The Prince Bonaparte

If you are not brave enough to handle the crush at the cliquey Cow, or if the crowd at The Westbourne intimidates you, try the Bonaparte. It’s invariably packed with a young mix of the less snobbish type of Notting Hillbilly that won’t dismiss you for not being in a band or on first-name terms with Kate, Stella or Jude. Spread over two large rooms, it’s a lively alternative, even if it shuts annoyingly early (11pm). Owner Mitchells & Butlers has hitched its wagon to the gastropub trend of using quality sourced produce, touting burgers made from Casterbridge beef & no doubt able to pinpoint the exact square metre of the Yangtze Delta their honey & sesame pork chop’s wilted pak choy hailed from. There are 50 wines to choose from & beers include Beck’s Vier, Maredsous, Duvel, Orval, Aventinus & Tripel Karmeliet. Well, what did you expect in Notting Hill? Kestrel & Hofmeister?