Category Archives: Food

Spirit of Aloha 65 Brings Christmas spirit & many festive cheers to you!

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aloha, cocktail, cocktail recipe, cocktail recipes, christmas cocktail recipeAloha images caption

Ok, we’re going to say it: it’s time to start thinking about the festive season.

Bring something bright and out of the blue to bonfires and dark nights. As summer comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about winter fun. Let Aloha 65 bring a bit of spice to cosy evenings in, whether you’re hosting or having a chilled one.

The unique spirit has a full menu of winter serves to complement its tropical botanicals and warming notes of ginger and chilli, perfect for shaking up winter cocktails and causing a stir at your Christmas parties.

Why not have a go at a winter recipe out of the blue, like the Aloha Velvet? We love Aloha at Frost and this cocktail is delicious.

Ingredients
35ml Aloha 65
25ml brandy
25ml fresh orange juice
20ml fresh lemon juice
A dash of sugar syrup
1 egg yolk

Method
Add all ingredients into a shaker get shaking like you’re shivering!
Add ice and shake again. 
Strain into a glass full of ice
Garnish with 3 or 4 drops of Angostura bitters and cherry to serve.

Aloha 65 isn’t just a treat for your drinks cabinet; you can fire up your cheeseboard and canapes too. Scotch-bonnet chilli-infused pineapple ‘detonators’ are an appetiser on their own, or the perfect way to make retro cheese & pineapple a bit more exciting.  Not only that, but their ‘Sun on a Beach’ hot sauce goes so well with seafood and will really bring the flavour to your prawn cocktail starters.

Don’t let the tropical vibes fool you. The Aloha 65 bottle is wrapping up warm in its seasonal ski suit bottle wrap so brand mascot Lola really looks the part when she joins you on the slopes. Smooth enough to drink on its own, Aloha 65 is also the perfect cold-weather hip flask tipple.

Get ready for Christmas with Aloha 65, with discounts on 70cl multi-buys, gift sets and, with mini spritz kits for just £10, you can be sure to win your office Secret Santa with these stocking fillers.

You can find Aloha 65 on Amazon and discover the full range at aloha65.com.

Who says après ski can’t be tropical?

The back-story
Conceived and created by British expat barman, Stephen Thorp, at a beach bar in Florida some thirty years ago, the first homemade version of Spirit of Aloha 65 was designed to lure well-known and not so well-known surfers into his beach bar to refresh and revive them after a long day in the surf.   Thirty years or so later, and after many attempts (65 in fact), the first few bottles that met Stephen’s exacting standards were produced and Spirit of Aloha 65 came of age. Turns out, Stephen’s creation was not just a brilliant addition to the post-surf après-sea drinks menu, but was equally at home with the post-piste après-ski crowd. Available in ski and surf label editions.

The blend
Beautifully and naturally crafted, Aloha 65 ticks a lot of boxes: vegan, gluten free, and at under 47kcal per 25ml serve has less calories than an equivalent measure of gin or vodka (50kcal per 25ml serve). It’s made from only fresh ingredients with no added colourants.

So what sort of spirit is it? Well it’s not gin and it’s not vodka, but like those old stalwarts, Aloha 65 starts with a neutral grain spirit base.  However, unlike gin or vodka that an take just a few hours to make through a fire-based distillation process, Aloha 65 takes weeks to make and is made by separately and naturally infusing neutral grain spirit with just six very special raw ingredients including fresh pineapple, lemon, ginger and scotch bonnet chilli.  These ingredients macerate slowly in the neutral grain spirit for up to a month naturally steeping the alcohol with their individual flavours. The separate infusions are then carefully blended together et Aloha! Sunshine in a Bottle.

Its versatility means that it can be enjoyed as a delicious chilled shot, on ice, or a refreshing long-drink, or as the unique heart of a great cocktail. It is proudly all-natural, vegan and has a lower ABV (27%).  One sip and you’ll know what all the fuss I about.  If you’ve never heard of, or believed in, ‘Sunshine at First Sip’, you have now.  Many people seem genuinely surprised that it is still possible to create something quite new and different in the spirits category but Stephen’s years of dreams and hard graft have certainly been worth it.  Trust us – you’re in for a treat.

