For anyone out there seeking something a little different on a Saturday night, you’d be wise to check out this popular West London pub. Although from the outside it might look like your typical British boozer, Portobello Gold conceals a tropical secret that has to be seen to be believed.

The Venue
One of the most well-known drinking establishments on the bustling Portobello Road, this local favourite nestles comfortably amongst the terraced shops on either side, giving it a timeless quality particularly fitting to its spot on one of London’s most historic thoroughfares.

At the front of the pub is a fairly small bar that fills up quickly with a supporting cast of regulars, and it’s not unusual for it be standing room only here at evenings and weekends. However, to discover what makes Portobello Gold a truly great place to drink, you should venture a little deeper inside the building where the enormous tropical conservatory has no doubt stopped many a late night drinker in their tracks, pondering exactly when they took a wrong turn at Shepherds Bush to end up at the Australian Bush. With its towering palms and lush vegetation, this conservatory has to be one of the best locations for a unique first date in London.

The Atmosphere
The pub has a loyal roster of established regulars who are friendly enough, although they tend to confine themselves to the front bar. The conservatory area attracts a far more colourful mix of punters, and really comes to life at weekends, when Portobello Market draws in people from all over London. Background music is of the classic, up-tempo variety and the large parties who descend upon this place on a Saturday night can create a great atmosphere. It’s also a credit to the venue that staff go out of their way to look after all patrons, regardless of whether they’re a regular or not.

The Food
Portobello Gold is famed for its seafood, which has been a feature of the menu since the days when the market outside sold more than vintage record sleeves and Kajagoogoo sweaters. Irish rock oysters, prepared in a variety of styles, will set you back £3 for two or £8 for six, whilst die-hard fish fans may want to sample the legendary seafood platter - a selection of oysters, Cajun prawns, calamari, sashimi and Thai mussels; a snip at £32. As starters average a cool £6-£7, and you’ll be pushed to get a main for under a tenner, this isn’t the most affordable pub grub in London, but it is guaranteed to satisfy any appetite.

The Drink
Portobello Gold is a bar for those who take their drink seriously, with a good range of draught beers and ales from all over Europe. Fans of Carling and Strongbow will be disappointed, but at the very least they can drown their sorrows with a pint of Staropramen or Leffe Blonde. The bar also stocks some great bottled beers, again focusing on continental brands such as Nastro Azzuro and Hoegaarden Grand, whilst the spirits offered here could have come direct from Oliver Reed’s wildest dreams.

There is a good range of wine starting at £9.95 a bottle, rapidly ascending to more eye-watering amounts, and an extensive cocktail list that makes the most of the vast array of spirits jostling for position behind the bar. As with the food, drinks are just that bit too expensive, but you may find it a small price to pay to drink in a place as cool as this.

The Last Word
Fun, friendly, and just a little bit eccentric, Portobello Gold provides a great counterpart to the market outside; and even after the stall-holders have packed up and gone home for the night, the bar remains a spirited highlight on West London’s thriving bar scene.

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