The Lodge Tavern

To make Ealing funky is a bold endeavour, but The Lodge has stuck to its task with panache & no little success. The interior of this on-trend cocktail & weekend DJ bar is a wacky blend of vintage wall posters, mismatched furniture, crimson or green wallpaper & the odd stag’s head. Outside, a large heated terrace acts as overspill. Cocktails range from the ‘expected’ (daiquiri, mojito) to the ‘unexpected’ (Thai-tanic, with coriander, lime, ginger & cachaça); alternatively, opt for a Polish beer or a glass from the moderately priced wine list. Food is more than an afterthought, with the kitchen rustling up full English breakfasts plus a menu of pub nosh incorporating potato wedges, sharing platters, grills (lamb kofta with herbed couscous) & more adventurous mains such as mustard-sauced swordfish. To finish, order strawberry cheesecake washed down with a hot cocktail.