Notting Hill Diary

Unlike other sites, our policy is only to review pubs and restaurants that we, personally know and have visited. Remember this site is a local’s look at the area and we want you to know that we really are REVIEWING places rather than just quickly cobbling together write ups from other sites.

It’s also the reason that most of the reviews tend to be good. But that fine isn’t it? I mean wouldn’t you rather just hear about the good places?

That said, if you know of a local pub or restaurant you’d like to see reviewed, please suggest it to us, or even write a review yourself. Or buy us a pint down there so we can review it together. That’s OK to!

The Scribe of Rotten Hill

Value for money: good for a pub in this area
Service: good
Atmosphere: very good

It’s a long time since I’ve eaten in the Pelican (though it was excellent last time I did) so I can only review it as a pub. I really do like this place.

Tucked away at end quieter end of All Saints road, it offers a quaintness that has survived its various modernisations. There are interconnecting rooms on two levels an somehow they’ve managed to lay it out so that you feel like talking to people as you pass through.

Al in al its a great place to met friends. The only shame is that it no longer has George Vjestica’s “Dirty Roar” nights, where musicians would perform impromptu sets.

George, incidentally, moved his night to the Tavistock for couple of weeks before that pub closed down. Plans are afoot for him to start I up again as soon as the new owners sort themselves out a PA!

45 All Saints Road
London W11 1HE
0871 3327369

Nektar. An unusual time guarenteed

Split over two floors,the furnishings of this establishment reflect the idiosyncrasies of its owners, Maggie and Dimitri. The effect is as if they’ve collected random pieces from the freebies section of some classified ads site.

The bar benefits from the fact that it is precisely opposite Grove Rehearsal Studios, which guarantees a constant supply of musicians and often quite high profile ones at that. It leads to some interesting drunken conversations after rehearsal time.

Also the haunt of most local musicians, many of them play there, despite the fact that it is a bar clearly designed without band performances in mind. There’s no stage and the mixing console perches uncomfortably on a narrow ledge around an inconveniently placed pillar, while the dj squeezes behind said pillar up against the only door leading the damp hovel of a basement that passes for the dressing room.

But the discomfort of the dj trying to keeping records from skipping as equipment laden musicians edge past is nothing compared to that of the drummer, who sits under the impossiby low staircase hunched over the house kit.

I think the following anecdote sums up Nektar. For some reason for the first few years after the current owners took over the bar, the electricity was on a key. This means that whenever it was running down, you had to run to a shop nearby to charge it up.

One night a number of bands and a dj (me, as it happens) were playing. This used to happen from time to time and the event was called Meet the Greek in honour of Dimitri’s roots. The Magic Numbers were just getting to the final verse of their encore when the power went.

Sean, their drummer, soldiered gamely on while the other three and the entire audience of around 150 packed into a space barely larger than an average living room, sang the chorus over and over and over again, until Dimitri returned from a hasty trip to the local shop, luckily one that opens late, to charge the key.

There is a canopied area in front where you can while away a few hours saying “hi” to passing friends or listening to Dimitri’s unique brand of philosophy.

Would I recommend Nektar? I’m not sure. I rather like the fact that it’s almost completely below the Internet radar. Oh sod it. Yes I would. It’s a bit off the beaten track, but on the right day I can guarantee you a bar experience like no other.

Value for money: not bad
Atmosphere: good
Service: good - just

Formerly the Warwick Castle, this is yet another pub on Portobello Road in a brilliant location for the market (yes there are a lot!) and another that’s undergone a renovation, though in this case it was a few years ago now and actually, they transformed it from being a rather shaby affair with a bad reputation (or god one, if an evening of random violence is your thing) to one with rather a nice atmosphere.

Not, to my mind, an atmosphere like to diagonally opposite and one block away Market Bar (you’re never likely to hear locals saying “Let’s meet at The Castle” in the same way), just different. The fod looks very god here (and once I’ve eaten I’ll tell you for sure) and the staff are just certainly friendly and attentive.

In brief, it’s more that there’s nothing not to like rather than a place to go overboard about, but that’s a judgement by me personally. The relaxed crowd outside on a Saturday afternoon or inside almost any evening attest to its popularity.

