Gastropub deliciousness at The Princess of Wales, Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill is one of my favourite parts of London. In addition to the beautiful houses, fashionable boutiques and expansive green spaces for which it is famed, it also boasts a number of excellent gastropubs - perfect for a hearty meal after a stroll through the park or along nearby Regent's Canal.
So when my boyfriend and I were invited to check out The Princess of Wales last week, we jumped at the chance.

The weather was terrible, so unfortunately our plans for an evening wander through the park were scrapped in favour of a soggy sprint from Chalk Farm tube station, and by the time we arrived, we were cold, wet, and in need of some cheering up. Luckily our tasty dinner (and a few drinks!) did the job.

With a lovely menu of gastropub classics - from bar snacks, small plates and salads, to hearty mains and sharing platters - The Princess of Wales has something for every occasion, whether you're in the mood for something to nibble on over drinks, or looking for a slap-up meal.

After pondering the selection of starters - which included such treats as duck or smoked mackerel pate on toast, Welsh rarebit with crispy bacon, and crab cakes with apple and cucumber pickle - we decided to share the  squid with chilli salt and garlic mayo. This was a great start to the meal - chunks of tender squid in a crispy coating (with a gentle kick of sweet chilli), served with plenty of delicious mayonnaise and a tangle of rocket leaves.

For the main course, I went for the half roast chicken with summer coleslaw, chips and gravy. A delicious take on this pub classic, the summer coleslaw - sweet and zesty, and packed with freshly grated carrot - and the lemon thyme garlic butter took it to the next level. The gravy was excellent - thick and rich, it was the perfect accompaniment to the tasty shoe-string fries - while the chicken itself was cooked to perfection: crisp golden skin, tender, flavourful meat, and spot-on seasoning.

My boyfriend ordered the Princess Burger, which was also very impressive (in fact, he claimed it was the best pub burger he has had!). The fat beef patty was topped with roasted garlic mushroom, blue cheese and bacon, oozing juices from inside its shiny brioche bun. The combination of toppings were incredible together and I had more than a little food envy!

How fat is that patty? Mmmmm

If you're looking for something a bit healthier (although when the burgers are this good, you might want to treat yourself instead!) the salads here also looked great - summery pairings of mozzarella with courgette and broad beans or grilled chicken with avocado and home-made salad cream - while dishes such as the fillet of salmon with roasted root vegetables and seasonal greens provide further alternatives for anyone whose watching their waistline.

I kicked off dessert with a bellini, before asking for a second spoon with which to attack my boyfriend's chocolate and peanut butter brownie. Ordered on the special recommendation of our waitress, this nutty, chocolatey treat was served warm with a scoop of exquisite salted caramel ice cream - simply amazing!

The Trafalgar Tavern: Sunday roast in Greenwich

The weekend before last, prior to the arrival of this year's "Big Freeze" I cycled over to Greenwich to meet my brother for Sunday lunch.

I love Greenwich: with its sweeping river views, magnificent architecture, and verdant wide-open spaces, it's very different to central London, and I alway feel like I'm on a bit of a day-trip when I go there (despite only being a 45 minute cycle from my flat).

I caught up with my brother at the Cutty Sark (a useful meeting point!), and we wandered through the Naval College Gardens to The Trafalgar Tavern, a lovely venue right on the banks of the Thames. It was fairly busy inside, with lots of people relaxing with drinks or enjoying a casual Sunday lunch in the lively bar area, but we somehow managed to bag ourselves a window-side table overlooking the river - a perfect location!

Despite being sorely tempted by the fish and chips (the next table seemed to be enjoying theirs) we decided to stick to our original plan and go for the roast. My brother opted for the slow-roast leg of lamb, while I went for the half-chicken with autumn vegetables, stuffing, roast potatoes, and bread sauce.

It was good, solid fare, nothing exceptional, but tasty nonetheless (I was too busy eating to take a photo of my food, which is always a good sign!). My half chicken was succulent and moist, and paired well with the creamy bread sauce and roasted autumn vegetables, while a fairly average disk of stuffing and unexciting cubes of roast potato were saved by the incredible gravy - deep brown and delectably savoury, it made everything it touched taste amazing. While it wasn't the best roast I've had in London (nothing compared to The Albion, say), it was still very enjoyable and pretty good value too.

