Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 18 and Version 6 of Somers Town Coffee House, NW1 1HS

Version 18 Version 6
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Pub near [[Euston Station]].
A gastropub serving French food near [[Euston Station]].
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Previously a gastropub serving French food and wines, it reopened in October 2011 under the management of [http://yummypubco.wordpress.com/ Yummy Pub Co], a small pub group with a few other sites outside London. It now has six handpumps on the bar and describes its food as "British tapas" (served noon-10pm every day, as of May 2012).
Although the name harks back to the history of many central London drinking places, this is very much a gastropub, and one that offers a selection of French food and wines. And while the neighbourhood itself may remain largely unreconstructed, this establishment is looking firmly towards the businesses along the Euston Road and to its nearby neighbour [[St Pancras International Station]], which thanks to its Eurostar services, already has something of a French theme to it.
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Although the name harks back to the history of many central London drinking places, this is very much a pub. The decor is dominated by the luxurious wood panelling that stretches most of the way up all the walls, with complementary furniture, and an attractively restored island bar (toilets can be found down a corridor behind it). There are plenty of tables throughout the space, and more in front of the pub. As of May 2012, a "secret garden" is "coming soon".
The decor is dominated by the luxurious wood panelling that stretches most of the way up all the walls, with complementary furniture, and an attractively restored island bar (toilets can be found down a corridor behind it). There are plenty of tables on both sides of the bar, although one side is laid for service as a dining room. A rather odd area of raised banquette seating can be found behind the bar, with high tables to match. Out the back is a leafy beer garden, and more tables are laid out in front of the pub.
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When [[Kake]] and friend visited on a Friday lunchtime in May 2012, all six handpulls were on, offering Waggle Dance (£1.95/half), Bombardier (£1.80/half), Courage Best, Young's London Gold, Courage Directors, and Castle Rock Diamond Reign. They also had Stowford Press cider on tap. The ales were served in dimpled half-pint jugs.
There are four handpulls for ale at the bar, with Wells Bombardier and Eagle IPA (£1.49/half and well-kept), Young's Special, and Courage Directors on tap as of a June 2009 visit. They also have a range of draught lagers, including Kirin and Erdinger, but the focus is unsurprisingly on the French wine list, which is chalked up on either side of the bar, and in some leather-bound wine menus on the bar itself. Half-pints of the ale are served in attractive chunky tumblers, which is a nice touch. In June 2010, [[Kake]]'s pint of lime and soda was a pleasingly non-exorbitant £1.20.
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We arrived a little after noon, and there were plenty of spare tables; the place filled up while we were there, but never to the point where there would have been a struggle to find a seat. Music was playing, though not too loud for conversation.
As of June 2009 food is served noon-3:30pm and 6pm-10pm every day, though the bar menu is available all day. The menu is French-influenced, with, at lunchtime, a notably good selection of salads, as well as omelettes and a few light meals (burgers and the like). A chalkboard lists the specials, including a vegetarian main, presumably changing daily. [[Ewan]]'s small salad (there are two sizes, the smaller &pound;5.50) was the vegetarian version of their house salad <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3611162709/ photo]</small>, featuring fresh leafy greens with avocado, thin slivers of carrot, and small chunks of orange, topped with a restrained hollandaise. It's a fine salad, as far as they go, and a good size. A small bread roll, fresh and light, was brought out right away after ordering.
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The member of staff behind the bar recommended choosing 2-3 dishes per person from the small plates on their menu <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/7273384412/ photo of menu as of May 2012]</small>. We tried a total of six between the two of us, which came to &pound;13.25/head and was about the right amount. The food arrived in various pots and dishes arranged on top of chunky wooden chopping boards <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/7273387650/ photo]</small>, and mismatched china plates were brought for us to share it out.
[[Sarah]] adds: On my last trip in August 2010, a waitress came to take our drinks orders as soon as we sat down - my companion and I were slightly non-plussed as we weren't expecting table service. She returned later when we'd decided, and then a third time to take our food order.
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Fresh mussel meat popcorn (&pound;4.50) was well-executed; the batter wasn't greasy and the mussel meat wasn't overcooked. Potted crab and brown shrimp with toast (&pound;5.50) was fine. A half-pint of shell-on prawns with chilli mayo (&pound;4.50) came with quite a lot of roe in the prawns, which wasn't entirely unwelcome but made the dipping-in-mayo process a little messy; the prawns were also very slightly overcooked for [[Kake]]'s taste.
[[Ewan]]'s verdict: For all its pretensions, this is a pleasant pub for either a drink or for food, at not unreasonable prices. It's not too busy on a Tuesday lunchtime, although after work may be more packed with local office workers.
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Roast spuds with rich gravy (&pound;4) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/7273391016/ photo]</small> were not quite as fluffy as they could have been, but were certainly not bad, and the gravy was a generous portion and nicely flavoured. Garlic mushrooms (&pound;4) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/7273394160/ photo]</small> were decent too, with firm-textured button mushrooms swimming in a sea of garlic butter. Honey-roast veg (&pound;4), a combination of carrots and parsnips, were a little unevenly cooked, with some of them being undercooked but others being fine.
Accessibility: A step up to get in. Can't remember if there were steps to get to the toilets.
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On a Tuesday lunchtime visit under the previous management, [[Ewan]] noted that it wasn't too busy, although after work it may be more packed with local office workers.

