Feel grand on The Strand

It's not easy to escape the hustle and bustle of The Strand in London, but when you manage to find a nice little gem to relax in, it should be treasured.

And that's exactly what The Coal Hole public house is.

Right on the main through-fare, The Coal Hole is inconspicuous from the outside, but majestic and traditional on the inside. While there is no promise of speedy service at the bar on entering due to its location and popularity with workers as well as tourists, the waiting time lends a chance to admire the surroundings.

The peri peri chicken wings were certainly a sizzling treat

We were met by the welcoming Vitas, who advised us that our table downstairs was ready when we were. I decided to sample a pint of Nutty Black, from the Thwaites Brewery. I was met by a smooth, chocolatey delight, with a slight hint of toffee apple!

Upon finishing my pint, we were showed downstairs to our corner booth table by Vitas, and told that waitress Egle would be looking after us. As she handed our menus over with a cheery smile, I was looking forward to some good old British fare!

The salmon starter was sufficient and fresh-tasting

I decided on the peri peri chicken wings for starter, while my partner went for the smoked salmon with dill. The chicken was suitably seasoned which is often taken for granted, and the meat was tender and juicy. I was left wishing I had gone for the larger portion (£7.95) as for £4.95, could have been more.

My partner commented that the salmon had a lovely flavour, and unlike in some restaurants, it was more melt-in-your mouth than chewy, and the portion of fish was suitable for a starter.

The rich and 'special treat' of venison sausages and mash

After consuming my spicy selection, for main course I plumped, by popular opinion, for the premium line cod fillet. I say popular opinion as the research I carried out prior to this review saw me stumble upon endless recommendations to try this house favourite.

I also decided on a pint of Jaipur ale, from the Thornbridge Brewery, apparently a house special, on the recommendation of Egle. The ale was crisp and refreshing, and seemed like a perfect accompaniment to my fish dish.

Sourced using sustainable fishing methods, the fillet is hand- battered in the company's own Nicholson’s Pale Ale and served with skin on chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. As a northerner, I like to think I know a thing or two about decent fish and chips (The Wetherby Whaler being a local favourite)

And I had the only complaint I had here was that there wasn't enough chips on my plate! The fish was juicy and the batter cooked to a perfect crisp with no doughy bits in sight. The chips were hot, and the side of mushy peas was must for such a delightful dish.

My partner selected the venison sausages and mash. Three venison and red wine sausages served on
creamy mashed potato, topped off with homemade onion rings and redcurrant jelly. Again, there were no complaints on this one either. The gravy was flavoursome, which added to the rich texture of the fine sausages.

The fish and chips is now recommended by me as well as many other previous diners!

Unfortunately we were too full for dessert, which may have come as a pleasant surprise to Egle as the restaurant was certainly filling up and she appeared to be very busy.

All in all we had no complaints about the food, service or venue, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Coal Hole. However we would like to make some observations.

While not being unique to The Coal Hole, there is a lack of lighter options on the main menu. While this rarely, if ever, affects me, it could be an issue to some. Eating at The Coal Hole, we found, was a bit of a treat. It was a time to ignore 'calorie-content', to kick back with a nice pint of house ale, and rest our weary feet. I would advise when making a booking or eating at this venue to take a similar stance, so as to fully appreciate the fine British food on offer.

Saturday night diners tuck in to some good quality British food

Also, prospective diners/drinkers should be aware that the venue is likely to be busy at most times during the week and at weekends, due to its central location, close to Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. So no clicking your fingers here please!

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

Setting -8
Service -9
Quality of food -9
Cleanliness and decor -8

Total score  - 34/40

To make a booking for The Coal Hole, click here

Scrumptious food - Made in Mayfair

Mayfair.  Now, I can hardly claim to frequent the area.  It is by no means my stomping ground, and I can't pretend that I would ever be at home in The Ritz.  In fact, if I'm honest, I don't think they'd let me in.  But if you feel the same about this rather upmarket area of our dear capital city, but find yourself lost and in need of a beer and some bloody good pub grub, then fear not!  Take a left down Dover Street and step inside The Clarence.

The Clarence, Dover Street, London

On entering the pub, I was instantly hit by the warm atmosphere, the aroma of mulled wine in the air, and the bustle of people enjoying a few post-work beverages in the run-up to the festive season.  It seemed to be the perfect place for a cosy winter drink, and while you can dine in the bar area, I highly recommend taking the steps upstairs to the restaurant where you can choose from the same menu, but enjoy the benefits and comfort of quieter surroundings alongside impeccable table service.

After catching the sweet and spicy fragrance of the mulled wine in the bar area I'd already decided what my drink for the evening would be; sweetly flavoured and perfectly warm it was a fantastic start to the evening.  My partner took the excellent advice of our server for the evening, Anna, and tried a couple of ales throughout the meal, and all were thoroughly enjoyed.  There is a great selection and, if you are an ale drinker, you should definitely take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of the staff as they will be more than happy to find the right one for you.

We chose a pint of the Nicholson's home ale, and a festive mulled wine

For my starter I went for the smoked Scottish salmon, and what an absolutely great start to the meal.  The salmon was delicately flavoured, and was complemented perfectly by the yummy, salty cornichons (which might not be your bag but have a go, don't be pathetic).  I didn't finish all of the soda bread this was served with this as I found it a little heavy for a starter, but if you have a bigger appetite than me, get stuck in.  My partner went for the crispy squid with garlic mayonnaise; a generous portion and steaming hot with perfectly crispy batter.

The Scottish smoked salmon starter

Crispy squid starter

 My partner didn't hold back on the main and went for the ribeye steak, served with chips and a peppercorn sauce, plus two enormous king prawns to 'surf' it.  This was a proper man-feast and was beautifully cooked, and definitely enjoyed, but it's not a particularly cheap choice, and there are plenty of other delicious options on the menu if you find this one a little pricey. 

The fish basket main course was positively loaded!

I went for the basket of fish, which included cod goujons, scampi, king prawns and calamari, served with chips and tartare sauce.  The fish was really delicious, and beautifully presented in a basket with a stack of crispy chips on the side.  The portion was very generous, but I personally would have preferred a smaller amount, but served with some salad on the side - this came with no garnish at all which, for me, was the only thing I missed.  There is, however, a good selection of sides on the menu, including the house salad or vegetables, but whether you add these in or not, you won't be going hungry!

Dessert was out of the question, much as it pains me to say it, as we were way too full, so I chose to have a pot of tea whilst my partner went for an Amaretto latte (I nicked a bit when he was looking the other way and it was delicious, take it from me). 

Anna gave fantastic service, and was extremely attentive and helpful, and very keen to give assistance and advice.  She is a real credit to the company.

If you are ever in the area I thoroughly recommend a trip to The Clarence.  You will receive a warm welcome and friendly service, as well as some really good quality British pub food.  Then you can round off your evening with a stroll to see the Christmas lights, or perhaps down to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  Or you can pop next door to Mahiki and pull a celebrity.

This wasn't your usual surf 'n' turf as you can see!

Guest blogger - AB

Click here to make a booking or for more information on The Clarence, Mayfair.