West
Phil Winser and James Gummer, the duo behind The Pelican and The Bull, Charlbury (both of which we loved) have just opened another new pub, The Hero in Maida Vale. It’s a beautiful old building dating back to 1878 and the guys have done a great job stripping it back and restoring it to its former glory, including a grill restaurant upstairs, a PDR, and The Library, a nice little lounge bar with cocktails and a banging sound system. In the main pub the menu offers comfort food classics done to perfection – and actually at a very reasonable price too, especially for bougie west London. You won’t wanna miss the incredible scotch egg; the chicken liver pate’ the deep fried cod cheeks with curry sauce; half roast chicken with salad; ham, egg and chips done with a nice juicy bacon chop; the cheese and onion pie; and the sticky toffee pudding.
The Pelican pub in west London joins the list of new “pubs” which are raising their food game – though it’s fair to debate whether these are actual pubs in the true sense of the word or indeed restaurants within old pubs. There’s a lot of talent behind the pub: James Gummer, who has 7 Saints down the road; Phil Winser, who was one of the people behind NYC’s The Fat Radish (RIP); and Head Chef Owen Kenworthy, who was the original chef at Brawn when it opened. The menu is seasonal European, with lots of classic pub dishes elevated through the use of amazing ingredients and more modern spins, with sausage rolls, mince on toast, monkfish scampi, smoked potatoes, bavette steak and pies like lobster & monkfish and chicken, ham & leek pies making an appearance. The wine list is very well put together with some great skin contacts, British labels and more safe options for the oldies at the table
Well away from the crowds of Portobello, The Prince Bonaparte is a favourite hangout of well-heeled locals. You will likely see lots of people wearing sunglasses inside at any time of year and perhaps even the odd famous face. It’s not hard to see why it attracts such a crowd however, this place is bloody gorgeous with1920s art deco interiors.
Given the plush Notting Hill neighbourhood it’s located in, The Cow is pleasingly ramshackle once you’re inside. Supposedly the name comes from a previous landlady who was a bit of a cow, though now most of the cows are just pictures on the wall. They do a cracking pint of Guinness as well as oysters and some pretty posh seafood – this is still Notting Hill after all.
Also known as the Sloaney Pony thanks to its popularity amongst rahs, the White Horse actually has a lot going on to tempt non-locals down to SW6. Their range of beers, both on draught and in bottles, is strong and they host regular beer festivals too. It’s nice and spacious inside with plenty of sofas to lounge on, but if the weather’s good, you’ll want a spot in the beer garden out front.
When the market gets a bit too much and you want to sit in the sun in Notting Hill on a weekend, this is the place. It’s round the corner from Ladbroke Grove underground and the outdoor space is right on the street across two sides of the pub which makes for great people-watching. Usual suspects at the bar and a few craft ales. Grab a beer and take a seat. It’s that easy.
The proximity to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire means this pub is always pretty busy pre-gig. If you’re not heading to a show (and once those who are have cleared out) you’ve got a load of seating to choose from, or you could perch at the island bar. It’s run by Young’s so you’ve always got a reliable selection of brews to choose from too, although they make a real effort to stock some interesting craft numbers.
TIME OUT 50 | 50 YEARS, 50 COVERS
Time Out is turning 50 and to celebrate, the mag is showing off fifty covers from their archive at the Museum of Brands. The exhibition will chart how London has changed from 1968 to now, as well as how magazine design itself has evolved over the years. As well as the first ever cover featuring an Andy Warhol soup can design, the 1974 cover marking Winston Churchill’s 100th anniversary, and covers designed by Banksy, Jamie Hewlett and David LaChapelle will be on display.