Notting Hill’s quaint tree-lined streets and characterful houses have made it popular with tourists and Londoners alike, but in more recent years, lots of visitors have made their way west to sneak a spot of their favourite celeb in the wild. Chief among the prime locations is Bertie Blossoms, a gastropub on Portobello Road that is owned by Ed Sheeran. Sheeran has been known to appear at the pub from time to time, and this alone ensures that the pub is often busy.
Don’t expect this to be your classic old boozer - Bertie Blossoms is smartly decorated on the inside with a slick emerald colour palette washing over the wood panels and plush banquettes, and tasselled table lamps sitting on all the polished timber tabletops. A neat row of stools provide space for anyone who wants to prop up the bar, and there’s a cosy lounge area towards the back.
Meanwhile, the bar has everything from beers and ciders (bottled and draught) all the way through to signature and classic cocktails. This being Notting Hill, Bertie Blossoms prides itself on its Champagne and sparkling wine selection, going the extra mile to source Champagnes from independent growers and producers.
The menu features elevated twists on classic gastropub ideas, for example, a starter of Portobello mushrooms comes with sweet potato puree, pistachio and lime crumb, and elsewhere there’s a sweet donut with slow-cooked harissa lamb neck, pickled shallots, capers and watercress. There are also oysters by the half dozen, sourced from Butley Creek in Suffolk. Mains are more straight-forward, including a rare breed rib eye with fries and compound butter, or rigatone alla vodka, and to finish there’s a dark chocolate and prune brownie with vanilla ice cream and hazelnut caramel.