Portobello Gold

No Longer In Business

Visited many times over the years. More of a bar/restaurant than an out and out restaurant. Another place in the Portobello / Notting Hill area that’s OK for a pint if you’re passing but doesn’t really offer much for the beer geek. This is the place where Bill Clinton & his entourage famously dropped in unannounced for a swift tincture, then did a runner without paying.

Portobello Gold used to be an old favourite back in the late ’80s but it’s stuck in a bit of a timewarp and no longer appeals too much. They have only two rather ordinary beers on draught and the rest is mainly keg beer I wouldn’t bother with unless (or even if) there was absolutely nothing else and no fruit juice. The conservatory at the back is nice though, with its wicker chairs and abundance of green fronds like the palm house at Kew. It’s mainly for dining but, unfortunately, the last time I ate there the food had gone downhill too. It’s a pity, especially as the staff are always so friendly. (Last visited 10 April 2014).

Hotel, pub and restaurant in the heart of trendy Notting Hill. Two real ales on tap. Not a place to seek out. A bit run down.