blood — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:06:34 +0000

The Duke of York occupies a prime spot up a quiet side street in Bloomsbury avoiding the throngs of foot traffic in this busy area. I love the 1930’s décor, dusty pink walls, old mirrors, well worn furniture, pot plants and red lacquered piano. There is a lovely little dining room with wood paneled, dark leather booths, a cosy fireplace not to forget the bold red and black lino flooring and 1940’s soundtrack playing overhead. They serve very good food with a British bent, beef and ale pie, smoked cod and apple crumble that kind of thing. It can get quite busy at peak times but that’s only because it instantly becomes a favourite of all who discover it.

http://www.dukepub.co.uk/

The Duke, 7 Roger Street, London, WC1N 2PB
0207 242 7230

No related posts.

St. John’s Tavern

Penny Blood — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:48:25 +0000

St. John way surpasses any Gastropub I have been to so far. It looks gorgeous and the food is delectable. The cavernous dining room is romantically lit with a huge fireplace, grand chandeliers and a charming collection of peculiar portraits adorning the back wall, creating quite a resplendent effect. The menu is extensive and the portions generous, I ordered mushroom soup thinking this was probably a fairly uneventful choice, but OMG was it great. It consisted of a light broth with whole delicious mushrooms of several varieties, none of this pureed crap that we’re used to. For desert I suggested to my friend we share a desert, she suggested we share two (her way of saying no, I want my own), we opted for the apple crumble with quince and walnut with amaretto and apricot ice cream and the mixed berry pavlova. Now I couldn’t really care a less about pavlova usually, but when you say “Have you been to the St. John in Archway?” and the reply comes “Oh yes, have you had the Pavlova”, it makes you want to try it and damn was it worth it. Without a doubt my new favourite spot in North London.

http://www.stjohnstavern.com/

St. John Tavern , 91 Junction Road, Archway, London, N19 5QU
020 7272 1587
Monday – Thursday 5pm-11pm; Friday – Saturday 12pm-11pm; Sunday 12pm-10:30pm

The Havelock Tavern

The Eagle

Penny Blood — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:49:44 +0000

This was the first so-called ‘gastro pub’ in London started by one of the Eyre brothers. That is the main reason I like it. It looks much the same as all other gastro pubs but being one large room with the bar along one wall and lacking any nooks and crannies it somewhat lacks an element of ‘cosiness’, although in it’s favour it does look like a pub rather than an over-gentrified ‘gastro-pub’.* The food however is great. I love ordering fish and getting the whole fish. I generally inhale my food so picking through all the bones gives me something to do for an hour and a half. Like all good gastro pubs the menu changes daily and attracts all the kind of people who live and work in the area thus not feeling too cliquey like local residential pubs.

*Note that I have no problem what so ever with over-gentrification, I’m not going to pretend that I like being surrounded by poor people.

159 Farringdon Road, Farringdon, EC1R 3AL
020 7837 1353
Monday-Saturday 12-11pm Sunday 12-5pm Lunch served Monday – Friday 12.30-3pm
Saturday-Sunday 12.30-3.30pm Dinner served Monday – Saturday 6.30-10.30pm

No related posts.

The Flask

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:19:21 +0000

A locals favourite if ever there was one, although people come from far and wide to visit The Flask in Highgate as it has great food too. The oldest part dates back to 1663 and it’s been reported that the famous highwayman, Dick Turpin, hid out in the stable here. As traditional as they come the Flask is a labyrinth of snug and cosy rooms with dark wood paneling, wooden beams, oil paintings, fireplaces and bottle glass windows. Situated at the top of Highgate Hill a minutes walk from the secluded and cute Highgate village and next to historic Highgate Cemetery, the burial place of Karl Marx, the Flask has one of the best outdoor seating areas I’m yet to find. With a covered side terrace decorated with pictures and lights and bushes of lilac it’s certainly one of the most picturesque too.

The Flask, 77 Highgate West Hill, Highgate, London, N6 6BU
020 8348 7346
Monday – Saturday 11am-11pm Sunday 12pm-10.30pm Food served 12pm-10pm

No related posts.

The Hollybush

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:17:55 +0000

I can but only fantasize about living in Hampstead. Being so close to the Heath, it’s not far from being in the countryside with huge beautiful and quirky houses and a little high street with unusual places mixed in alongside the usual high street fixtures. And the Holly Bush is just that perfect country village pub. Wood paneled walls and low ceilings create a cozy atmosphere with open fires in the winter. Frequented not just by locals though as the Holly Bush is famous throughout London. It’s located in a particularly nice spot and isn’t far from the Heath which in summer is mobbed by people having a wholesome day outdoors. It’s not full of people having a drink after work types but rather wealthy retired gentlemen in corduroy and open collared shirts and it’s so spacious you need never worry about finding a place to sit.

Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG
020 7435 2892
(Bar opening hours) Monday -Saturday 12pm-11pm Sunday 12noon to 10.30pm
(Kitchen opening hours) Monday – Friday 12pm-4pm and 6pm-10pm
Saturday, 12pm-10pm Sunday 12pm -9.30pm

Everyman Hampstead

The Garrison

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:56:02 +0000

The Garrison is frequently a contender for the loveliest gastro pub in London and lovely it is, with worn wooden tables and mismatched regency chairs, odd antiquities under twinkly lights create a quirky vintage environment, an aesthetic you probably know by now, I love. Serving modern British/European food, they have very graciously customised my order to accommodate my new diet de jour – no dairy. Amusingly I overhear the waiter reasoning with the chef over another pain in the ass order “I know it’s a goat’s cheese risotto but is there anyway you can miss out the goat’s cheese?” He catches me laughing and points out that the kitchen are usually happy to do whatever is asked it’s the waiting staff it’s a pain for as they aren’t allowed to swear at the customers. Located in Bermondsey, near enough to London Bridge that you won’t wholly fear for your life or running into a relative of Jade Goody, Bermondsey Street has a number of great shops, cafes and restaurants.

http://www.thegarrison.co.uk/

The Garrison, 99-101 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3XB
020 7089 9355
Monday – Friday 8am-11pm Saturday 9am-11pm Sunday 9am-10.30pm
(Breakfast) Monday – Friday 8am-11.30am Saturday – Sunday 9am-11.30am
(Lunch) Monday – Friday 12pm-3.30pm Saturday – Sunday 12.30pm-4pm
(Dinner) Monday – Saturday 6.30pm-10pm Sun 6pm-9.30pm

No related posts.

The Paradise

Penny Blood — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:07:48 +0000

Today I feel like taking the week off and by week I mean life so I thought I’d stop by one of my favourite pubs, the Paradise by way of Kensal Green, that name is just magical isn’t it and it’s apt too. With attractive craquelure paintwork, decorative chandeliers, faux French gilt furniture, quirky knick knacks such as bird cages and marble busts with cherub sculptures dotted around amongst the traditional oil paintings it’s like dining in a hedonistic French Chateau. The curious alcoves and stunning roof terrace make it the perfect spot for romantic liaisons but it caters well for larger groups too. The food is reasonably priced, European style gastro-pub fare, not lacking in panache with delicious deserts and inventive bar snacks.

http://theparadise.co.uk/

The Paradise, 19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, London, W10 4AE
020 8969 0098
Monday – Wednesday 12.30pm-midnight Thursday 12.30pm-1am
Friday – Saturday 12.30pm-2am Sunday 12pm-11.30pm
Food served Monday-Saturday 4pm-10.30pm Saturday 12pm-4pm 6.30-10.30pm Sunday 12pm-8pm

The Havelock Tavern

The Dove

Penny Blood — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:07:12 +0000

Ok so it may be fair to say that The Dove is full of smug locals who don’t hide the fact that they love that The Dove is their local pub. I can say this because I am one. It’s packed with old mirrors and glittery lights and has lots of nooks and crannies to sit in complete with antique tables and tapestry backed chairs. It’s a traditional pub dimly lit creating a cosy atmosphere with board games and good reasonably priced food. For Belgian beer-lovers, The Dove is the owner of one of the biggest selections outside of Belgium, although this means nothing to me as I dislike beer (actually I hate it but my mum tells me never to use the word ‘hate’ only dislike or seriously dislike), I read a great (although highly disparaging review) which I can’t help but quote as I never get bored of the ultra creative phrases that people come up with to insult East End trendies,; “what you first notice upon entering The Dove is the one-dimensional crowd of white, monochrome, middle class twenty-something’s, all out for the evening with their artiste mates and designer-clad (by way of Oxfam) girlfriends. Oversized glasses and pork pie hats adorning all tables” I can’t help but note that it takes one to know one as how else would they know what a pork pie hat looked like or where those clothes come from, would you agree? hmm..?

http://www.dovepubs.co.uk/dove-noticeboard.html

The Dove, 24 – 28 Broadway Market, London, E8 4QJ
0207 7275 7617
Sunday – Thursday 12pm-11pm Friday, Saturday 12pm-1pm
(Kitchen Opening Hours) Monday – Wednesday 12pm-3pm and 6pm-10pm Thursday 12pm-10pm
Friday – Saturday 12pm-11pm Sunday 12pm-10pm

No related posts.

The Havelock Tavern

Penny Blood — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:06:40 +0000

The best kind of gastro pub is the kind that doesn’t try too hard, essentially serving up modern day comfort food just A LOT BETTER. A word of warning: the bread here is so delicious you are likely to fill up before your meal even comes. Despite being tucked away in a wholly residential area therefore being very much a local, the friendly atmosphere, old portraits, random mix of furniture apparently collected from country houses all over England make it worth the trip. The food is always good without fail but I would check to see how large the portions are as they tend to vary, it’s always disappointing getting a main course that should really be a starter. Additionally the Havelock serves up a truly authentic taste of the classic private school kid as it’s packed with them, pink shirts, boat shoes and all.

http://www.thehavelocktavern.co.uk/

57 Masbro Road, Brook Green, W14 0LS
0207 603 5374
Monday – Saturday 11am-11pm Sunday 12pm-10.30pm
(Food served) Monday – Saturday 12.30pm-2.30pm and 7pm-10pm Sunday 12.30pm-3pm and 7pm-9.30pm

The Cow

Penny Blood — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:04:33 +0000

The Cow is another of Tom Conran’s (son of Terence) wonderful establishments. A fairly long standing pub and restaurant of the highest degree, the modern European food here is extremely good and plentiful with a great relaxed atmosphere. With walls lined with framed old illustrations from the Spectator and a fresh oyster tank, it’s small, crowded and filled with Notting Hill locals who look like they read Private Eye and the Daily Telegraph, have country houses in Dorset, wear tweed and their collars up, are never out of their Churches brogues except on weekends when they trade them for Docksiders or Hunter wellies. It’s quite posh but with the trust-fund always drunk and friendly types. You will be packed in pretty tight but that’s always a good sign. Overall it’s great value for money and I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love it.

http://www.thecowlondon.co.uk/

The Cow, 89 Westbourne Park Road, London, W2 5QH
020 7221 0021
Monday – Sunday 12pm-3pm and 6.30pm-10.30pm

No related posts.