225 Portobello Road
W11 1LU
tel: 02072217103

Value for money: very good
Atmosphere: good
Service: excellent (although see below for one small deviation)

Quite how it gets it’s name is unknown to me, but “sequoia” is a species of tall conifer. So now you know!

Just opposite Ripe Tomato, this bar makes an ideal place to pop into for a drink after slap up a meal at the former. The fact that it’s open till 1am (which is surprisingly rare for the area) means that it’s also handy if you’ve been working late on a mix nearby and fancy a quick drink and spot of socialising with the staff of Ripe Tomato after they knock off.

Arranged over two floors, this place has been home to a variety of watering holes and eateries, but this seems to be its most successful and it’s certainly the most friendly. Best of all, despite its glamorous appearance, drinks are pretty much normal pub prices. And unusually at a place where you can buy a pint for around £3, they make great cocktails. Here barstaff (and the staff in general) take a real pride in what they do.

The ground floor houses the main bar and the restaurant, while the basement has a second bar and a dancefloor area.

The food in the restaurant section is excellent and again the staff are friendly and helpful.

The basement bar is a sight to behold, its most recent refit having given it a chocolate brown and leather feel, while each of the low coffee tables has its own mosaic design.

But I tend to spend most of my time upstairs because that’s where I bump into friends. Oh, and did I mention the friendly staff?

6-8 All Saints Road
London
W11 1HH
020 7243 6363

Oh yes, the slight deviation in service mentioned above: I made a cake for wifey’s birthday which we celebrated there last month. The cake was served still on the base of the tin in which it was made, because it was quite a soft one and hard to move. When I went back the next day to pick it up, the waitress told me she had thrown it away! But she’s lovely so I forgive her.

Value for money: Reasonable - a 10% discount card is available for free
Atmosphere: Good
Service: Friendly and getting better all the time

I’m quite well qualified to talk about this place given that it’s one of my locals.

Situated at the North Western end of the region in what used to be referred to as Notting Dale, the North Pole has been through many changes over the last decade or so, generally being smartened up for a few months before descending into a general malaise again.

Recently however, its new, younger management really seem to have turned the corner, partly it has to be said by rearranging the furniture to that the large, high backed sofas face each other across low wooden tables to create little social “islands”, but more by improving the quality of the staff and service.

On Sunday evenings they’ve introduced live acoustic acts, which are far preferable in that location than loud dj’s. Nothing against loud dj’s you understand, I am one myself from time to time, but live acts are more appropriate to that setting.

As one of the few remaining independent pubs (Notting Hill has more than its fair share), it sells Timothy Taylor, which amazingly my wife, who is American, loves. As does Madonna (follow that link to see the full story). Also on sale is London Pride, a couple of speciality “bitters of the season” and the usual range of lagers. As an aside, the ales are served at the perfect “cellar” temperature (no it’s NOT “warm, flat beer”!).

The restaurant half of the pub too has had its ups and downs, but right now it’s on an up, serving traditional, but well made “British with a twist”.

Big plans are promised by the management and I’m inclined to believe them, based on what I’ve already seen. If it sounds like I’m biased then, well, I am. I want this place to succeed because a) they’re nice people and b) it’s near where I live, so it’s in my own interests!

13-15 North Pole Rd
London W10 6QH
020 8964 9384

[Donna has also reviewed The North Pole, but more as a restaurant.

[ Inn on the Green | Inn on the Green Sunday Lunch review ]

Value for money: Good - normal pub prices
Atmosphere: Excellent
Service: Friendly and charmingly eccentric

Inn on the Green is one of my favourite bars in the Notting Hill, in fact in London. A good reflection of the area itself, it is eclectic and unpretentious, with a warm atmosphere, enhanced by the presence of its current owners and hosts, the slightly eccentric Dave and Tina, who have transformed it from being essentially a sports bar attached to the fitness centre below. Part pub, part venue, part time gallery and part community centre (by the nature of some of the events they put on), they have made it into just what this area needs and it is understandably very popular with locals.

