Examples of Listings
Thai River
308 Latimer Road W10
020 8960 5988
Mon–Fri 12 noon–3.30pm & 6pm–10.30pm; Sat & Sun 6pm–10.30pm
A delightful setting, tasty food and charming service make this one of the best budget café-restaurants around. Duck and seafood dominate the menu. Tod Mun Pla, Thai fishcakes served with a spicy sweet and sour peanut cucumber sauce, is especially recommended, and there is plenty of choice for vegetarians. The cottage-like interior holds only a few tables but, thanks to patio heating, you can eat out in the small front garden all year round. Also does takeaways and home delivery. Bring your own drink.
The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Road W11
020 7908 0880/www.museumofbrands.com
Tues–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun 11am–5pm; closed Mon except bank holidays
Admission: adults £8.50; children (7–16) £2.00; family £14.00; concessions £3.50
The 10,000 consumer goods and promotional images contained in this nostalgic museum represent 25 years’ collecting by social historian Robert Opie.
The Gate Theatre
11 Pembridge Road W11
Box office 020 7229 0706/Disabled access and administration 020 7229 5387/ www.gatetheatre.co.uk
Over the 28 years since its inception at this same tiny premises above the Prince Albert, the Gate Theatre (no relation to the cinema) has built up a strong reputation for staging high-quality, innovative productions, mainly from abroad. The front door, to the left of the pub, is easily spotted by the notice-board with posters for the current season of plays. On Monday nights you pay whatever you can afford; otherwise tickets cost up to £15. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Nancy Pop
19 Kensington Park Road W11
020 7221 9797/www.nancypop.com
Mon–Sat 10.30am–6.30pm; Sun 11.30am–6pm
This fabulous boutique has a distinctly European feel, from architect Joel Degermark’s angular mauve interior to the rails of black and red clothes that line the walls – a far cry from the floral patterns and bohemian chic that tend to dominate this street. Buyer Helen Roysdotter describes the shop as ‘directional’, with an emphasis on clothes and accessories by Scandinavian labels like Lizette Snorgaard and 10 Swedish Designers, as well as the more affordable Nancy Pop label. Look out for shoes by Strutt Couture.
The Ledbury
127 Ledbury Road W11
020 7792 9090/www.theledbury.com
Mon–Fri 12 noon – 2.30pm & 6.30pm–10.15pm; Sat dinner till 10.45pm
Excellent French food served in elegant surroundings makes the Ledbury probably the outstanding restaurant in the area – it’s certainly the only one to boast a Michelin star. Australian chef Brett Graham uses prime ingredients to produce delicious, complex and highly original dishes. Local diners and critics alike wax lyrical over the lasagna of rabbit with wild mushrooms, celery and thyme, loin of monkfish with white beans, chorizo, squid and rosemary – and these are only starters. Pricey but well worth it.
R Garcia & Sons
248–250 Portobello Road W10
020 7221 6119
Tues–Sat 8.30am–6pm
This traditional Spanish supermarket sells an impressive selection of wines, oils, olives and cheeses as well as a wide choice of tinned foodstuffs, cakes and preserves. Earthenware pots are another good buy, and Christmas always brings a wide variety of Italian panettone. Their adjacent café is especially recommended for churros and brandy – perfect on a cold winter’s day.