A brand with a difference
Spirit of Aloha 65 offers the consumer something very different both to look at and to taste.  With its coastal roots, Spirit of Aloha 65, was born of the surf, sun, sand and sea but is equally at home in the mountains and on the slopes. The vintage and retro branding has universal appeal and the branding screams: ‘Life is for living’ and ‘Have fun!’.  ‘Lola’, our iconic surf girl and ‘Al’ her buddy, don’t just surf, they ski!  Of course, they do!  The ski/surf winter bottles are a must this winter to create that lock-down après ski vibe.  Oh, and how many spirit brands do you know that also have a hot sauce?

Integrity
‘Aloha’ isn’t just a friendly greeting, it’s a way of life.  It puts a smile on your face.  Alohans, as we like to call them, live each moment to the full and always bring their A-Game, but with respect for others and their environment.  Aloha 65 is proud to be partnering with Plastic Oceans, donating 5% of its profits to the charity to help preserve the planet and its natural diversity for generations to come.  Aloha 65 is also supporting the promotion of “The Last Glaciers”, a new film about climate change, glaciers and the fate of our planet. Aloha 65 is vegan and made with only natural ingredients.

Aloha Sour

Ingredients:
35ml aloha,
10ml velvet falernum,
10ml cherry brandy,
2 dash cherry bitters,
10ml lemon juice,
egg white

Method
Add all ingredients into a shaker and dry shake (no ice).
Add ice and shake again.
Strain into a coupe.
Garnish with 3 or 4 drops of Angostura bitters and cherry

Available on Amazon.

SAUCE IT is a new and truly exciting way to buy restaurant-quality ingredients at home

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BBC’s Matt Tebbutt opens the chef larder
for the real foodie with the launch of SAUCE IT

Just think of it as the food and drink concierge for those in the know, giving you access to the chef’s personal larder – essentially their first choice of ingredients – so you too can finally shop like a chef!

Just open our exclusive ‘little black book’ of suppliers, producers, cooking professionals and sommeliers who can offer you chef designed boxes, filled with incredible ingredients discovered over years of working in the trade. SAUCE IT gives you access so you can discover for yourself how these rigorously sourced ingredients can ultimately change the way you cook and create.
The result of years of research and tasting, every item on SAUCE IT has been trialled and tested extensively by the expert who puts their name to each recommended ingredient or product. If you are looking for the wow factor, look no further, as SAUCE IT source the impossible to find; the ingredients you won’t find in Waitrose or even famous food halls.

sauce it box sauce it box

The SAUCE IT boxes
To celebrate the launch of this exciting new concept, TV favourite Matt Tebbutt has created a new box The Weekend Collection by Matt Tebbutt. To coincide with the launch of Matt’s new book ‘Weekend’, this box contains a selection of ingredients, handpicked by Matt, and featuring in his new recipes such as the Cabernet Sauvignon Vinegar used in Matt’s Anchoiade dip or the beautifully packaged ‘Las Hermanas’ hot smoked paprika made using age old methods, ideal for Matt’s Smokey chicken with sweet corn and mango salsa.
Matt commented ‘SAUCE IT is an exciting new way to shop like an award winning chef does, giving you access to all the very best produce that was once only available to the restaurant world’.

If you are a shellfish fan, you’ll love Salcombe’s finest shellfish box which includes the finest Salcombe crab and lobster from a small day boat, packed on the quayside and sent direct to you, straight from Chris the fisherman. Is there anything finer than a simply boiled fresh crab with lemon, mayo and crusty bread? For the lobster, the king of crustaceans, the BBQ is perfect! Salcombe is famous for its crab and lobster, in fact it reaches nearly every corner of the globe, and if you’re looking for fresh seafood for that family feast, our shellfish is landed by one small boat and delivered straight to your door.

