With a small one now in tow we don't go out much, especially on Saturday evenings. So we took the opportunity of grandma in town to try out The Shop. We had two cocktails, and they were very nice and not too expensive. It looks good in there. Obviously aimed a young crowd with loud music (the horror) but the staff seems friendly and we had a good time.
We then mean to go tot the Chamberlayne, but had to abandon that as it was too busy. And this is now a problem with the Greyhound shut, there is only really one 'pub' in Kensal Rise, with the others quite a way south (the Island is quite near I guess)
Also, there seemed to be (was on the bus so didn't have a good look) something selling clothes, perhaps a charity shop, on Chamberlayne Road towards Kilburn Lane.
Showing posts with label Pubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pubs. Show all posts
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Out and about
We went for a Kensal Rise stroll today - and a few things are worth mentioning.
It began in the library, which has had a refurb and although my initial sceptical view was that it would mean fewer books, and I'm not entirely sure that isn't the case, the automatic machines to get books out are amazing. Once you scan in your library card, you simply put ALL the books below the machine, and it immediately recognises all of them without any scanning or opening etc. I assume this is RDS technology, but it's very impressive.
Next we went to Retrouvius, a tardis of a second-hand furniture/collectables place. It's quite trendy and is featured a lot in magazines such as Living Etc, and well worth a visit from time-to-time.
Then we looked in the window of Ammonite2000, and then moved on to the William IV. This was refurbished last year and we liked it, although it doesn't quite work - it falls a bit between being the Paradise and being a All Bar One style place. The menu looked good though and I'm glad there are pubs still showing the football.
Finally, back on Chamberlayne Road we asked at the pizza place that was opposite Tesco what was happening. Apparently it is going to be the same people running a pizza place, but this time a restaurant, and it will also do Mediterranean food, whatever that is.
It began in the library, which has had a refurb and although my initial sceptical view was that it would mean fewer books, and I'm not entirely sure that isn't the case, the automatic machines to get books out are amazing. Once you scan in your library card, you simply put ALL the books below the machine, and it immediately recognises all of them without any scanning or opening etc. I assume this is RDS technology, but it's very impressive.
Next we went to Retrouvius, a tardis of a second-hand furniture/collectables place. It's quite trendy and is featured a lot in magazines such as Living Etc, and well worth a visit from time-to-time.
Then we looked in the window of Ammonite2000, and then moved on to the William IV. This was refurbished last year and we liked it, although it doesn't quite work - it falls a bit between being the Paradise and being a All Bar One style place. The menu looked good though and I'm glad there are pubs still showing the football.
Finally, back on Chamberlayne Road we asked at the pizza place that was opposite Tesco what was happening. Apparently it is going to be the same people running a pizza place, but this time a restaurant, and it will also do Mediterranean food, whatever that is.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Praise for the paradise
Monday, 29 June 2009
One for meat eaters
The Paradise apparently does 'host your own roast', if you have a lot of friends who need feeding on a Sunday.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Grismby local papers with the latest Kensal Rise/Green news
Monday, 17 November 2008
New things on Chamberlayne Road
It's all happening in what Vogue called one of 'London's coolest streets' (does the editor live near here? I think she might).
But it is true a lot new is opening, just in time for the Great Depression. We have a new homeware shop, Home, a fashion store, Supra, a Chinese restaurant, Pomelo, various baby shops, and also apparently a Tesco Express/Metro. Which I know some people don't like Tescos, but I think is great news. Let's hope they all can keep going in the downturn. Also The Greyhound seems to be changing into The Diner.
Update: The Diner is part of this chain, which also has branches in Shoreditch and Camden.
Update II: But where is Tesco Metro?
But it is true a lot new is opening, just in time for the Great Depression. We have a new homeware shop, Home, a fashion store, Supra, a Chinese restaurant, Pomelo, various baby shops, and also apparently a Tesco Express/Metro. Which I know some people don't like Tescos, but I think is great news. Let's hope they all can keep going in the downturn. Also The Greyhound seems to be changing into The Diner.
Update: The Diner is part of this chain, which also has branches in Shoreditch and Camden.
Update II: But where is Tesco Metro?
Monday, 11 February 2008
Thursday, 7 February 2008
The Paradise
This pub was refurbished a year ago or so, and as far as I could tell - as a occasional visitor - it involved sprucing up what was there, making it a bit more flash, emphasising the restaurant, adding a dance venue on the 1st floor on Sat nights, and -- and here I will disagree with guys at Beer in the Evening - improving it.
As a pub I think it is a perfectly pleasant place to drink wine or lager, perhaps not bitter, in generally attractive surroundings. As a club, a place to dance, I've only been once (it was my birthday, so I wasn't too old for one day) it was great fun.
But most of all I like it as a restaurant. I've been twice, for the second time tonight, and both times the food has been brilliant. Tonight we had (main courses only) skate wing, lamb with clams, and cod. We all agreed it was lovely - my girlfriend's skate was 'pillowly', tasting of garlic and adorned with Morecambe Bay shrimps, and with the most fantastic mashed potato. My lamb was, unusually, served with clams, but I imagine much like Guinness and Oysters, it worked beautifully, with the sweet lamb (and a kind of potato Dauphinois).
I would also like to commend the staff. The - I am not sure what to term to use, but I'll use this one - Maitre 'd, both found us a table early (as he knew we were waiting) and gave us a running commentary on the source of the food, the chef and the ideas. He really made the evening. The waiter too was as good as you could imagine, and also a great laugh.
So I can't really recommend it highly enough for food. Prices are moderately expensive, say £12-£15 for a main course and £4-£7 for starters/deserts. An interesting and varied wine list starts from about £13.
