A Flawless Roast Dinner at The Abingdon

Situated in the heart of West London, you’ll find The Abingdon. A gorgeous pub that is tucked away amongst those beautiful West London townhouses you can only dream of owning one day. The pub itself is super charming – beautifully decorated and buzzy at the front with an almost elevated ‘old man’ pub vibe.

However if you venture through to the dining area, you find a really unique dining room. It kind of made me think of a beautifully elegant train carriage, with discreet booths and modern decor.

The food itself maintains the sensibility of a British gastropub, combined with techniques and flavours from the 21st century; respecting the influence that the spice trade, continental Europe and global trade has uniquely had on the British palette whilst celebrating the best in local, properly farmed ingredients. 

Whilst I was doing Dry February, it was clear this is a place to go to enjoy your wines. All of the wines are lovingly hand-chosen by the resident sommelier Amicia. She has a passion for classic European wines with a leaning towards Italy and France whilst also dabbling into lesser-known grape varieties and up and coming regions (particularly British!) Their cellar holds a wide variety of rare vintages and vibrant modern bottles.

The roast menu was classic and to the point, with seasonal ingredients, flavours and it seemed clear they use super local produce. There were non-roast options too, which I always think is nice because I suppose not everyone likes a roast!

I kept the starters light as I spotted a heaped roast plate and really wanted to enjoy it, so just had a couple of the nibbles. Then I dug into a delicious, crisp Pork Belly. The pork was perfectly cooked, the gravy rich and tasty. There were a nice range of fresh vegetables including peas, which are so often (wrongly) overlooked. The potatoes were really nicely seasoned and the apple sauce clearly home made. I also ordered some of the cauliflower cheese which was to die for.

I was ready to roll out after a coffee, but the team insisted I try the Sticky Toffee Pudding, for which they are ‘locally famous for’. I can tell why! This was a rich, and indulgent slice of paradise, topped with a stunning clotted cream ice cream. If I was full before, this was the point to stick a fork in me.

I was really impressed with the calibre of the whole meal and the vibe was very relaxed, yet social. This would be a nice spot to get a big group of friends together on a Sunday. A family-owned business, the Staples family took over The Abingdon in 1998 and it has remained in the family ever since – just another great reason to support them.

Find out more > www.theabingdon.co.uk