Nestled under the Westway between Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road, it features a balcony overlooking Portobello Green that is perfect for watching the market on summer days, or for shooting the breeze in the evening and you can evening smoke out there (not that you’d want to of course, very bad for you!). It has outdoor heaters for colder nights.

Comfortable chairs and sofas, family friendly and with a chair lift. Oh - and they do a fantastic Sunday lunch!

It is rapidly becoming known as a venue as well, with its large room behind the bar with a low stage and basic PA. Several times most weeks local acts play in the evening and it hosts a variety of events. Notably at the start of the year The Clash/BAD Mick Jones’s and Generation X/Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s Tony James’s current band Carbon Silicon hosted a series of 7 nights under the name “Carbon Casino” which are well documented elsewhere, but can’t go without mentioning that Rotten Hill Gang played at most of them

INN ON THE GREEN
3-5 Thorpe Close W10
Ladbroke Grove tube - cross over and walk under the motorway - look for a balcony and come upstairs
Buses 7, 15, 23, 52, 70, 295

Phone: 020 8962 5757
OR: Dave for booking events/hire: 07984 420 530
Tina re Gallery space
and available as DJ 07976 569 259

Value for money: good
Atmosphere: very good
Service: not bad, but not great

At around the same time that Tom Conran was giving nearby The Cow a major refit, the larger Westbourne was also bought and transformed from a rather dowdy “old man’s pub” into yet another trendy pub on Westbourne Park Road.

In fact, not unlike the Cow they didn’t do a bad job of maintaining the pub atmosphere and it is a place that I frequent from time to time.

Not as cool as the Cow with the in-the-know crowd, I nonetheless attracts a good looking crowd and the area out front gets packed on a nice day.

Staff here are maybe a little less friendly than in the Cow, but that’s probably because they are more rushed off their feet.

What both of these pubs have in common is that they are just a little off the beaten track, so they are not overrun by tourists and yes, they do have to try to impress a little. But it’s well worth the few minutes trek off Portobello Road to see some locals in their natural environment. We won’t bite!

101 Westbourne Park Villas
London W2 5ED
0207 221 1332

Value for money: preety damned good
Atmosphere: lively, friendly, trendy
Service: lively, friendly, trendy

Like all of Tom Conran’s projects (which include Lucky 7/Crazy Homies), this pub was bought and remodelled with a passion and a purpose. In this case ..

Whatever, it’s currently the trendy pub of there area, much as the Duke of Wellington (AKA Finch’s) used to be.

And with good reason to my mind. Always lively, it is both cool and friendly. The renovation that Tom gave it was sympathetic with both the area and “being a proper pub”.

Actually this place is the best of several worlds. A good honest pub that serves a great selection of beers properly, and a top class restaurant. Eating can either be done at one of the tables at the back of the bar area on the ground floor, or upstairs in the dining room. Or outside if you are lucky enough to get one of the pavement side tables (which they seem to have removed at the moment).

Unfortunately it’s so long since I’ve eaten there that I can’t remember what I had, but I do remember that it was excellent and by all accounts still is. I do know that their generous seafood platter look astonishing and according to my wife, who is not a vegetarian, tastes just as god.

Can you tell that I like this place? Not that the Conran family needs any more of your money, but highly recommended.

90 Westbourne Park Road,
Bourne Green,
London,
W2 5QH
0871 971 6486

Value: Average - prices a bit touristy
Atmosphere: good
Service: currently super friendly

For years this pub was known as “Finches” by locals, despite being called the Duke of Wellington. This was apparently a reference to its first owner (he also owned the nearby Earl of Lonsdale).

From the late 80s to the early 90s it was, for some reason, “the coolest pub around”, you couldn’t drive along road for all the musicians, club runners a media darlings. Now things have calmed down to leave us with a perfectly charming and lively pub of the kind I always imagine when I think “British pub”.

The real ale on offer is the perfectly acceptable Youngs bitter, while the usual range of lagers, spirits and average wines are offered (but who goes to a pub to drink wine?).

The pub currently has live jazz nights every Wednesday evening.

179-181 Portobello Road
London W11 2ED
020 7727 6727