Eat at the Princess Victoria, W12

The Victoria, on Uxbridge Road in Shepherds Bush, is a former Victorian Gin Palace, Princess Victoria, restored by Matt Wilkin and James McLean and named ‘Timeout Best New Gastro Pub 2008’.


Considering the location, its a surprise that only on half of the duo is from the Southern Hemisphere and it is Matt, originally from Adelaide, and previously Executive Sommelier at the 2 Michelin starred Capital Restaurant, Matt has won awards including UK Sommelier Of The Year 2005. Head Chef, James, meanwhile won ‘Young Chef Of The Year 1997’, formerly worked at of The Greenhouse and The Goose in Oxfordshire, and is now focussing on good British food.

Having said all this, your author has only actually ever been in for a pint but it was a very pleasant spot and considering the above, it could be worth investigating the menu next time, and as if that weren't already enough, we are also told there is a courtyard herb garden, a wine & cigar shop and a weekly artisan market. Let's just hope they're not over-stretching themselves.

The Princess Victoria is at 217 Uxbridge Road, London W12. For more information, see http://www.princessvictoria.co.uk/, or for perspective, see fancyapint.