For the Spanish food lover, the El Gordo box has the most amazing Spanish products; ones that you will only find in restaurants such as Barrafina or Pizarro. SAUCE IT have brought together the absolute best of the best small Spanish producers of outstanding quality. Sit back, relax, imagine you are taking in the sights and sounds of San Sebastian, and indulge in some the worlds finest ingredients, enjoyed with a glass of Manzanilla sherry, naturally!

There are also boxes from well-known chefs such as Ben Tish, Sabrina Ghayour and Jane Baxter. A selection of wine boxes are available, handpicked by the team at SAUCE IT and their black book of wine experts.

Those involved in SAUCE IT, and we suspect, our customers, are pioneers in a world of discovery, fans of independent travel and favour self-selection rather than the package choice. When you purchase a box with SAUCE IT, an order is then placed with our suppliers. For example, your Salcombe crab is in the sea right up to the time it’s sent to you, your vegetables are picked to order and the ingredients for your box are collated on the day of dispatch. We supply our chef-collated boxes direct to your door in our eco friendly packaging, avoiding singular product or environmentally damaging deliveries. You will not find expensive and unnecessary packaging with SAUCE IT, we let the ingredients themselves do the talking!

All the boxes are compiled by the country’s finest restaurant suppliers. Buying from SAUCE IT supports fabulous fishermen, awesome organic vegetable growers, higher welfare meat producers and farmers, and some amazing but small artisan food heroes. Matt and the team at SAUCE IT will also give you fantastic hints, top tips and fabulous recipes to go with your outstanding ingredients. This is undoubtedly the concept epicureans have been waiting for!

We love it!

Perfect For Christmas Go Nuts For Cambrook Foods

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If you’re after a last minute stocking filler, or you need something for the person who has everything, then Cambrook‘s gift sets are sure to be a hit.

With two gift sets available, these are perfect for foodie-lovers and nut-lovers alike, in addition to being ideal stocking fillers, gifts for grandparents or as part of a Christmas hamper!

The two jar set includes the Hickory Smoke Seasoned Almonds & Cashews with a real hickory hit, together with a jar of Baked Truffle Nuts with almonds, cashews, macadamias and pecans, all baked and seasoned with a distinctive aromatic black truffle and sea salt.

cambrook nuts, nuts, christmas,
The set of 3 gift box includes Cocktail Mix No.2 – a jar of expertly baked & salted traditional mix of nuts, (served at some of London’s best-known cocktail bars!) and Cocktail Mix No.6, which brings together a unique and fantastic mix of flavours, combining salted cashews and macadamias, chilli battered peanuts, smoke seasoned almonds and caramelised sesame peanuts – a guaranteed taste sensation! The final jar is the Baked Cashews & Peanuts with Chilli & Lime, giving your Christmas a zest and spice to savour.

Baked in small batches for big flavours, these gift sets will excite even the most discerning of taste buds and provide the perfect unwrapping for a foodie-lover this Christmas.

The 3 Jar Gift Set is available via the Cambrook Foods website or in Wholefoods, Chatsworth House, Yumbles, NOTHS, All Things Brighton Beautiful, Borough Box, RRP £18.50.
The 2 Jar Gift Set is available via the Cambrook Foods website, Lakeland, Chatsworth House, Yumbles, NOTHS, All Things Brighton Beautiful, Borough Box, RRP £14.00.

Liberate Yourself this Christmas with Liberation Cocktails

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It is not possible for me to recommend Liberation Cocktails enough. I am not usually a fan of ready made cocktails because I think they taste artificial. Not so Liberation Cocktails. Whether from a bottle, can or keg, they taste delicious. I would definitely buy Liberation Cocktails for myself or a friend, but mostly for myself. Treat yourself this Christmas. Cheers! The Pornstar Martini is my favourite.

Celebrate Christmas in style this year with Liberation Cocktails’ curated collection of giftsets, pre-mixed bottled cocktails and party paraphernalia. Carefully crafted by Liberation Cocktails’ expert mixologists, all blended cocktails are made using the highest-grade spirits as well as the finest, fresh and quality ingredients. So, whether you’re in need of the perfect gift for friends and loved ones or looking to host the ultimate Christmas get-together, Liberation Cocktails has you covered this festive season.

