Randomness Guide to London Menu

A pub on the canalside in Little Venice, part of the Mitchells & Butlers Castle sub-chain.

The pub is laid out over the ground floor of a terraced house, with entrances on both Westbourne Terrace Road and Delamere Terrace. There's plenty of tables, with decor firmly in the darkened candle-lit upmarket mode, and red curtains theatrically shroud the toilet entrances. However, although food is offered (served noon-10pm Mon-Sat and until 9:30pm on Sun, and at very reasonable prices) this is very much more pub than gastro, with a convivial atmosphere.

There's a good selection of beers offered, Old Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA, as well as a number of excellent lagers (Hoegaarden, Leffe, Bellevue Kriek, et al.). I can't vouch for how well-kept these are, but the wine selection is also excellent, even the cheaper options (bottle prices range from £10 for the house malbec through to around £15 for the pinot noir), with the bar man amenable to talking us through all the wines. Our choices -- a South African cinsault pinotage and an Australian cabernet sauvignon — were both very drinkable and none too expensive.

Upstairs is the Canal Cafe Theatre, which puts on theatre and primarily comedy nights. You need to arrive before doors open to book seats, which are around candle-lit tables (a number up the front by the stage, others up a few steps with a more panoramic view). The booking desk is by the Westbourne Terrace Road entrance, and they have a plan there of the room layout so that you can choose where to sit. Drinks can be taken upstairs from the bar, and an announcement is made when the theatre doors open.

See also:

• Beer In The Evening comments
• Fancyapint review
• Time Out review