The Pembroke

 

Located on the corner of Old Brompton Road, a stone's throw from the celebrated Troubadour, this newly refurbished informal gastropub is the reincarnation of one of London's most renowned former gay haunts, The Coleherne. While still gay-friendly, the only overtly camp things about The Pembroke now are the wonderfully opulent crystal chandeliers, the flowery big print wallpaper and leather sofas: the redesign has really done wonders for what was already an iconic Victorian building. Ordering from the traditional horseshoe-shaped bar, punters can chose from an excellent selection of draught beers, ales and ciders - including Edelweiss, Birra Moretti, Bitburger and Adnams - while the wine list is both well-chosen and relatively inexpensive. The chef's signature dishes include a sumptuous liver parfait, Catalan fish stew (a hearty offering with prawns, cod, mussels, monkfish, chorizo and potato), Lancashire Hot Pot (slightly gloopy, with far more kidneys than lamb), succulent duck breast with mash, ribeye steak (at ?17 the most expensive item on offer) and an imposing Mars Bar cheese cake. The menu - wide-ranging and wholly appetising without being pretentious - changes according to what's in season, while everything comes served by an attentive, friendly staff. An upstairs area with snug sofas is unassumingly chic and can be used for private gatherings of up to 100 people. Open since January 2009, The Pembroke is a stylish but homely addition to the area.