Polo Bar, Rydges Kensington London Hotel, Kensington

Definitely don't take those previous reviews seriously! 9/10 my foot. .9/10 more like it - see the decimal point. That's for being open. Can't think what else it would score for. Nothing traditional or English about it, apart from some dodgy-looking characters lurking on the steps with their pints of lager.

6 Oct 2008 16:48

The Prince Regent, South Kensington

Part of a small chain with aspirations towards being a gastro-pub. What exactly is a gastro-pub anyway?? Random pubs which serve food are calling themselves this now. For most, the ideal would be a traditional pub which really does have 'quality' wines and 'well-kept' ales and also serves some decent 'home-cooked' food - albeit with a touch of flair. Alas, in most cases, this is too much to ask, and the Prince Regent is no exception. The young groovy bar staff are ok, but could be a couple notches more friendly, and you can feel tension in the air sometimes. There's almost certainly a divide between them and the chefs, who work in a small open plan kitchen at one end of the bar. The chefs look p'd off most of the time and I've found on more than one occasion that a key ingredient of a dish has been changed, or that I've been misled by a description into thinking that, for example, sun dried tomatoes feature significantly when I've had two (in fact one, cut in half) in the entire dish - or that broad beans magically change into peas without prior notice. Staff weren't keen to tackle these problems when asked and apologies on most occasions were not forthcoming. No-one likes the feeling of being ripped off, even in a small way, and I have left this pub feeling annoyed or dissatisfied a few times now. When eating out these days expectations are higher, particularly in a venue that sets itself up as better than average. The Prince Regent needs to get off its laurels and pay attention to detail. Apart from the food, the beer is fine. Wine list ok with the usual Chilean Sauvignon, Sangiovese, etc etc.

3 Sep 2008 14:41

The Boat Inn, Penallt

Home-cooked food, great beer properly kept. Haven for a few local dogs.

30 Apr 2008 14:49