The Elgin, Notting Hill, W11

Official site of The Elgin - www.theelginnottinghill.co.uk

Official site of The Elgin - www.theelginnottinghill.co.uk

The heritage features have been well described in previous review and as a Camra National Inventory (et al) boozer, I was looking forward to this visit. So, the plus points: well, the etched glass, woody surrounds and efficient, friendly service (the incidences of being acknowledged whilst you're waiting seems to decrease over the years). The minuses: a two ale line-up of Sharp's Doom Bar and Young's Bitter is pedestrian at best (a third stump offered Hawkes Urban Orchard Berry Cider), overloud muzak, slightly out of keeping with the surrounds, and the ghastly stripped-back ceiling. My score of seven, reflects more the style over the substance.

This is a huge corner Victorian pub retaining some superb interior features. The bare boarded front room has some good quality dark wood panelling and a suspended station style clock while at the end of the room there is an ornate screen in dark wood with lots of etched and coloured glass. A door opening in the screen leads to a carpeted side room which has full height dark wood panelling with tiled and mirror inlay pieces and a central feature fireplace. The bar back here is elaborately carved. From the side room a few steps lead up to a long rear room with floral wallpaper which seemed to be more geared up as a dining area. The pub is Grade II listed and has clearly been well looked after by Geronimo since it's acquisition, the pub was once part of the Firkin chain. There are a few more modern artefacts, a couple of sofas in the front bar, a modern dividing unit between the side and back rooms containing a collection of tea pots and a few Readers' Digest volumes plus large bowls on the bar containing lemons and limes and preserved chilli peppers. Apart from the sofas most other seating is traditional in style. I didn't see any menu sheets as there wasn't one on my table and most others were occupied on Saturday lunchtime but the food I saw looked to be good quality. A TV above the entrance in the front bar had some sports channel on while music played at a sensible volume in the side room. There are handpumps aplenty but only clipped in the front bar so I'm not convinced they are all in use. Sharps Doom Bar and Cornish Coaster, Young's Bitter, Twickenham Grandstand and Adnams Ghost Ship being a fairly reasonable selection. The Grandstand was in decent shape. Very busy at the time with a mixed clientele including a few larger than life colourful characters. The large rooms and high ceilings make for a noisy environment but overall the pub atmosphere was good. Live music advertised. Some outdoor seating fenced off from the pavement.

Another good pub in this area. Bright inside and outside seating. 3 real ales on including a superb pint of Twickenham -grandstand.2 keg beers from Camden brewery as well.Impressed.