The ViewLondon Review
Gourmet food, a good list of wines, cocktails and even an unusual selection of Champagnes makes of The Bolingbroke a desirable new addition to Battersea.The VenueNorthcote Road is lively and bubbly, lined with a variety of bars and restaurants. However, to reach The Bolingbroke you will have to resist the temptation of entering every single one of them since the pub is located on the last quiet stretch of the road. Will the call of a Martini be too strong for you to walk all the way there? And will the wait be worth it? Thankfully, yes. You'll be pleasantly impressed by the Bolingbroke, especially if you are looking for a classy, elegant and yet unpretentious drinking hole.
If you can, sit in the dining room at the back. Resembling a winter garden with a double slanted roof made of glass and a brick wall painted white, this is the perfect spot for a relaxed bite on Sunday. The pub section is characterised by pale sage wooden panels and large windows overlooking the street. There's leather armchairs and vintage wooden furniture, along with a snug, half-hidden spot at the back that's perfect for intimate conversations. Elegant neutral colours and antique wooden floors dominate but there is a touch of eccentricity thanks to colorful period prints on the walls, well worth looking at to find topics of conversation, should you need any.
The AtmosphereThis pub and dining room has a rather informal atmosphere. There is a good mix of people and ages popping in for a drink or a meal and the atmosphere varies from quiet to nicely loud and animated depending on the time of the day. However, don’t think the style is tracksuits and trainers. This is Battersea, where men wear polo shirts and blazers and the women don dresses.
The FoodThere is a lot of food on offer at The Bolingbroke and the bar menu (from about £4 - £9) differs drastically from what is served in the dining room. Over a pint or, more appropriately, a glass of Champagne, you can taste British classics – think burger, Ploughmans and fish and chips - alongside fresh wholetail prawns (£6 for a small portion, £12 for a large) and Colchester oysters (£1.75 each) that they’re are rightfully proud of.
The dining menu, however, goes well beyond the already very good bar selection. The mains (£9 - £16) include guinea fowl breast and confit leg, grilled polenta with roasted vegetables and Rosary goat's cheese, and their own Viscount seasonal salad including ingredients like Linroyale potatoes, bobby beans and Ticklemore goat’s cheese. Starters (£5 - £7) include seared king scallops with crispy Cumbrian air dried ham and green apple, Wild Bay Devon crab with avocado and deep fried duck egg, and Manuka smoked duck breast with fennel, bitter leaves and English blackberry salad. The desserts are just mouthwatering. Everything is carefully crafted with quality fresh ingredients and it is presented equally well.
The DrinkDraughts of San Miguel and Bulmers and bottles of Asahi, Duvel, Aspall Suffolk Cider, Organic Lager, Leffe and others may all sound tempting, but for the sake of variety, you can sample their wines, cocktails (£6 - £7.50) and Champagne (£20 - £130 per bottle). Starting with the latter, you can pick from unusual bottles like Canard Duchene Brut NV (£5.95 for 125ml or £29.50 for a bottle), Bollinger Special Cuvee (£49.50) or the rare Chapel Down English Sparkling Rose (£24.95).
The cocktails mirror the ethics and aesthetics of The Bolingbroke. Rather than striving to create something new and bizarre, the list is structured around a well picked list of classics, including a good selection of Martinis and mixes like the Old Fashioned, mojitos (try the spicy virgin mojito for a change) and daiquiris. Wines by the glass are limited, but bottles are fairly priced at £12 - £38.50. There are no descriptions on the menu though so ask well before choosing. The list divides whites and reds by old and new world and you have more than three dozen of them to choose from, including a Slovenian Quercus Pinot Bianco or a Chapel Down Bacchus from Kent, which is a good choice if you're looking for a locally produced wine.
The Last WordWorth walking all the way down Northcote Road? Definitely, especially if you’re looking for a quiet, refined environment where you can sample quality food and cocktails, sample a new wine or a glass of Champagne.
The Bolingbroke has been reviewed by 8 users