The Academy

This place is great.
I attended a leaving party last night. There was quite a large crowd of people in attendance. Naturally it was lively!
The staff were fantastic. Really friendly and helpful.
The interior was lovely. Nice seating areas and and overall finish.
A great pub!

I absolutely LOVE this place. Its tucked away in the neighborhood and it took me running past it a few times in the morning to remember to stop by for dinner. They have a small but complete wine list and their menu is great. Last night we had the sea bream and the duck. I think the duck had crack in it… it was SO amazing!

Cosy, candlelit, a Sinatra-​led easy-​listening soundtrack and rather decent food: I approve.
Grant is right though: finding it is a slightly confusing experience, being as it is on its own in a residential neigbourhood and inaccurately placed on Google Maps. Indeed, without a closer look, it’d be possible to waltz right by and mistake it (at least in the gloom) for one of the well-​to-​do houses.
Thankfully I did find my way in and to the room in the back where the Book Club was being held. Low-​lit, with wooden chairs and tables, good service and crucially sheltered from the rest of the customers enjoying a quiet evening out, it was a perfect venue for our loudly discussed Book Club.
Though I refrained from booze (the wine looked good) I did partake in the burger and chips and it was pleasing, above average for a pub definitely.
Well worth popping by for a quiet, civilised drink and/​or meal in classy, relaxed and above all cosy surroundings.

Lovely Robyn chose this place as the venue for Unilocal Book Group this month (and it’s conveniently located for her, not so much for the rest of us). As I was approaching from the south, I was beginning to wonder if I was on the right street. It’s smack dab in the middle of a huge residential area, but as soon as I got up to it, I saw the lovely welcoming light.
It’s a gorgeous pub. Very upscale looking. We were seated in the back (alone, thank goodness, it gave me time to yell about my fact-​pinions on the book). I decided to have some Shiraz and a burger for dinner. The wine was average (the selection of wines by the glass weren’t too impressive to be honest), but the burger was really tasty! They cooked it to order (which is good as I LOVE my meat rare). The chips were nice as well. I won’t say I wasn’t jealous when Robyn’s pork belly arrived. It looked amazing.
Definitely a nice venue. If I’m in the area and looking for something gastropub-​y for dinner, this is likely to be a place that I’d seek out again!

What a great find! Tucked away in a residential neighbourhood it felt like I was just having a drink at a friend’s house. The bartender was super friendly and accommodating, recommending we go in the back dining area for our book club meeting where we might be more comfortable. There was a fireplace with a comfy looking couch in the main bar area and the back dining area looks really classy but was very comfortable and they were easily able to accommodate a party of 8 with no notice.
The Czech lager (Kozel) on tap was £4.50 a pint. All the food items brought to the table (burgers, chips, fish cakes, pork belly) looked amazing but I didn’t try anything besides my lager so can’t vouch. A side order of chips was £3 and the burger was £12 (I think).
Overall a lovely evening with great conversation in a comfortable setting. Aces!

When I was decorating my flat and the bathroom wasn’t plumbed in, I came here with my mum to eat lunch and use their loo. So I have fond memories of, well, significant relief. They do a rather nice artisan burger and I particularly like the bit of driftwood propped against the wall (random). It’s a place of contrasts. Fresh and airy, but with a fireplace for cosiness. Modern layout, antique furniture. Great food and wine, practically dead on a Friday night. Youngish clientele and. .. a backgammon board?!
The food is delicious, and varied. I asked for a glass of house white and the waiter persuaded me to try the pinot grigot instead. I did feel a little bit bullied into it (and despite living on the edges of Holland Park, the odd 20p does make a big difference) but on the plus side it didn’t taste like drain cleaner. Unfortunately being more of a wino rather than a wine connoisseur, I fear the niceness was wasted on me, hence the slight resentment at his unrequested involvement. Possibly the usual people eating there (i.e those who do actually live immediately next door rather than in an ex-​council flat down the road) are used to this, and need the help, but I’m happy with my cheap stuff. I was only there for the board games.
The girl serving got a bit confused with the order, and rather hilariously the main waiter came over and brightly informed us that «Sorry, she’s new, and she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She’s nice though». Hah! I’ll take a halloumi salad with a side of painful honesty.

Clean, quaint, classy, quiet. Stumbled upon a jewel of a place, half full only, with locals who are clearly all friends and friendly. Antiquey and eclectic. Plus, free wi-​fi.

This unassuming gastropub, tucked away on a sleepy street behind Holland Park Avenue, has been a family favourite for years.
It’s got a cosy, intimate feel with a proper, posher dining room to the rear. On cold days, the hottest table literally and otherwise is the two-​seater one you can book next to the roaring open fire. During warmer months take one of the streetside al fresco tables and watch the well-​heeled world go by.
What’s great about this place unlike many better known, more prominently placed eateries is the fact it’s never heaving. That and the fact the food is excellent and reasonably priced.
I reckon their homemade burgers are the best in town; tasty and melt-​in-​the-​mouth tender. You can also choose between chunky chips or French fries to accompany it. Call me high maintenance but this is a welcome bonus.
The menu changes regularly and always has a good range of meat, fish and veggie dishes. On a visit the other day I noticed bangers from luscious Lidgates the butcher on the menu as well as slow roasted pork belly with prunes and thyme.
A delicious local gem.