The Canton Arms in Lambeth

A fabulous pub with amazing food and an excellent atmosphere. I love it

New chef and staff all ace. Best food imho south of the river. Sharing mains for two serve four, for four serve six. Excellent kitchen. Excellent value. Great wine and Harveys bitter for the ale lovers.

I went to my local pubs this week end Friday am a living locally ordered a drink, as I was about to order food white lady long hair was bloody rood telling me that's the bar side. If I was a customer trying to order food I would never talk to any one like that.

Service and staff very friendly. Unfortunately the food I had did not match. Had the Dexters beef. The beef was done as described but I found it had too much marbling through it. The garnish was over the top lots of pea shoot. The roast potatoes were probably the worst I have had in a while. Seemed like deep fried frozen, they were hard to eat. Had cheese and was present with 3 crackers, with no jam or chutney. The rest of my party had the shin of beef which was nice so might have just been my choice of dish. I had heard positive things but can only base my review on my experience. As I said the staff were nice and it was a good atmosphere.

A very pleasant restaurant with good cuisine...inspired a little by France

I went in for lunch and to shelter from the rain. A short menu with several of my favourites was presented. My mackerel and bread was just perfect once I had opened it up. Lunch times are quieter than the evenings.

Excellent beef beautifully cooked. Fabulous shared apple crumble Thank you

Great Sunday lunch - the roast beef was amazing and a nice vibe as well

A proper gastro-pub. Sneaky good negroni made with their own gin. Fresh, delicious, and well made meals.

Excellent menu, great wine list and real classic pub atmosphere. The duck confit and ham hock terrine are definitely worth a try, as are the sardines and tapenade. Would highly recommend.

Best pub in London! Next level food and an amazing wine list!

Decent roast dinner, but had to wait a long time for it to arrive and the beef wasn't very hot. It's very loud inside the pub and as a result hard to hear - but good to see it busy I suppose!

So rude in here! Have stopped coming because I can't be bothered with it and prefer a peaceful drink elsewhere

It was nice to go for a Sunday. Great atmosphere!

Went here for the first time for my best friends birthday and it was SUPERB! It was very busy for a Saturday lunch but had a great atmosphere! For a table of 5, we shared 2 steak and ale pies which were awesome! Only thing I’d say is I could have used abit more gravy so recommended asking for some extra. And then for the birthday dessert they made a giant stick toffee pudding for everyone which was incredible! Very impressed with everything and will certainly be back!

Always exceptional. A proper pub with an amazing restaurant, book but don’t book late as the changing menu goes fast. If in doubt have a pie, they are always amazing. Also lovely for a pint/ glass of wine and a toastie!

Good food. Nice environment. Good range of drinks. Small outside terrace which is always busy - so book early! Never had a bad visit

First the good stuff. The pub has a lovely setting and is full of character. Prices are steep to put it mildly. A sharing '7 hour lamb' was quoting £130. My friend and I ordered the steak pie and mash which was £54 - was tasty but nothing special and the mash was bland. Had to order a side of Savoy cabbage to make it a meal. £4 for 4 slices of sourdough is daylight robbery. Cleary this pub is aimed at the well to do with deep pockets.

Soooo good, make sure to book a table to avoid disapointment !

Arrived for a large group booking for 10 and had two small dogs with us. Our friend had called ahead and asked if dogs were allowed and they’d said yes but had not clarified the details. Subsequently informed dogs weren’t allowed in the back section of the pub. We were polite and asked if we could sit at the front of the pub (where dogs are allowed) and were blankly told ‘no’. The manager shrugged and was incredibly rude. We did our best to compromise and find a solution, confusingly they then sat us at a table in the front section and then moved us for another booking. Because of this we would have to sit in the back and take the dogs elsewhere, which proved an issue. We were told she was ‘trying to be nice to us’ but that we were making it difficult. The service throughout the meal was also very rude. No one told us about the specials or if any dishes had run out. When we were given plates for the sharing lamb main, the waitress quite literally dumped them on my lap and the table, she seemed pissed off and to be taking it out on the service. We were paying a lot of money and the service overall was pretty unacceptable. We were polite, respectful and wanted to help find a solution to the problem but the staff here just do not care. It’s a shame as the food is good but you’re not treated as you should be, it ruined our experience. Hard avoid because of the service, it’s that bad.

