Time for a Pub Crawl! (Shocking, I know!)

6 April, 2017

If you're new to my blog this might be a twist, but for those who have followed along our journeys in the past, my affinity for beer (and English ales in particular) is well known. Based on geographic concerns and taking in to account some sort of meaningful connection we embarked on a crawl designed primarily around pubs well-known for their culinary offerings, with a couple of touristy-boozers tossed in to fill the gaps. There are nearly limitless ways to plan a crawl in London. Some will follow the "90 second rule" which says you can only walk for 90 seconds between pubs (believe me, there are plenty of places that this rule can be applied.) Others will choose a theme (old, new, assorted affiliations) and others will simply follow a route or choose an area. I lean towards planning a route while preferring older pubs with a bit of history, so the gastro pub focus of this crawl was a bit of a departure. Absolutely amazing weather on this April day rendered the destinations somewhat moot, as it was enjoyable walking about London with friends and having an excuse to drink a few pints.

Our group of intrepid adventurers started at the Holland Park tube station and headed for the Ladbroke Arms, a neighborhood pub that is nicely decorated (in typical London-pub fashion with abundant hanging baskets. If the weather is agreeable their outdoor terrace is a fantastic place to enjoy a pint, and if you're looking for a meal their seasonal menu is certainly worthy of your consideration. The kitchen does close for a few hours between lunch and dinner service, so take that under consideration when making dining plans. The Ladbroke was refurbished in 2016, but wasn't remodeled, so it still maintains it's age-old charm.

After enjoying our first pint we headed towards Notting Hill Gate tube station, which is just across the street from our second stop, The Prince Albert. Sporting a nice selection of ales as well as other beers, the indoor area may appear a bit crowded, especially on days that the Portobello Road market is open just down the way. Walk through the back door and check out the generous hidden courtyard. Some parts are covered by awnings and umbrellas, presenting options even when the weather may be less than perfect. We opted for a snack at this stop and the fish & chips (with thrice-fried chips) scored high marks. The scotch eggs were a bit inconsistent, with one being a bit overcooked, but the properly cooked portion was quite tasty.

A fair walk down Kensington Church Street delivered us to stop number three, The Churchill Arms. This pub is well known for two features. The first is quite evident as you approach; it is absolutely covered up with flower baskets. In the spring it can be difficult to differentiate where the flowers end and the building begins. The other item of note is the Thai (yes, you read that correctly) restaurant co-located on the premises. It gets rave reviews and is reported by many as the best Thai food in London. (Spoiler alert, I sampled the food in June, 2017, it was quite good. More in a later post!) The scents and aromas wafting through the pub were quite tantalizing, lending credence to the claims made on the restaurant. But alas, our plans didn't include a meal, so it was just pints for us. The decor of The Churchill Arms is best described as "Eclectic Churchill-kitsch." Every possible surface is covered with Churchill-related items. I have no idea how much of it is authentic, but the collection is entertaining my any measure. It is a Fuller's Pub, so the libations offered are quite predictable.

Continuing southward and crossing Kensington High Street we made our way to the Builder's Arms. Tucked away in what could nearly be described as a residential cul-de-sac, this Casque-Mark Pub is known for excellent service and a menu of incredible food enhanced with seasonal twists. If you're looking for a memorable meal this is certainly worthy of consideration, as is it's sister establishment, The Queen's Arms (which happens to be our next stop.) There's a nice courtyard out front and plenty of room inside, but I suggest booking a table for dinner if at all possible due to their popularity.

A few blocks east, tucked back in a quiet mews, you'll find The Queen's Arms. As reported previously this is an outstanding establishment in every regard, from the menu to the service to the beers offered. It is popular with crowds attending events at the nearby Royal Albert Hall, so judicious attention to event schedules and calling ahead to book a table are in your best interest if you're looking to dine in the early evening. Since it is in a quiet residential mews they do place an emphasis on keeping outdoor noise to a minimum in the late evening. We've dined here for dinner a few times as well as lunch and cannot over-emphasize the quality of their food. Their Casque-Mark certification indicates the quality of their ales and their service speaks for itself. No matter what the occasion, this is an excellent choice of pub and deserving of your custom.

As has become the custom with our crawls an ad-hoc stop was added to the itinerary. The Gloucester Arms was our "neighborhood" pub in September of 2016 when we stayed in a flat just across the street. It's a nice watering hole, with 3 cask ales and a selection of lagers along with Guinness and cider. A quick stop here and we were off down Gloucester Rd to the Stanhope. A bit of a touristy pub thanks to being located just across from the Gloucester Rd Underground Station, they have a reasonably wide selection of libations on offer and the staff does well managing the assortment of patrons that assault them on a steady basis. We've stopped in here off and on for thirty years and felt it only right to grab a pint in honor of our long "relationship" despite the close proximity to our final stop.

When we arrived at the Hereford Arms we were lucky enough to nab a table for dinner, which is a stroke of luck 99 nights out of 100. This noteworthy pub dates to the early-mid 1800's (exact dates are unclear) and draws a steady stream of locals as well as a fair share of tourists. Legends say it was a favorite haunt of Jack the Ripper, but that's a nebulous claim as he was never identified. There is a solid link to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who named his most famous character after a block of nearby flats. The staff here is on the young side and quite accommodating, especially in the mid-afternoon when business ebbs a bit and have a moment to chat. The food is quite good, from burgers to fish & chips to roast lamb and the specials off the board (which I recommend if you're there for a full meal.) We've been coming here for over 30 years and mark it as the first pub we ever visited, so it holds a special place.