The Liberation Cocktails Christmas collection is available now and can be ordered online at https://liberationcocktails.com 

Espresso Martini Gift Box, 75cl bottle with Premium Cocktail Shaker

£37.50 (NEW)

Free from additives and artificial ingredients, Liberation’s delicious, new and expertly blended Espresso Martini bottle is made with overproof craft distillery vodka, Rainforest Alliance single estate coffee, silky hazelnut liqueur, Madagascan vanilla, and cane sugar. The pre-mixed bottle is priced at £22.50 but is now also available in a premium giftset, complete with a cocktail shaker and classic martini glass for the perfect serve this Christmas at £37.50.

cocktails, cocktails in a can, pornstar martini

Pornstar Martini Gift Box, 75cl bottle with Premium Cocktail Shaker

£37.50 (NEW)

 

To tantalize the tastebuds, pop open a bottle of Pornstar Martini, made from the finest ingredients and ready to drink when you are. Carefully blended with overproof craft distillery vodka, Brazilian lime juice, Madagascan bourbon vanilla, Ecuadorian passionfruit and sugar cane, this showstopper is bound to impress at any Christmas gathering. Priced at £22.50 for a 75cl bottle or £37.50 within a striking giftset alongside an accompanying cocktail shaker and martini glass – the new launch is the perfect present for cocktail lovers!

 cocktails, cocktails in a can,

Liberation Cocktails 4 Can Gift Pack 

£20.00

 

For letterbox gifting and to make a friend or colleague feel extra special this Christmas, the Gift Pack contains four iconic and delicious mixologist grade pre-mixed cocktail cans (200ml) including 1 x Espresso Martini, 1x Pornstar Martini, 1 x Pisco Sour and 1 x Gin Garden to accompany any celebration. Whether you’re gifting from afar or on the hunt for the ultimate stocking filler, the Gift Pack is designed to be compact, portable and can be personalised with a bespoke gift message at checkout.

Liberation Cocktails Party Kegs, 5L keg

£99

 

Make this Christmas one to remember with these impressive 5 litre party kegs. Whether hosting a Christmas party at home or for those looking to spoil someone special with a unique gift, the kegs promise a celebration like no other.  Available in four flavours including Espresso Martini, Pornstar Martini, Strawberry Daiquiri and Gin Garden, each containing 33 mixologist grade cocktails and filled with festive cheer, the pre-mixed joy is any cocktail fan’s dream.

 Cocktail Cruiser

Prices start from £120 for half an hour and 16 cocktails

 

The Cocktail Cruiser from Liberation Cocktails brings the party straight to your doorstep and no gathering is too big or small for this four-wheeled mixology cruising machine. Serving up delicious mixologist grade cocktails including Aperol spritzes, mojitos and martinis, the Cocktail Cruiser also offers a resident bartender, glassware and garnishes! Whether you’re planning an alfresco get-together, Christmas party or a corporate event, guests will enjoy free flowing cocktails on tap, on the go and without any hassle. So why not mix it up this Christmas with the ultimate Insta-worthy celebration?

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

https://liberationcocktails.com | @liberationcocktails

Brunch at The Biltmore – a review

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Start your Weekend off in the most fabulous of ways with the newly launched Brunch Menu at The Biltmore Mayfair. 

Headed up by the esteemed Jason Atherton, The Biltmore Brunch is certainly an elegant affair. This is a brunch worthy of getting your glad rags on and treating yourself or someone special and you’ll be guaranteed excellent service, ambiance and of course a brunch worth bragging about. 