They accept pets🤍 We arrived at around 18:30 on Saturday, it was very crowded, we wanted to eat at the restaurant first, since there was no availibility, we sat at the pub and luckily got a table. It was interesting that the person who said I would not eat at the restaurant because there was no availibility, she served food to the table next to me in the other part of the pub, apparently you have to book a table or manager needs to approve. Later on I saw couple of people are having toasties by the bar and then I realized the bar snack toasts option, as a manager she could have mentioned that to me. They have outside seating areas and heaters 👍🏽 The pub is lively✨

We had such a special Sunday Lunch here. A testament to the menu being so fresh and constantly changing, lots of things were running out by the time we got there for the last sitting. The waiters were so accommodating and ensured we got plenty of delicious food. The beef shin was to die for, and puds were phenomenal. Amazing value for money based on the outstanding quality. Thank you!

A classic London pub. One of my top five in the city.

We are long-standing fans of the Canton and always tell anyone who cares to listen that it’s the best pub in London. It still is, but sadly no longer for the food. We have just had a very unsatisfactory dinner there: the staff, as usual, were delightful, so were the drinks, and so was the wine. Regrettably, we can’t say the same about the food: uninspiring skate that was overseasoned, chips that had clearly been frozen and put in the oven, none of the usual extras like salt in a little bowl, no tartar sauce, just mayonnaise served in a plastic Helmans’ bottle. When we asked if the chef was new, we weren’t surprised when the answer was yes. So hopefully this is only temporary, chefs come and go, but at £25 a pop, it really was not good value.

Food was OK. The staff are lovely though!

£16.89… and the chips were awful

If you’re a meat lover, then you will be well served. However, vegetarian and vegan options weren’t great. Three of our party ate the gnocchi which was oven baked. Bone dry and horrid. Service was reasonable, especially considering it was pre Christmas. Atmosphere was nice and buzzy. We probably won’t revisit as the food was very inconsistent.

I've been coming here for 7 years and it never dips in quality. Excellent food menu too. Only issue is it can get obscenely busy but that's the same everywhere in a city as overpopulated as London.

Marco should consider a different vocation in life

Very popular, hence the need to book, and I hadn’t been for some years. Noon reservation but we were told in that annoying way “we need the table back at 2pm” …. Unnecessary. Hostess then licked her finger to pick up a menu from the pile. We ordered a main that arrived just before 1pm, so we declined dessert. No spoon given to eat fairly liquid food. I used the paper napkin to mop up some spilled Coca-Cola and the waitress smoothed the stained paper out and placed a knife and fork on it. Later she whizzed passed as we had our mouths full saying “everythingokheregood” which was meant as a question. Don’t accept Amex either - a tedious and false economy. On the way out, no goodbye or thanks. Having not been in years it was a shame to see the various bottles of pickled food dotted around (no, it’s actually not appetising to see food stored in this way) covered in a film of dusty grease: maybe have a spring clean?

We arrived on time for a Sunday roast only to discover that they'd made our booking two weeks later than agreed on the phone, however, the manager was wholly unapologetic and seated us at a non-dining table for the best part of an hour while they waited for a table to come free. Eventually we were seated at the bar and immediately informed of when we had to leave, again with no acknowledgement of the error on their part. When a table was eventually vacated I asked the manager if we could be reseated, but again she was disappointingly unaccomodating, informing us that the table was reserved 45 minutes from now. She also blamed her staff for the confusion rather than taking accountability, which I feel is an important attribute for a manager. We were eventually reseated and served our food, which was of a good quality but by no means deserving of a spot in the TimeOut best sunday roasts in London. Most of the other staff were very warm and welcoming. In all, a nice pub but the experience was marred by the manager, who didn't go our of her way to make us feel welcome.

Delicious food! Great service. Top quality!

Great atmosphere. Great selection of beers. Staff friendly. Didn't eat but food looked good.

Love the Canton & the food is delish if a little too salty at times. Great pub atmosphere!

Disappointing. We booked a table at 8pm on a Saturday evening to find very little remaining on the menu. The food was fine but nothing exceptional and was pretty expensive for what it was - around £25 for a main course. Service was ok but the staff were rushed off their feet and it showed in the quality of the service. Wouldn’t recommend and won’t be coming back.

Buzzing pub, well run with brilliant atmosphere and great food

We booked 2 weeks in advance to get a table for Sunday roast. It was nice, the beef was correctly cooked and the portion was generous. However, it was really missing the Yorkshire pudding and the roasted carrots. It could also use a thicker gravy. We did appreciate though that when we asked for more gravy they did not charge us. They will be adding service charge to your bill. Expect to pay more than £30 for a main and a beer.