As a pub I think it is a perfectly pleasant place to drink wine or lager, perhaps not bitter, in generally attractive surroundings. As a club, a place to dance, I've only been once (it was my birthday, so I wasn't too old for one day) it was great fun.
But most of all I like it as a restaurant. I've been twice, for the second time tonight, and both times the food has been brilliant. Tonight we had (main courses only) skate wing, lamb with clams, and cod. We all agreed it was lovely - my girlfriend's skate was 'pillowly', tasting of garlic and adorned with Morecambe Bay shrimps, and with the most fantastic mashed potato. My lamb was, unusually, served with clams, but I imagine much like Guinness and Oysters, it worked beautifully, with the sweet lamb (and a kind of potato Dauphinois).
I would also like to commend the staff. The - I am not sure what to term to use, but I'll use this one - Maitre 'd, both found us a table early (as he knew we were waiting) and gave us a running commentary on the source of the food, the chef and the ideas. He really made the evening. The waiter too was as good as you could imagine, and also a great laugh.
So I can't really recommend it highly enough for food. Prices are moderately expensive, say £12-£15 for a main course and £4-£7 for starters/deserts. An interesting and varied wine list starts from about £13.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Press release time
The Regent, down Regent Street, is advertising its new burgers. I've not tried them, but I quite like the Regent, but during the day or in summer, not when it gets a bit busy.
I would take issue with the claim
The pub before was called Astons, which was a sister pub to one in West Hampstead. At the time I lived in West Hampstead, and we thought Astons was great when it first opened. It went downwhill rapidly and was shut down, but the one in Kensal Green lingered longer and even two years ago was going strong, looking much like the Regent does now.
Update: Sorry about lack of posts. Have some on old pictures of Kensal Rise and fantastic Italian and Portuguese delis to come, albeit perhaps not in the next few days.
I would take issue with the claim
The brothers have turned what was once an unloved old boozer into an open plan ground floor pub with a home-from-home feel.
The pub before was called Astons, which was a sister pub to one in West Hampstead. At the time I lived in West Hampstead, and we thought Astons was great when it first opened. It went downwhill rapidly and was shut down, but the one in Kensal Green lingered longer and even two years ago was going strong, looking much like the Regent does now.
Update: Sorry about lack of posts. Have some on old pictures of Kensal Rise and fantastic Italian and Portuguese delis to come, albeit perhaps not in the next few days.
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Monday, 10 September 2007
Guides to Kensal Rise
Well they also use my not-that-innovative-name, and they have the cheek to say our beloved area is "still a bit dodgy" (well for me at least it's currently 1-1 on car windows being smashed with Kensington Park Road, so there!), but they do link here (for the Chamberlayne "review") and otherwise it's great to see Gridskipper having a groovy collection of bar/restaurant reviews and a nice use of google maps for Kensal Rise.
They say they got their information on Samson Miro from Urban Junkies, which also has a nice write up.
Basically I think the bar/pub/restaurant collection is just about covered now - there's seven good ones within a 10-min walk of Kensal Rise train station. What the place needs is some decent shops - a butchers would be great.
They say they got their information on Samson Miro from Urban Junkies, which also has a nice write up.
Basically I think the bar/pub/restaurant collection is just about covered now - there's seven good ones within a 10-min walk of Kensal Rise train station. What the place needs is some decent shops - a butchers would be great.
Friday, 29 June 2007
The Chamberlayne is open!
No pictures yet, but early indications are good. It sells the new Artois range, which I had not tried, and seems nice enough. The look is exposed brickwork, expensive steaks written on boards, and the no-two-chair-alive style which every other London pub conversion has, but I suppose adds to the image. Very busy on Thursday too, which I assume was the opening night. I thought it was slightly strange it allowed smoking, given the ban in only three days away.
Monday, 11 June 2007
New pub in Kensal Rise?
Apologies for the lack of posts - my launching of yet another blog coincided with a very busy time at work and in the evenings.
Anyway, I have lots of reviews and suchlike to do, which I will try to complete in the next few weeks. But in the meantime, the exciting development in Kensal Rise is the closing down of the Banker's Draught pub on Chamerlayne Road for 'refurbishment'. The question is does that mean a lick of paint and some new furniture, or a whole new pub?
The signs so far are the latter. In a way I find this exciting - the Banker's Draught was not a pub I would have gone in normally (never say never), and its replacement (or even its renovated old self) probably will. But on the other hnad, when this kind of thing happens there's always an element of concern that the people who formerly went there will have nowhere to go, and in the place of a popular (or so it seemed) pub will come a non-descript loud bar full of braying 25 year olds.
Watch this, and that, space.
Update: The Chamberlayne Bar and Steakhouse gastropub. So it could be quite interesting. But they are advertising for a chef, so here's your chance!
Anyway, I have lots of reviews and suchlike to do, which I will try to complete in the next few weeks. But in the meantime, the exciting development in Kensal Rise is the closing down of the Banker's Draught pub on Chamerlayne Road for 'refurbishment'. The question is does that mean a lick of paint and some new furniture, or a whole new pub?
The signs so far are the latter. In a way I find this exciting - the Banker's Draught was not a pub I would have gone in normally (never say never), and its replacement (or even its renovated old self) probably will. But on the other hnad, when this kind of thing happens there's always an element of concern that the people who formerly went there will have nowhere to go, and in the place of a popular (or so it seemed) pub will come a non-descript loud bar full of braying 25 year olds.
Watch this, and that, space.
Update: The Chamberlayne Bar and Steakhouse gastropub. So it could be quite interesting. But they are advertising for a chef, so here's your chance!
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