When it comes to decent brunch in London, it’s like navigating a minefield. There is just so much on offer but when you really investigate what you’ll end up finding is there’s just heaps of bottomless and not enough brunch if you know what I mean. So if like me you’re thinking, what sets The Biltmore apart from all the other brunches in the City? Well, let me tell you… their ‘USP’ is for sure the food. They also had an incredible setting and a stunning band but I don’t ever recall raving about the food after a brunch especially not a boozy one. Café Biltmore certainly dazzles with their dishes making this a foodies brunch heaven. Offering up a number of different brunch and lunch plates, they of course have the classics, eggs, pancakes, etc… but the menu also featured a number non typical brunch dishes but this is what made it so brilliant. I would say, you could even convince the biggest anti-bruncher to brunch along with you after you show them the menu because who could turn down Porthilly Oysters, Wood fired pizza and Fish and Chips to name a few? In fact Paul Walsh, Executive Chef, commented, “Weekends are made for brunch and our menu is guaranteed to have a dish everyone will want to eat on it…” If you’re doing 2 courses or more there is the option to add the free-flowing bubbles package for an extra £25. Rarely are you left thinking I just had a ruddy good meal after a bottomless brunch but Café Biltmore can certainly win this accolade. 

So, what’s included;

So on offer you have the choice of 2 courses for £32 or 3 courses for £38 and of course the free-flowing bubbles upgrade. What you will quickly realise is that this is an absolute steal when you realise the quality and the service which are second to none. We recommend doing the whole sh’bang so make sure you go light on your breakfast that morning. To start there are a number of different Egg dishes, we tried the Confit duck leg with Kimchi and Fried Egg and Calamari to start. For our mains I tried one of the veggie options Sweetcorn and Saffron risotto, Scottish girolles and Parmesan and we also tried the Buttermilk chicken sandwich and I can honestly say, that was the best damned risotto I have ever tasted. Both utterly luxurious and more-ish so much so, that I got distracted writing this thinking about how delicious it was. Of course, if you opt for 3 courses the dessert choice covers all bases with a cheese plate for those who aren’t much of a sweet tooth. The bubbles were certainly flowing thanks to the attentiveness of the waiters who’s service went above and beyond. The setting was just gorgeous, we dined on a cold autumn day but so kitted out with heaters and blankets, the outdoor terrace more than adequately catered to its guests comfortably making it the perfect little secret brunch oasis. Notable mention must go to the talented jazz band who provided the afternoons entertainment with their mellow muzak and dulcet tones. 

 

What’s more is those wishing to dine with their furry friends, Cafe Biltmore’s terrace is dog friendly and pets will be treated to their own treats while you dine. The Biltmore Brunch will really make you wish the weekend couldn’t come fast enough.

The Biltmore Brunch will be available every Saturday from 11:00 – 17:00

For more info or reservations visit;

www.cafebiltmore.com

Frost Loves Sea Change Wines

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We love Sea Change wine. They are environmentally-friendly and have an organic range. We tried their Prosecco and it is to-die-for. Get your hands on some now. 
Sea Change are passionate about two things: protecting our oceans from plastic pollution and great tasting wine. Every bottle of Sea Change helps fund ocean conservation projects across the globe and our minimal packaging reduces waste and environmental impact.

They have an organic range available, the perfect accompaniment for your cosy fireside evenings or candle-lit dinner dates. Available in a lesser-known red varietal, Bobal (RRP £13.99), and a classic white Chardonnay (RRP, £13.99), the production process of these wines means only naturally occurring sulfites are present. So, every sip is gentler on the head and stomach than regular wine – excellent for a more relaxed evening.

As with all Sea Change Wines, both have minimal packaging, with the unnecessary plastic wrap covering removed from the neck of the bottle, and labels.


For Christmas, Sea Change’s Christmas Day Pack (£35 RRP) has got you sorted. The pack includes a bottle of their fruity, soft Prosecco, zesty Sauvignon Blanc and rich Malbec wines. Whatever your guests choose to drink, Sea Change is suited to everyone’s taste!
 
Amongst the excitement, Sea Change are committed to giving back this Christmas. With each bottle sold, a donation will be made to marine conservation charities fighting plastic pollution – ideal for those who want to do their bit for the environment.
 
The Sea Change wine collection is available to buy online at www.seachangewine.com. Free delivery is available for orders over £100.    

