Strand on the Green
W4 3PL
020 8994 4164
Christmas Eve (yes, the early enthusiasm is waning somewhat - yours too I guess). A dog walk and pub lunch. It's as much a part of our Christmas as the annual visit to St Michael & All Angels and the Boxing Day Olympics. And a rare visit for the blog to Strand on the Green, almost the Western end of the W4 postcode.
The Bell & Crown was licensed in 1751, although pub historians think it probably had an earlier name. Many believe the name stems from the practice of ringing a bell to alert bootleggers and smugglers that the 'crown' (or tax man) was coming. Rumour has it that a ghost used to cause havoc at the bar - turning on the beer pumps in the middle of the night (I have a feeling that ghost may have moved to our house judging from the state our kitchen is often in when we return home from one of these visits). The pub was acquired by Fuller, Smith & Turner in 1814 and rebuilt in 1907. Two hundred years later it's still serving Fuller's finest ales. So I started with a pint of Pride and Master WEST4URANTS had a pint of the Bengal Lancer, an IPA "inspired by India Pale Ales of times gone by".
The boys kept it simple, with the fish and chips, or Frontier Battered Cod, to give it its formal title. I think those cod would be pleased to know their batter was made from Fuller's small batch new-wave craft lager; nobody wants to be battered in Carling.
The menu is short on classic pub grub so the girls were forced to deviate - one crab, tarragon and chilli risotto and two roasted beetroot and squash salads, with tarragon pesto, feta, lentils and toasted pumpkin seeds. They were happy enough.
Bellies filled, dog rested, we set off on the long walk back home. Seems a long time ago now.....
Food (for 5): £66.50
Drink: £8.70
Total: £85.00
