Say ‘bar’ rather than ‘pub’ and, for some, the image is one of slick, polished venues populated by fashionistas and high-flying professionals. Not a place for a chat, is it? Don’t worry: Ground Floor Bar is as welcoming and non-judgmental as your local pub.

The Venue
The First Floor Restaurant located upstairs gets all the publicity, but Ground Floor Bar deserves more credit. It sits on a prominent location in a former pub, and it attracts plenty of custom on Portobello Road. The decor aims to be welcoming without being slick or elaborate and partially delivers a living room feel - the furniture consists of a random mix-and-match of chairs, tables and couches of all sizes. If anything there is a hint of it being a little rough around the edges which helps set a relaxed, pub-like atmosphere. The space receives plenty of natural light during the day but, at night, the dim 1930s chandeliers and the burgundy walls create a soft environment.

The Atmosphere
This bar represents the friendly face of Notting Hill, not the celebrity-studded section. Ground Floor Bar is very much like a high-end pub. The service is good, the décor interesting, the food very nice, but it remains a place to put your feet up and relax with friends. And this is exactly what the customers do. Mostly local, they come in for a comfortable pint and a good chat. You have the feeling the bar is really loved by the regulars: it can still be quite full at nearly eleven on a school night.

The Food
The bar offers an all-day menu but most of the food is ordered via a set menu (2 courses for £17, 3 courses for £22). There’s a lot to choose from the mostly modern British dishes. Butternut squash soup with crayfish tails and lime or roasted beetroot with baby chard, goats’ cheese and walnut are good example of the starters (£5-£8). For mains (£8.50-£15), try the tandoori spiced salmon with puy lentils or the whole roasted sea bass with pak choi and Asian broth.

The Drink
There’s plenty of beer and there’s a big demand for cocktails (from £7) and wine (£3.50-£5 per glass or £14-£50 per bottle). With over three dozen bottles there is something for everyone. Alternatively, you can opt for champagne as there’s no less than seven bottles, very honestly priced at £33-£85, and two proseccos (£24).

The Last Word
Ground Floor Bar makes a perfect alternative to your own living room. Comfortable, cosy and friendly, the only problem is that, as it’s such a popular local, it is often packed to the rafters.

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