The UK’s first plant-based recipe box. We Review Grubby.

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I find cooking stressful. I also have no time. But I want to eat healthy and I do not want to damage the planet while doing so. Grubby attracted my attention for many reasons. It is plant-based and sustainable. I got sent two kits in impressive recyclable packaging. I hate how some recipe boxes have so much plastic.

The recipe card is so easy to follow. I made a superb mushroom stroganoff in 35 minutes. I think Grubby is fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough. The food is delicious and so easy to make.

Meet Grubby – the UK’s first plant-based recipe kit

Grubby are the UK’s first 100% plant-based recipe box subscription service on a mission to make plant-based cooking more accessible and convenient without costing the earth.

Championing British produce and suppliers, Grubby deliver delicious meals nationwide (excluding Northern Ireland and islands), with all London meals delivered via bicycle in partnership with PedalMe. Available from grubby.co.uk from £26 (£6.50 per meal) for two recipes.

Launched in 2019, Grubby has over 50 flavour packed recipes to choose from. In the box, customers can expect fresh, pre-measured ingredients needed to cook up two or three healthy and delicious, plant-based recipes with, on average, a variety of six or more fresh veggies in each box. Accompanying recipe cards make meat-free cooking simple, with easy to follow steps, cooking times and nutritional information, as well as QR codes to curated Spotify playlists to cook along to whilst prepping. Customers can also expect the occasional freebie, from drinks, desserts and more.

Founder Martin Holden-White comments: “When I first started adventuring into plant-based cooking, I found it really hard to approach. Mainly because I found ingredients hard to source, dishes weren’t filling enough, they lacked flavour and online recipes were hard to follow and full of ads. So with Grubby, I wanted to alleviate the uncertainty and stigmas around vegan cooking and eating and make our recipes accessible, simple, hearty, healthy and most importantly tasty! Grubby is for anyone looking for a little more adventure when it comes to plant-based cooking.”

With sustainability at its core, the packaging is 100% recyclable, compostable, ethically sourced, and produced in the UK in 95% of cases, with intentions to be completely plastic-free by 2023, in line with their efforts to reach B-Corp status. Determined to use ‘pedal power’ wherever possible, all London deliveries are made by bike and they have ambitions for bike deliveries in all major cities across the UK. Their food waste is offset through food waste partners and local food banks to ensure that no grub goes unused.

Passionate about giving back, Grubby donate a meal to a child in poverty for every box delivered through Uganda based charity 1moreChild. In 2020, Grubby also provided over 1,000 meals to London NHS hospitals.

Whilst solely plant-based recipes, Grubby do not see themselves as a ‘just-for-vegans’ box. “We are not preachy about eating solely plant-based. I’m a plant-based part-timer myself, and many of our team and customers do not define themselves as vegan.” says Martin.  “Instead, we want to invite plant curious individuals to give veggie-based cooking a chance with our tasty, quick to prepare meals, which are not only healthy but produced and delivered with sustainability at the core of everything we do.”

How it works:

  1. Choose your recipes & delivery date.

  2. Grubby delivers everything you need.

  3. You cook up delicious plant-based meals. No stress. Skip or cancel anytime.

To see what’s on the menu this week, visit grubby.co.uk

The Jolly Gardener’s and the Sunday Roast of Dreams. 

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A Northerner and Southerner go in search of a decent roast in London and what do we find…

The Jolly Gardeners and what a jolly good afternoon we had. Not only did it win the approval of my guest, the most discerning Northerner who is for sure the judge and jury when it comes to a decent roast, but they also make a damn good Bloody Mary, have a pretty decent schedule of entertainment and is by far one of the most pristine, welcoming pubs i’ve ever visited in my life!

