Roundwood Lodge Cafe, Brent

15-06-2009

26 Review(s)     

I had a highly enjoyable meal here on Saturday. I had a lovely jerk chicken with chips and my other half devoured a large plate of noodles, Thai style. The staff here are a great laugh too and very friendly.

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History of the Notting Hill Carnival, Notting Hill

15-06-2009

2 Review(s)     

Hi KYAN, thanks for pointing out the other articles about the history of Carnival. To be honest the feature is not a good one and we used to have a much better on the site. We will amend it forthwith.

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Garden Gate, Hampstead

16-03-2009

2 Review(s)     

London Pubs Group Evening Crawl of Hampstead

This classic example of Brewers' Tudor was appropriately named the Railway Tavern until 1999 and was described in the first edition of the North London Beer Guide as having a "typical and unspoilt Charrington interior with leaded glass windows and wood panelling". Sadly only a fraction of this is still extant. That which does remain includes some good wooden panelling in one area, original wooden parquet flooring, two door lobbies and fragments of the former coloured window glass. On handpump were Greene King ('Morland's') Old Speckled Hen (which ran out during our arrival!), Greene King IPA and the seemingly ubiquitous London Pride.

http://www.camranorthlondon.org.uk/londonpubsgroup/crawls.html

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The Flask, Hampstead

16-03-2009

1 Review(s)     

London Pubs Group Evening Crawl of Hampstead

The Flask stands, appropriately, in Flask Walk and, like the Holly Bush, is Grade II and LRI-listed. The pub was rebuilt in 1874 and what makes it special today is the full-height timber and glass screen that divides the front two bars.

On the saloon bar side are five delightfully sentimental paintings, perhaps added later, and signed by Jan Van Beers. A bit of research has since revealed the following: "At the Brussels Salon of 1881, a scandal broke out over two entries by Jan Van Beers (1852-1927), a promising Belgian artist who had been living and working in Paris for some time. The scandal centred on the accusation made by three art critics that Van Beers's canvases were mere overpainted photographs or had at least, in some way or another, been made with the help of photographic means". The paintings in the Flask certainly have a photographic quality about them.

A surviving etched window reveals that there was once a small private bar on the left, which has been subsequently joined to the public bar. Other features still in situ include mahogany and glass partitions, bar fittings and counter; cast-iron fireplaces with tiled surrounds and moulded cornices. When the rear of the premises was extended in 1990 to provide a conservatory dining area, a brick vaulted cellar was discovered. Evidence of the Wells-Young's link-up was the presence of Charles Wells' Bombardier in addition to the usual Young's 'Ordinary' and Special.

http://www.camranorthlondon.org.uk/londonpubsgroup/crawls.html

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The Holly Bush, Hampstead

16-03-2009

7 Review(s)     

London Pubs Group Evening Crawl of Hampstead

This is both Grade II listed and on the London Regional Inventory (LRI), and deservedly so. With an exterior finished in painted stucco, parts of the building date back to c.1797. Despite the inevitable alterations over time, and even in recent years, the Victorian bar-back and counter survive as do some elements of screen-work and etched glass.

The predominately dark colours used for interior decoration and low lighting level help evoke an 'Olde World' atmosphere, as do the various separate drinking areas which still remain, some rather newer than others given the progressive expansion to the rear. Of particular note is the so-called 'coffee room' on the left with its fixed bench seating. The exterior livery still bears allegiance to Benskins' Brewery but the actual beers available were Adnams Bitter and Broadside, Fuller's London Pride and Harvey's Sussex Bitter.

Just prior to our departure, the staff presented our table with some free nibbles. Whether this is normal practice or an attempt to make us linger was unclear, and in the event unsuccessful, as we had to move on to the Flask.

http://www.camranorthlondon.org.uk/londonpubsgroup/crawls.html

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