The Walmer Castle is a gem of hospitality in the heart of Notting Hill, positioned on one of its loveliest streets, surrounded by boutiques and cafes. Just a few moments away is the famous Portobello Road, but this is where the real West Londoners hang out.
While the freehouse is steeped in history, originally built in 1845, it was recently taken over by Jack and Poppy Greenall, who have worked to give it a stylish, fresh look and feel, while still maintaining nods to its past and homely atmosphere.
Across its three storeys, are a multitude of dining options. If booking for a larger group, whether that be for a special occasion like a birthday or get-together, or perhaps for colleagues or clients, you could start with the ground floor. This is the heart of pub and where most of the casual drinking is done. While the open plan floor and statement bar feels quite casual, towards the back of the room is an elevated space with banquette seating and patterned wallpaper, sectioning it away slightly from the rest of the restaurant. Chat to the team about booking this table for a relaxed dinner, but if you're looking to host something more exclusive, the private dining room is perfect.
Up on the second floor, The Westbourne Room has a central dining table with space for 20 people, an authentic fireplace and Robert Kime wallpaper. Here, you can enjoy The Walmer Castle's events menu which serves up seasonal dishes like smoked salmon and prawn terrine with cream cheese, dill, capers, shallots and crostini to start, followed by mains such as Creedy Carver chicken breast with roast new potatoes, fig, onion and walnut chutney and red wine jus, as well as Williams pear and Valrhona chocolate trifle with toasted almonds and vanilla sponge.
But, if a party is what you're after, ask the team to show you around the gorgeous first-floor dining room. While this is an extension of the main restaurant, it can be booked out and has been used for everything from team building events to weddings. With a capacity of 50 seated and 100 standing, it's bound to impress your guests.