All in all, with good food, a lively atmosphere, and a fantastic location, I would definitely reccomend dropping into The Trafalgar Tavern if you're ever in the area. The bar is a great place for a drink or relaxed pub lunch, and if you're after something a bit smarter, there's a restaurant too (which I've heard is very nice).

After a satisfying meal and a good sibling catch-up, I cycled home...just in time to catch this beautiful sunset over London Bridge. A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The Crown Tavern on Clerkenwell Green

Away from the hustle and bustle of its main roads, Clerkenwell is home to a number of quiet, pretty squares: perfect for a drink in the sunshine or a bit of al fresco dining. The Crown Tavern is a case in point: situated on leafy Clerkenwell Green, this popular gastropub has plenty of outdoor tables - a great place to grab a bite to eat on a sunny autumn's day.

The menu changes with the seasons, and boasts a variety of more interesting options (asparagus, mushroom, pea and creme fraiche tart; cous cous and halloumi with a bean and avocado salad) alongside gastropub mainstays such as steak and chips, sausage and mash, and chicken and bacon club sandwiches. My boyfriend has eaten here a few times, and assures me that everything on the menu is excellent. However, on this occassion we were feeling pretty unadventurous and both opted for the same thing: beer-battered haddock with skin-on chips.

We were quickly served with two very good-looking plates of fish and chips. Succulent haddock fillets, encased in a delicious golden batter, were balanced atop a pile of excellent chips: piping hot, these were crisp on the outside, with perfectly soft, fluffy interiors. The mushy peas were also superb, enlivened with the addition of finely diced cooked onion (my boyfriend hates onion, so I got two portions!), while the tartar sauce was replete with chunks of gherkin and capers.

We were looking after my parents' dog for the afternoon, and the waiter obligingly brought him a dish of water with our meal. While most people were there for drinks with groups of friends, the relaxed atmosphere makes the Crown Tavern an equally good spot for families and dog-owners.

Archie the dog

And I couldn't resist including this last photo, taken later in the same day as we walked along the Thames. It was four in the afternoon and extremely sunny, but somehow everything looks as though it's bathed in moonlight.

The Albion

Situated on a quiet leafy close in Barnsbury, The Albion is a fantastic pub - a perfect spot for a drink (at one of the picnic tables out front, or in the expansive beer garden round the back), and an even better location for a super-tasty Sunday roast.

I first discovered The Albion when looking for somewhere canine-friendly to eat with my parents, and their (cute-but-naughty) dog...And in addition to the impressively laid-back attitude of the staff (which they maintained even when the dog decided to sit on one of the stylishly upholstered sofas*), we were blown away by the fantastic food.

I've had the pleasure of trying two of the roast options here: the whole roast chicken (supposedly to share between two, but my boyfriend gobbled it so quickly I barely got a look in!) and, my favourite, the rib of beef (also for two).

Alongside the platters of meat, the table was heaped with a generous helping of all the trimmings - fluffy yorkshires, a fantastically dark, deeply savoury gravy, roasted carrots , and sweet buttery cabbage all made an appearance. However, the star of the show were the roast potatoes, which were literally (no exaggeration) the best I've ever had. Crunchy and golden-skinned, with the softest, fluffiest insides...1000% delicious.

The roast chicken is faultless, but the rib of beef - thick rare slices of beef, served alongside meat-on-the-bone and crispy bone marrow (to be scooped piping hot from a cracked open bone), all dished up in a black skillet - was FANTASTIC. After begging a few tastes from my parents the first time round, my boyfriend and I had to return to get a portion all to ourselves...

The puddings there are also great: sticky toffee pudding with a rich gooey sauce and a cool ball of ice-cream slowly melting on top went down a treat (unsurprisingly); and my boyfriend's dessert the first time round - an intense, rich, chocolate and honeycomb concotion (I've forgotten the name) - was incredible (he had to fight off the attack of three spoons, and even the dog looked hungry!)

The only fault I could find with the place is that you have to book in advance - I've tried to go with friends at short notice, and it really does get fully booked, so make sure you call ahead!

*he likes to think of himself as a human