It was my second time at the canton arms and still did not disappoint ! Delicious meal, full of interesting flavours and there is a great ambience in the restaurant. Just make sure you save room for desserts !

Another delicious supper at Canton Arms. This is our favourite local eatery - fresh, seasonal food, always yummy. And excellent bread, fait maison, every day. Friendly, efficient service. Just so you know - the atmosphere is generally lively and quite loud, so if you’re looking for a romantic dinner tête-à-tête, look elsewhere!

We had the BEST time last night thank you so much to the team for being so fantastic looking after us and delicious food!!! Special thanks to Isobel who dealt with our rag tag table of 14 so effortlessly. The pie crust pastry was unbelievable !!! Can’t wait to come again ASAP.

Excellent food. We went on a Saturday for lunch and the food was super tasty. Had the burger and curry. The burger buns were freshly made, patty really meaty and juicy and sauce just absolutely delicious. Despite the amazing burger, the lemon curd gelato stole the show and should definitely be ordered with every meal. Well balanced between being creamy and tart.

Extra ordinary! Great food, fast service. Give me option to rate more stars

Great pub, really good food and lovely atmosphere any day of the week

Great local pub very busy at weekends. Friendly down to earth and safe. They sell food here also.

Great food and selection of beer. Lots of good sharing options for the table which is nice. Great place to meet up with a large group of friends.

Went to the Canton Arms for a birthday meal on Sunday. Menu is varied with lots of interesting seasonal options so we decided to order different dishes and share them. Every dish was delicious and a good portion size. Particularly enjoyed the miso aubergine, pea and feta tart and clafoutis. Lovely service from the friendly staff. Will definitely be back.

Had a wonderful lunch here over the hottest weekend! It was very busy with a great atmosphere, we ordered food based on recommendations from our waitress. It was all delicious, not pretentious. Everything arrived for us to share and we could not fault the food. We stayed for more drinks, all great value and the wait wasn't too long considering how busy it was. Would highly recommend this little gem!

Great place and even better food! My husband and I had the miso aubergine salad and boudin noir for starters and the Chicken Caesar to share for our mains. Can't fault the food at all, I only wish I had space for dessert! Staff were friendly and v accommodating and overall a nice atmosphere. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.

Don't have a birthday celebration here if you intend to bring and eat your own cake. The pub charges between £3 - £3.50 per person (including children) for 'cakeage'. 12 adults plus 4 children cost £48.00 which was more than the cost of the cake I'd brought along. Overall, food was great but service from the staff could do with improvement.

Lovely family friendly pub with delicious food ! They have a varied menu and great selection of sharing dishes (ranging from British classics, to Asian inspired) - just make sure you have space for desserts, the clafoutis was the perfect end to a Sunday lunch !

This is a very nice pub, with a good atmosphere. Food was good with large portions. Sticky tables.

Unbelievably rude staff. Charged a £48 fee for us to bring a cake in and said they didn’t want to ‘babysit our children’ - which at no point they did. Horrible place and staff hate kids

Lovely, atmospheric pub with plenty of beers on tap, a decent cocktail list and lovely food.

Top notch food every time, British food with flavour and flare. It gets booked out pretty early and has quite a strict no show policy so you need to be organised!

The food was excellent, had the Guineafowl for two. Nice atmosphere, but the service was two slow - it took 40+ mins to be served our food and 20 minutes wasted trying to pay our bill. Overall worth it if you're willing to wait a long time / if getting drinks directly at the bar.

Had a really lovely meal at the Canton Arms the other night. Such exciting dishes which really do change every day. Particularly like all the homemade pickles and preserves lining the walls. The interior has a very traditional "old London pub" vibe which I really enjoyed. No frills or pretensions, just good food.

Came for dinner on a Thursday night. The pub was busy and overall atmosphere was good. Restaurant area is separate at the back. The menu is quite unusual in that it has only limited items on , they do offer specials for 2/3 or 4 people a lot of which sounded very good, but by the time we came to order at 7.30 all bar one had gone which is a shame. The prices are fairly high. £110 for a lamb shoulder shared between 4 - the quality was very good and we enjoyed our meal, but just be aware menu is limited.

