We spent a good portion of our day working up an appetite. Having just walked through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park—not to mention our repeated crossings at Abbey Road—we needed a break.
I took note of a pub that Anthony Bourdain paid a visit to during an episode in London, the Princess Victoria. It looked pretty cool—and, if Anthony Bourdain felt it was worth a visit, how could I argue with that?
I had mentioned in earlier posts that I put gathered a list of potential pubs to visit whilst in London. I did as much research as I could, narrowing the selection to a small, unique list. I categorized them by location; if we found ourselves famished, in any of these areas, we’d know where to go.
So, I researched this pub that Anthony Bourdain showcased, and it looked pretty cool. There was one thing that was odd, however; the pictures I saw on their website looked nothing like the one Bourdain was in. That’s odd, I thought. Upon further research, it turned out I was looking up a different place altogether. Bourdain was at the the Princess Victoria, I was researching the Victoria. No Princess, go figure!
As fate would have it, the Princess Victoria was pretty far out of the way from anywhere we found ourselves—all week. The Victoria, coincidentally enough, was just a short walk from our current location in Hyde Park. It may not have been the “Bourdain” experience we set out for, but the Victoria looked pretty cool in its own right, so we decided to check it out!
I had really come to admire British Pubs. They are a bit different than I was used to; and quite frankly, more up my alley. There is a difference between pubs and bars. We have “pubs” in America, but they’re almost always … really just a bar. Bars are generally loud—both from crowds and music. You will almost always find them loaded with TV’s, usually showing some type of sporting event. Their patrons may enjoy a nice craft beer, but the majority are probably drinking light beer. I know, eww!
British pubs, on the other hand, are generally quieter and more relaxing than it’s American counterpart. There may be TV’s, but they’re not predominate. Hanging out at a British pub is very similar to hanging out at a coffee shop. It’s simply a place to chill. Sit with some friends and participate in the art of talking, of course while you drink quality beer, preferably cask ale!
We all know the old joke, a man walks into a bar… well, he should have walked into a pub!
There are many differences between a pub and a bar, but one key difference has to be the charm of a British pub. They can be very warm, welcoming, and very quaint. The Victoria was perhaps the best example of these characteristics that distinguish a British pub that we encountered.
Every section of this 19th century pub was “photo” worthy. It is quite the environment to sit and enjoy a few pints. We sat at a small table in front of the fire place. On this cool October day, it was pure bliss. And the bangers and mash? Not too shabby! If we had a place like this back home I’d be a regular. I must say, one of the toughest parts of leaving the U.K. was the loss of their amazing pubs!