I love finding a good boozer. In fact, I love visiting pubs so much, that if it means having to travel far west on the Piccadilly line on a Tuesday evening, then so be it. With Hippo Inns having an impressive roster of pubs behind them, I thought it was about time I gave The Lillie Langtry a try.
The Venue and Atmosphere
The Lillie Langtry is a stone’s throw away from West Brompton station, sat proudly on Lillie Road. Entering via the well-kept front terrace, I was met with a Victorian-style building with a modern dose of charming interiors and colourful quirks. The walls were awash with white and blue tones, with shelves of paintings and colourful slogans providing a homey feel. Seating wise, there was a mixture of brown booths with quaint designs, as well as wooden chairs to match the wooden seating around both sides of the bar. These shabby chic colourful furnishings oozed gastropub cool, and I soon became jealous that it wasn’t my local.
The fully stocked bar dominated the floor, and we pinched a seat in a cosy corner next to the stairs. When I ventured up to have a look at the Victorian-style lounge, I found a spacious area packed full of armchairs, pink velvet sofas and vintage trinkets with its own bar. On the Tuesday we visited, there was a friendly buzz with people young and old coming for an after work drink or catching up with friends. It became clear that this pub has a neighborhood feel, where anyone is welcome for a casual bite.
With its plush, velvet furniture, The Lillie Langtry adds a dose of elegance to its interiors.
The Food and Drink
Hearing through the grapevine that The Lillie Langtry champions British dishes and boasts an in-house charcoal spit, needless to say, I was mildly excited for my feast. We took the recommendation from our waiter and shared a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, La Playa at £20.50. This was a refreshing white with fruity tones, which went down an absolute treat.
We kicked things off with soft shell crab £8.50 and grilled asparagus £9.50. The crab was so delicately fried, it lost none of its flavour, and was accompanied beautifully with a chilli, coriander and mirin dip. The grilled asparagus was equally delightful; mixed with feta, mint and balsamic parmesan, they’d taken a few ingredients and turned them into a flavour sensation.
For main, I opted for the Roast Lamb rump at £24. The lamb came with broccoli, toasted almonds, chilli and rosemary oil. It was everything I could have wished for; the meat was flavoursome and succulent, paired with crunchy vegetables with hints of freshness from the rosemary and a kick from the chilli. My partner went for the spicy pulled pork burger with guacamole £17, and much to my delight, the bite I pinched was a messy and spicy dream. For me, the quality of the ingredients were so good, it felt like a fine-dining experience in a casual-dining atmosphere.
Despite being full, the puddings looked too good to turn down. A natural choice for me was the chocolate brownie with honeycomb ice cream £7; the brownie was gooey and rich just like it should be, paired with creamy ice cream and sprinkled with chunks of moreish honeycomb. My partner went for the cardamon panna cotta £5.50, which was a creamy mound of heaven, covered in a sweet peach puree and sprinkled in a zesty lemon crumb.
It's the sourcing of ingredients and British meats that make The Lillie Langtry stand out.
Summary
I haven't really had much of a reason to venture to Earls court, until now. The lovely staff and delicious food and drink make it a pub that really does feel like a home away from home. A pub that will pull you from the other side of London both for the atmosphere and the impeccable food is a bloody good pub in my book. All in all, it's safe to say that The Lillie Langtry had me at hello.