[[Kake]]'s verdict: I'd happily come back.

Accessibility: A step up to get in at one entrance, but only a small step at the other, less than kerb height. Step-free to bar, seating, and toilets once you're in. There is a RADAR-locked accessible toilet.

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* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/7273384412/ Photo of the menu as of May 2012]
* [http://www.fancyapint.com/pub/3051 Fancyapint review]
* Ewan's photos of the June 2009 lunch menu: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3611141847/ front] and [http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3611143563/ back]
* [http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub3051.php Fancyapint review]
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* [http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/reviews/12869.html Time Out review]
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<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]] and friend, May 2012. Opening hours taken from board outside, May 2012. Food times taken from menu in pub, May 2012.</div>
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], [[Sarah]], [[bob]], and friends, June 2010. Opening hours and food times taken from website, June 2009.</div>
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category='Accessible Toilet,Beer Garden,British Food,Featured Article,Pub Food,Pubs,Real Ale,Smoking Area,Step-Free Access'
category='Beer Garden,Food Served Evenings,Food Served Lunchtimes,French Food,Interestingly Named Pubs,Pubs,Real Ale,Smoking Area'
== Line 33 == == Line 28 ==
formatted_website_text='thesomerstowncoffeehouse.co.uk/" class="external">thesomerstowncoffeehou...'
host='81.187.166.218'
hours_text='10am-11:30pm Mon-Sun'
formatted_website_text='somerstowncoffeehouse.com/">http://www.somerstow...'
host='161.74.11.24'
hours_text='noon-11pm Mon-Sat; noon-10:30pm Sun'
== Line 37 == == Line 32 ==
locale='Euston,NW1'
locale='Euston,NW1,St Pancras'
== Line 41 == == Line 36 ==
node_image='https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4514/24006476228_cac53bf199_m_d.jpg'
node_image_copyright='Kake'
node_image_licence='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/'
node_image_url='https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/24006476228/'
opening_hours_text='10am-11:30pm Mon-Sun'
node_image='https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2882828575_da7eab2af2_m.jpg'
node_image_copyright='Ewan-M'
node_image_licence='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB'
node_image_url='https://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/2882828575/'
opening_hours_text='noon-11pm Mon-Sat; noon-10:30pm Sun'
== Line 48 == == Line 43 ==
phone='020 7387 7377'
phone='020 7691 9136'
== Line 50 == == Line 45 ==
summary='Pub serving 'British tapas' and real ale near Euston, just off Euston Road.'
website='http://www.somerstowncoffeehouse.com/' website='http://www.thesomerstowncoffeehouse.co.uk/'
summary='A French-run gastropub near Euston, just off Euston Road.'
website='http://www.somerstowncoffeehouse.com/' website='http://www.thesomerstowncoffeehouse.co.uk/'

A gastropub serving French food near Euston Station.

Although the name harks back to the history of many central London drinking places, this is very much a gastropub, and one that offers a selection of French food and wines. And while the neighbourhood itself may remain largely unreconstructed, this establishment is looking firmly towards the businesses along the Euston Road and to its nearby neighbour St Pancras International Station, which thanks to its Eurostar services, already has something of a French theme to it.

The decor is dominated by the luxurious wood panelling that stretches most of the way up all the walls, with complementary furniture, and an attractively restored island bar (toilets can be found down a corridor behind it). There are plenty of tables on both sides of the bar, although one side is laid for service as a dining room. A rather odd area of raised banquette seating can be found behind the bar, with high tables to match. Out the back is a leafy beer garden, and more tables are laid out in front of the pub.

There are four handpulls for ale at the bar, with Wells Bombardier and Eagle IPA (£1.49/half and well-kept), Young's Special, and Courage Directors on tap as of a June 2009 visit. They also have a range of draught lagers, including Kirin and Erdinger, but the focus is unsurprisingly on the French wine list, which is chalked up on either side of the bar, and in some leather-bound wine menus on the bar itself. Half-pints of the ale are served in attractive chunky tumblers, which is a nice touch. In June 2010, Kake's pint of lime and soda was a pleasingly non-exorbitant £1.20.

As of June 2009 food is served noon-3:30pm and 6pm-10pm every day, though the bar menu is available all day. The menu is French-influenced, with, at lunchtime, a notably good selection of salads, as well as omelettes and a few light meals (burgers and the like). A chalkboard lists the specials, including a vegetarian main, presumably changing daily. Ewan's small salad (there are two sizes, the smaller £5.50) was the vegetarian version of their house salad photo, featuring fresh leafy greens with avocado, thin slivers of carrot, and small chunks of orange, topped with a restrained hollandaise. It's a fine salad, as far as they go, and a good size. A small bread roll, fresh and light, was brought out right away after ordering.

Sarah adds: On my last trip in August 2010, a waitress came to take our drinks orders as soon as we sat down - my companion and I were slightly non-plussed as we weren't expecting table service. She returned later when we'd decided, and then a third time to take our food order.

Ewan's verdict: For all its pretensions, this is a pleasant pub for either a drink or for food, at not unreasonable prices. It's not too busy on a Tuesday lunchtime, although after work may be more packed with local office workers.

Accessibility: A step up to get in. Can't remember if there were steps to get to the toilets.

See also:

Last visited by Kake, Sarah, bob, and friends, June 2010. Opening hours and food times taken from website, June 2009.

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