Amazing food and nice atmosphere but been there twice and both times my pint was flat

We had a family of 8, there were neighbouring tables of a similar size. Phoebe handled it all with aplomb. Her first difficult task was to tell my partner and I that the spiced skate hab all gone. Our Australian eyes had latched on to that as a must as soon as we saw the Specials board. We replaced easily enough and had a very lovely evening. I would hardly call it a pub meal; maybe on "steroids"

The food, the service and the atmosphere are great!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting this hidden gem of a pub, and it's safe to say that it blew me away with its unique charm and convivial atmosphere. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the warm, inviting ambiance. The low, mellow lighting, coupled with the welcoming staff, made me feel at home instantly. The pub exudes a rustic charm that is rare to come across these days, making it the perfect place to unwind after a long day or catch up with friends over a drink. One of the standout features, however, was their impressive collection of jars filled with an array of pickles and gin infusions. This unusual yet delightful feature not only added to the distinctive decor but also offered a tantalizing twist to the traditional pub experience. In short, this pub is a must-visit for anyone looking for a unique drinking and dining experience. With its charming atmosphere and innovative offerings, it's a place you'll want to revisit time and time again.

Always a popular evening venue, for good reason! The Canton Arms has an outstanding seasonal menu. Although the main dishes are pricey, the quality is outstanding. If you're just in the mood for a snack, their freshly baked bread is delicious. They have a wide range of wine, a friend and I shared a carafe of vino verde in the sun. Make sure to place a reservation if you're hoping to sit outside in the summer.

3rd visit.. fabulous rabbit, sweetbread, cockles.. friendly people.. love the place.. Booking is a must, even on a weekday! I’ve warned you! We tried to pop in one day and there was no table available. On hindsight, it was probably a Friday and we forgot (after living away from London) that we need to book to go to a good place to eat. We’ve managed to get a table during the very first seating on a Wednesday. But it was definitely worth the wait…. You can really feel the care for the food, fish soup and cuttlefish to start, very classic French food yet the flavour is current… pot roasted rabbit to follow with delicately seasoned creamy sauce.. then the honey panna cotta to end the meal.. The price is decent - in fact much more decent than any other eating places I’ve been in ages! The service was warm and welcoming, super pleased to have this place in our neighbourhood!

Good food although not a huge choice. A bit slow as it was a busy lunchtime, but a great atmosphere. Good range of beers.

Service was a bit slow but drinks and ambiance were great

This English restaurant is decent, although it can get quite noisy and crowded, especially on a Friday evening as we experienced. The food itself is satisfactory, nothing extraordinary, and the portion sizes are also average. As expected in London, the prices are on the higher side, but still within the norm. The desserts offered are satisfactory as well. Overall, while I wasn't particularly impressed, the most important aspect of the evening was the good company and being surrounded by friends, which made the experience enjoyable. We had rabbit, fish asparagus and lasagna.

Light on kids options but the selection was awesome for a pub

Genuinely interesting with twists on a wide range of really tasty pub fare style dishes - all adapted and done beautifully.

Delicious food; great service, even if food took a bit too long to arrive; and a lovely atmosphere.

Perfect for a quick drink or a longer visit for a hearty meal. The front part of the pub is very casual, the back is more restauranty with a constantly changing menu. There are often dishes to share, interesting cocktails and good wine.

Excellent food and service!! Love it! Georgia & Bruce

Had a sunny lunch here. The service was pretty slow, so it was difficult to even order food and drinks. We shared the slow cooked ribs. It was severed in the pot it was cooked in which was a nice touch however it required extra seasoning. I did have a coffee there it was the best coffee I have had in England which was very pleasant.

Essentially Michellin quality food I’m a pub setting, absolutely no criticism, fantastic staff

Decent pub on the South Lambeth Road about 5 minutes walk from Stockwell tube station. Two cask beers on handpump when I last visited. Lots of outdoor seating most of it covered. I was only at the pub for a beer, so I am unable to comment on the food offering.

Love to see a lively pub that is a boozer at the front and good dining at the back. Waiters were no muss no fuss but good at what they do. Appreciate. Food was, next level good. Clams in black bean dressing was ace. Pork chops to die for. Really easy to over-cook and it was succulent. Happy camper.

Always a favourite for dinner. Sharing dishes are great but the short menu always has one or two options if not wanting the whole menu!! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. House wine on tap plus nice selection of bottles of wine. Highly recommend and making a visit.

