Notting Hill.
The Westbourne
Street: 101 Westbourne Park Villas
Operator: Independent
Open:
17:00 - 23:00 Monday-Wednesday
11:00 - 23:00 Thursday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Notting Hill crawl
Hompage
Underground: Royal Oak (7 min)
Circle
Hammersmith & City
About the pub:
1852 building with modern basic furnishing and decor featuring wooden tables and chairs and exposed floorboards. French window type frontage. Now a popular food-oriented gastropub with daily changing menus.
Traditional bar snacks and daily tapas are also offered. Supper club special on Monday nights.
The Westbourne is close to the end and judging point of the route of the Notting Hill Carnival.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Princess Royal Pub & Rooms
Street: 47 Hereford Road
Operator: Independent
Open:
12:00 - 23:30 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 23:00 Sunday
Map: Notting Hill crawl
Homepage
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (12min)
Central
About the pub:
Following a period as Pomona's, this site reopened in March 2022 with its original name, the Princess Royal. The present incarnation, as part of the small Cubitt House chain of London pubs, is very much food, wine and cocktail focussed, but with a range of keg beers and three real ales. The refurbishment during the prior closure included some restoration of original features, including the exposure of the pub name mosaic in the entrance porch. The premises are now expensively furnished and offer elegant and comfortable facilities inside and outside for drinkers and diners alike.
Upholstered stools flank the solid wooden horse-shoe bar with original tiles and polished timber flooring, red arm chairs fill the window and variously-sized tables are close by, affording ample space for drinkers inside or outside the pleasant front terrace. Bar or table service is provided by charming and helpful uniformed staff.
The most memorable feature of the pub is the adjoining large outdoor dining area with some 120-plus covers. Huge trees stand among the tables and flower beds surround the periphery. Tables and chairs are cast iron with dark green woodwork and other decorative materials, all of the highest quality. This must be one of the most attractive dining rooms in London and indeed the whole pub has been described in The Times as "one of the most magnificent, sprawling, elegant and beautiful pubs imaginable". Food service starts with breakfast and there is an interesting Mediterranean-inspired menu for lunch and in the evening. Wines in a high-end list are surprisingly not arranged by country of origin, but by style. Bar snacks include such favourites as fried pizzas with truffle and nduja on fennel biscuits.
Note that alcohol may not be sold before 10am Monday to Saturday or noon on Sundays.
Formerly a Watney Combe Reid house, built in 1841 as the Princess Royal, there's an 1880s photograph by H and R Stiles showing a boy standing outside the resplendent pub in the Historic England archive ref AL2404/005/01. The 1961 British comedy, Raising the Wind, directed by Gerald Thomas, and starring James Robertson Justice, Leslie Phillips, Kenneth Williams, Paul Massie, and Liz Fraser, was shot partly on location in the area. Several street scenes feature the pub, by then without its Victorian splendour, with Watneys Ales, the Red Barrel and Reids Stout signage prominent.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Portobello Market (10min)
Portobello Market
Cock & Bottle
Street: 17 Needham Road
Operator: Independent
Open:
12:00 - 22:30 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:00 Sunday
Map: Notting Hill crawl
Homepage
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (12min)
Central
About the pub:
Built in 1851 and formerly known as the Swan, this is one of London's Real Heritage Pubs. The City Pub Co did a reasonably good job refurbishing what had frankly become a rather tired location.The impressive bar-back and rare snob-screen survived and the whole place was opened up, although sadly the "Swan" light-fittings above the eastern windows vanished in the refurb. It is now a typical gastro-pub, but none the worse for that as the local area goes up-market. The first-floor restaurant, with open kitchen, has its own bar although the two hand pumps are currently unused.
The beer range on the ground floor veers towards pale ales rather than bitters. There is free iced water on the bar and plastic is accepted.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Portobello Market (10min)
Portobello Market
The Duke of Wellington
Street: 179 Portobello Road
Operator: Youngs
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Thursday
11:00 - 23:30 Friday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Notting Hill crawl
Homepage
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (13min)
Central
About the pub:
Built in 1854 and designed probably by Thomas Pocock, it was enlarged in 2001 when knocked through into the former shop next door, giving a two room layout. Located on a corner of Portobello Road, this Young’s pub is at the heart of the present-day market and attracts many visitors as well as being patronised by locals. The interior features an impressive island bar with a tall bar-back, surrounded by partitioned recesses in dark wood topped with etched glass. The pavement tables are particularly in demand on Saturdays and during the summer months.
The food offering includes pies and classic pub mains, and Sunday roasts.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques - Kensington and Chelsea
The Travel Bookshop Notting Hill movie (1min)
Travel Bookshop Notting Hill movie
Portobello Market
The Elgin
Street: 94 Ladbroke Grove
Operator: Youngs
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Thursday
11:00 - 00:00 Friday-Saturday
11:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Notting Hill crawl
Homepage
Underground: Ladbroke Grove (3min)
Circle
About the pub:
First licensed in 1856 and named after the Elgin family, one of whom was famous for marbles, this Grade II listed and imposing Victorian corner pub was rebuilt in its present form in 1868 at a cost of £3850. The interior is a mixture of old and modern design with superb wooden bar fittings, ceramic tiling and etched glasswork and mirrors in carved wooden panels. It is included in CAMRA's National Inventory.
At one time the pub served as a horse-bus depot with a combined waiting and refreshment room for passengers. In the 1950s it was famous as a Teddy Boy hangout and in the 1970s as a rock venue. Now the live music tends towards New Folk. The building to the east (not Listed) is conjoined and forms the restaurant and music venue. An interesting food menu includes Sunday roasts.
This pub was a wartime favourite of Timothy Evans, later wrongly convicted and hanged for the Rillington Place serial murders. His miscarriage of justice was a main factor leading to the abolition of capital punishment.
Grade II listed.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Blue Door Notting Hill movie (3min)
Blue door Notting Hill
Portobello Market (3min)
Portobello Market
