The Antelope, Belgravia, SW1

This is a Toby Inn, so serves a great carvery and it the Thwaites Lancaster Bomber was in excellent condition. Large room with separate eating areas. Spacious enough not to feel crowded even when as full as it was yesterday.

This traditional old fashioned style Fullers Pub may be located in one of the country’s most desirable areas but it has quite a universal appeal and doesn’t make any attempt to favour the well heeled at the expense of the local office workers and general pub goers. The décor and interior is quite basic and sturdy with an island bar, patterned windows and good solid furnishings although it does pamper to the sofa fraternity in the homely rear section. There is a small paneled side room in what appears to have once been a separate building as well as an upstairs bar / function room. There are various old pictures and displays on the walls including the the old pub sign. One little known fact is that the area was once popular for cricket, the Prince’s Cricket Ground being situated nearby until the area was redeveloped in the 1880’s to what we see now. The cricket theme pops up occasionally in the pubs in the area (the now closed Australian pub was named in honour of the touring Australia test team who played here). The Antelope regulars have held an annual friendly cricket match against the Churchill Arms in Kensington since 1991, a list of the results being recorded on a board along with other cricketing memorabilia. A good range of Fullers ales available on my visit; Pride, Discovery, Chiswick, ESB and Porter with prices pretty reasonable for the area. Despite being quite tucked away, the pub appears to be a popular haunt and it is also quite handy for the nearby Cadogan Hall, now being increasingly used as a regular music venue. When I used to work around here, the Antelope was one of my regular watering holes and I’m pleased that my first visit in 20 years hasn’t seen it succumb to any trendy modernisation programme like so many of my old haunts in the area. I’m sure it won’t be another 20 years before I make use of its services again.