Very friendly staff and excellent food. Perfect for a laid back Sunday lunch with family and friends in a pleasant atmosphere.

Good neighborhood spot to wind down for some drinks and food.

I was surprised when my distinguished friend invited me to have lunch in a pub in South Lambeth Road, on her way from Colombo to Toronto. I am not used to travelling long distance from Archway to Stockwell. The bar staff phoned my friend's daughter , a regular here, to confirm she had arrived safely. No one I know would do this for me. We ate the most delicious food- English asparagus, fresh fish, the best beef I have tasted for a long time, very good vegetables, then pink grapefruit and grappa sorbets. Red wine for me and sparkling water for my friend. The music was good too. Actually the Northern line was speedy and I was home in an hour. Easy...

Didnt enjoy. I was hyped up by others but it didnt reach my expectations. My soup (Ham hock) was way too salty, and I say too salty, trust me it is too salty. I grew up on soy sauce and I'd pour that thing on everything. I couldn't finish my soup. I get that ham hock is salty, but surely they could have watered it down or something so that one can actually consume it without needing to drink water after every sip. If that is how this dish is supposed to be, I guess it's simply not my thing. The only good thing about the dish was that it was fairly priced. The blood orange whatever drink was £8 and it came in a glass that was smaller than the ones for water... It was tough to get the servers' attention. I had to notify the bar staff to call the servers for us.

Local pub,nice vibe, lunchtime drinks.

What great food! In very busy hub. Thoughly enjoyed ourselves. Good hot, well prevented tasty food ! Staff very knowledge about all the dishes on this exciting menu. We were happy to take advice on our choices of food , which enhanced our lovely evening. The Canton Arms has it all! Keep up the good work Guys

Great food. Great atmos. Would highly recommend.

Surprisingly disappointing food when all is said and done. Nothing special, a very safe and average meal. It was not bad, but it was definitely nothing like the hype made it seem. This place has been on my radar for some time. It is billed as a top-notch gastro-pub by many people in the area, so I was super excited to try the Sunday roast. After booking three weeks in advance (2 is not enough), The day arrived. We had fish/duck mains, and & two starters. Weirdly 1 of our 3 guests was suggested to get a whole meal for 2 for themselves... Which was confusing. The duck was crispy but lacked a depth of flavour you would expect. The flesh was tender but the relish lacked. It also came with no carbs, which was weird for a £22 dish (you would expect chips or mash on the plate). Getting staff attention was tough too. They seemed sadly understaffed.

Really good food, we ordered the Braised 'ale and onion' Dexter short rib, mash (for two) which cost £46, it was really nice and had a real home vibe to the dish. They don’t seem to do a traditional roast on a Sunday but they do have a menu with very nice sounding dishes to eat. The beef rib and mash is designed for two to share but if your a big eater it might be worth ordering a side dish as the portion or beef and mash isn’t the largest, everyone else dining at the same time as us ordered the same meal as us so its clearly a must try. very friendly and helpful staff so it’s defo worth a visit, thank you

Incredibly bizarre service. You really have to chase the waiters down and make a real effort to get their attention. We ordered a few small dishes. Told bluntly that we ‘weren’t allowed chips without a main course and the head chef is in the kitchen and won’t allow it’. Felt like we were being told off - all rules delivered in a uniquely condescending tone. No cutlery, no napkins, no ice when I asked for it, and barely any acknowledgement. The weirdest part is we were here the week before and we were allowed to order chips to our hearts desire, in the absence of a main course (imagine!). Anyways if you want a relaxed, warm pub atmosphere - avoid the Canton Arms and find a place with less rules and better service

I went without a reservation and was promptly seated. Check the menu before sitting to make sure you like what they are serving that day. They make their own food and the menu changes daily. I had the duck breast with onions, and ordered some bread as well. There were three of us and they brought extra bread as we finished. Not a bad choice for pub food.

Good food, good selection of drinks and friendliest staff, particularly considering it was a Saturday night! Will define toy come back

Shared the lamb roast - excellent.

Lovely pub and the food is incredible! We just wondered past and it looked inviting, definitely worth a visit.

