Open Mon–Sat midday–11pm; Sun midday–10.30pm
The style:
Geronimo Inns has recently added this pub to its collection, and it’s looking all the better for it. A huge clock catches the eye on entering (‘I want that’, my friend said); stylish fans whir; flat screens show the sport; large mirrors enhance the space and light, while the neutral décor is given a splash of colour with red, white and blue stripy brick pillars. Chunky wooden tables, cosy booths and bookcases surround a well-stocked bar, which holds centre stage. Bare boards make way for carpet at the back of the pub, where you’ll also find several velvet armchairs, a painting of Dali and floral wallpaper, orchids and bird cages perched on the fireplace.
The intimate Barons Court Theatre is located in the pub’s vaults. Sixty tip-up cinema seats surround the small stage on three sides. The magic show (Sundays, 3pm) is popular, so book early.
The crowd:
We arrived on the first night of the new pub quiz, so the place was packed with groups of 30-something-year-old friends. At first we thought we’d stumbled upon the most honest population in London, but when I went to the ladies’, I spotted a poster advertising the Backberry-proof (well, almost) quiz.
The food:
The menu features traditional pub classics. The beef burgers are popular (they’d sold out when we arrived). I plumped for the baked tart of pumpkin and goats cheese (£6.50) which was really a large slice of slightly sweet (we detected orange) quiche served with a fresh balsamic-dressed salad. My friend had smoked salmon-overload blini (£9.97) to start. We weren’t sure how we’d fit in mains and dessert, but persevered. The roast beef (£13.95) isn’t just any old beef; it’s 28-day hung Aberdeenshire rib-eye, which arrived with roast spuds, vanilla carrots (which worked), savoy cabbage and cauliflower. An extra ramekin (probably not the ideal dish for pouring) of gravy comes with it. Everything was perfectly cooked except the cauliflower, which was overdone. My two portobello mushrooms stuffed with pearl barley, each topped with a poached egg (£8.50) were well seasoned, but could have done with something else to make them a little more interesting. We shared a deliciously rich and satisfying baked chocolate tart (£5) for dessert.
The drinks:
The wine menu is split into fun style groupings such as ‘Chardonnay lovers and friends’ and ‘warm-hearted reds’. We enjoyed a glass of Louis Latour’s chardonnay (£4/6) each. As well as the usual pub refreshment offerings, there’s a good selection of ales including Honeydew, Licher Weizen, Cornish Coaster from Sharps and the London-based Wandle.
