The Champion is a cosy boozer sat between Notting Hill and Queesnway tube stations. In the winter, the pub comes into its own with its dark wood panelling and open fire. Come summertime you can make use of the small terrace, which is adequate if a little cramped.

The Venue
The Champion is in a decent location - there are relatively few pubs on this stretch of Notting Hill Gate and its presence is welcome amidst the abundance of overpriced Italian and French bistros. From the outside, this is very much a traditional London pub with an imposing wooden facade but the interior is a friendly sprawl of mismatched chairs and the walls are covered in inventive and unusual art.

There is a lot to look at in this pub; some creative staff (or customers) have fashioned decorations from crisp bags that hang cheerily from the ceiling and fairy lights twinkle from every corner. It is to the pub’s credit that it manages to avoid being tacky or overdone, err on the side of stylish.

The Atmosphere
The Champion boasts a lively clientele. In fact, it is often reassuringly packed full of enthusiastic punters. The atmosphere is warm and convivial, which is helped by the opulent - if overly ornate - decor that gives a shambolic but homely impression. They certainly offer a lot to the punters here in terms of entertainment with a wine club, rum club, pub quiz and jam night.

The Food
The Champion offers decent food at reasonable prices. Main courses start at £7 and rarely rise above the £10 mark. The dolcelatte and oyster mushroom risotto is satisfying although a little too rich and slightly over salted. The pies are warming and good, served in generous portions with well-textured pastry. The presentation is attractive and the menu, whilst not anything out of the ordinary, is varied for a pub menu.

On Sundays they offer well-priced roasts, which are above average. They also have an enticing and broad range of nibbles served in different sized platters for those looking for something smaller to accompany a glass of wine.

The Drink
There is a fairly extensive wine list here with bottles starting at the £15 mark; they also offer four varieties of Champagne and prosecco, and a good selection of rose. The rioja is good and a perfect accompaniment to the often rich food. Their range of beers is impressive with about seven types of lager on offer, such as Peroni, Amstel, Becks Vier, Fruli, and three cask ales. They also offer three types of cider including an organic option. They have eight types of rum, and a good range of gin, vodka and whisky. There is a wine club on Tuesdays when every bottle is £10 from 7pm onwards.

The Last Word
The Champion is a well thought out and inviting pub in a good location. The food and drink is surprisingly varied and the service is efficient and friendly. Highly recommended for a lazy Sunday afternoon or some after work drinks, this is a pub that has much to offer all year round.

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