🚇 Stockwell 🍺 £6.50 Heineken ❤️ A superb pub for both drinkers and gastronomes. . The Canton Arms sits on a busy crossroads on South Lambeth Road. The nearest tube is Stockwell which is a seven minute walk. . The pub was built mid 19th century and is tastefully decorated with a green border around the ground floor. Around the front of the pub is a covered outside space, look above the door and windows you will see beautiful Victorian lamps. . The corner entrance takes you in to the front bar which has a good sized servery which is centrally located. Around the walls are deep red wooden panels with odd size mirrors and pump clips of of beers previously served. At the rear of the servery is the dining room which was packed with diners. I liked the fact that there was plenty of space if you just fancied a drink and no knives and forks on every table. . The beer selection was good and included a few cask and craft options. I decided on a Heineken, my pint was great if a little pricey. The big draw at this pub is the food, this pub appears in the recently released Top 50 Gastropubs in the Uk. On the ever changing menu you will find restaurant quality food including, Monkfish, Beef Cheeks and Halibut dishes which were very popular in the busy dining room. This pub is also famous for its Sunday Roasts. . We visited on a Saturday lunchtime and there was a good buzz around the place. We were served by a lovely lady who was very welcoming and all smiles. There was a good mix of punters in from all age groups including local groups and solo imbibers. The soundtrack was an eclectic mix of sixties soul and downtempo chill out. Overall, this pub was easy to settle in to with an upbeat ambience. . I really enjoyed visiting the @cantonarms as it offered the best of both worlds for drinkers and diners alike. The beer choice was good but you will pay a little over the odds. The food is absolute top notch and well celebrated and recognised by the industry. The atmosphere and service were excellent in this welcoming traditional pub. I couldn’t fault this one and 100% recommend a visit here. . ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 28.01.23

Amazing rustic good with a good wine list

The pub is cosy and has that nice dark-wood, old-London pubby feel, and they have a cute outdoor bit at the front which seats more people than you'd expect. I think they'd had a busy Sunday as they were out of a few dishes, but the server was very nice and friendly throughout the meal so we didn't mind. I'm sure you've all heard by now that they do a good roast, but the actual roast beef was the best I've had in all of London. The beef was cooked to perfection, melt in the mouth, never wanted the experience to end. The watercress on top of the whole meal was coated in a nice dressing which I enjoyed, the carrots weren't roasted (still tasty enough) and the roast potatoes were a bit overdone and tough, however the beef more than made up for it. Me and 3 of my friends all had the same meal and we all polished it off. It also doesn't look like there is enough gravy, but there is so don't worry. I feel like some cabbage and/or a roast parsnip would have felt right at home on the plate, but it still gets 5 stars from me. I will be back x

My partner and I have been wanting to eat here for some time and his birthday celebration with myself and his mother gave us the excuse we needed. We were very impressed by the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff and the quality of the food measured up to our expectations. My partner and his mother ordered the Tamworth pork and I ordered the hake with puy lentils. It was all delicious.

Great Food, peapol and drinks!!

The food is good but would be excellent if it wasn't oversalted. It is not a good way to push the sale of drinks. Put condiments on the table then customers can season the food to their individual tastes.

The staff couldn't be friendlier and the food was amazing!

The food was delicious and the personnel was really nice! You should check it out! :)

Award-winning gastropub which serves dished of outstanding quality. Very friendly staff, caring towards children and amazingly kind. The place is booked up every weekend and therefore we chose to have dinner there on a weekday (Montbéliarde sausages and lentils, spicy pumpkin and coconut soup, hummus and croutes). The service was perfect, food was served quickly.

A foodie friend suggested we meet here, saying that it’s amazing. I looked it up and saw an overall score of 3.5. Which frankly you might settle for in a provincial town where there are few or no alternatives - not in London. Anyway I trust my friend and we proceeded to have the most brilliant dinner- and I eat out most days. The most delicious re-invented vitello tonnato with pork instead of veal; meatballs; a crab custard. As a main course we shared a rabbit and ham pie with a melting suet pastry. For pudding, rum baba and for me a campari and blood orange sorbet. Abundant good wine and drinks- scarcely over £60 a head. In central London, in a slightly swisher setting, you’d pay double that and leave feeling happy. So what’s the problem with the scores? Unlike Continentals, Brits have an expectation that innovative food should be served in a poncy setting, not a saw dust pub. And we found the service friendly and helpful, but it’s not smarmy or ingratiating. I can see that if you got on the wrong side of the staff you might get a bit of a Sarf London tongue-lashing. The pub also serves Sunday roasts and maybe the model breaks down there - I’ve never been so can’t say. But overall the stars are so out of alignment with the reality this is almost a situation where you’d ask TA to send in anonymous inspectors to give their verdict…