If you live South of the river, you must pay them a visit. Just moments away from Vauxhall and tucked down a sleepy Lambeth side street you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you happen upon The Jolly Gardener’s. This place is bright and airy, full of foliage, just how I like it. A far cry from the pub which lay here before and perhaps more noticeably known as ‘The Drowning Trout’ from Snatch. Well let me tell you the transformation is epic. As soon as you step inside you’re met with a serene atmosphere, one of relaxation, of family and friends gathering around, big groups enjoying a pint and punters soaking up the joys of a Sunday. It has to be said, i’ve not frequented a pub for a long time mainly because I’m not massively keen on going back to the old ways of queuing up at the bar for hours on end, sticky floors and stale beer but this is certainly not that kind of joint. I’m actually a little bit in love with this place because it offers up all the joys of a pub without all the annoying bits and it’s no surprise really if you look at how this place came about. 

The Jolly Gardeners was the brainchild of five childhood pals who spent their lockdown coming up with their ideal boozer. Jon Kaye, one of the founders quotes, “Having the chance to open the pub with my friends has been the dream for so long. We all grew up in pubs and for most of us was our very first job. It’s great to go back to our roots and build a proper local pub. Supporting other independent businesses is important to us, we have also had so many nice people from the surrounding area helping us build and fix the pub.” Unsurprisingly, a decent meal was the central focus as well as making it welcoming, honest and a great place to enjoy a proper pint with mates. I can vouch for all of those things and trust me if I did live South sides I would be making this place my new local!  

I did mention the roast but let me mention it in depth because this really is one of the best pub/restaurant roasts i’ve had. My guest even went as far to say, “tastes like a family roast”, praise indeed! The attention here really is on the quality of the produce and the kitchen work closely with Lyons Hill Farm in Dorset for high grade meat. We tried both the ‘iron age pork loin’ and the ‘retired dairy cow silverside’ with both tasting as epic as their names. The roast comes with a host of sides including cauliflower cheese, greens, Yorkshires, sweet potato mash to mention but a few and the potatoes….oh the potatoes. The most luxurious but traditional roast potato you’ll get your chops round. Melt in your mouth, pleasure. What I really loved about the beef roast was how thin the meat was cut, i’m not a fan of shoving hunks of meat in my mouth at the best of times but this was just sliced to perfection, slightly reminiscent of how you felt after a school roast… schooliness aside… Please – I’m not doing it enough justice, you’ll have to try it out for yourself. Aside from these offerings there are also a couple of plant based options and a fish dish to try out too. Something for everyone even if you’re just digging into the sides alone – because they were a plenty. 

If a roast doesn’t tickle your fancy or if you’re planning on visiting in the week, they offer a weekly changing menu bringing you the best of what’s around the local area. Notable mention must go to their bread supplier… Alby’s Bakery who are also based in Vauxhall. They specialise in sourdough and was also developed in lockdown by some bread loving mates. I must confess, I haven’t touched the stuff this whole year but when this warm bundle of joy arrived on our table with lashings of butter it would have been rude not to especially seeing as Alby’s have nailed the crust to pillowy dough ratio. Lesson learned ALWAYS try the bread. The sharing plates are also something to marvel at and whilst the dishes may look similar to what you’d find on a pub menu their sharing plates are more reminiscent of tapas coming out of a decent restaurant than a pub and I guess that’s where you see the main attraction of The Jolly Gardeners. 

The food is of the highest quality in both presentation and taste, the place is visually stunning and they had a decent band on too, what a civilised Sunday ! But what makes a decent pub…? we all know it’s a cracking selection of booze. With house-pints for a fiver you might even be convinced you’re not in London anymore but when you check out their exhaustive list of what else is on offer there’ll be something to float everyone’s boat. With local offerings on draught, a whole bunch of speciality bottled beers, a pretty comprehensive list of wines including natural wines and of course a mouth watering selection of cocktails there’s no need to visit a bar or a restaurant because this place really does have it all. Did we mention they also have a secret garden?

So why do we love it? Well… need I say more? The Jolly Gardener’s is family and dog friendly, caters for a restaurant go-er, has the booze of a decent bar and still has the spirit of a good old pub. All that’s left to ask is, how fast can you open one North of the river?

The Jolly Gardener’s is open Tue-Sun and located at;

49-51 Black Prince Rd, London SE11 6AB