This big open space brings a slice of contemporary urban cool to West London, offering a space to relax from 8am right through to the wee hours, daily.

The Venue
Westbourne Studios is close to Westbourne Park tube on Acklam Road. Often lauded as the future of London building projects, it houses Under The Westway (its restaurant and bar) as well as a separate event space, cinema, various design and production studios for big name companies and office space for such luminaries as Bob Geldof, all in a wraparound building that has squeezed itself under the A40.

Under The Westway occupies the central courtyard, with the road above forming the roof. Totally soundproofed to the vehicles overhead, the bar can feel huge and open and a little like an airport lounge with its sofas lined up in straight lines. It’s kept contemporary and chic with a cream and black colour scheme, a black felt-covered pool table and heavy leather furniture to sink into. Look out for the feature graffiti wall, which is an original feature and forms part of the support for the road above.

The Atmosphere
During the day, Under The Westway is a great place to while away some time over the newspapers with a coffee, stop by for a quick lunch or hold a business meeting with plenty of flexible space to choose form. From about 9pm every night, things get lively as the members crowd in to enjoy everything from live music to sets from up-and-coming DJs. The clientele is made up of a good mix of in the know, urbane media and design West Londoners and those in the venue for special events, and the feel is actually very East London and edgy. This is probably a result of the venue being operated by the same group that owns Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen and The Electricity Showrooms.

A word of warning is required with regards to the door policy; the door team are unnecessarily aggressive in enforcing its members only entry after 10pm, and it can make entrance to the venue a little troublesome and unfitting of a bar of this stature. Membership is worth getting if you’re local as this is one of a few flashy bars in the Notting Hill area that stays open until 2am, and it only costs a very reasonable £60 - a fraction of most members’ bars.

The Food
Serving breakfast from 8am alongside coffees and smoothies, lunch kicks in at noon and the main menu is served right through to close with a full dinner menu. Starters include beetroot and goats cheese salad, pan fried scallops with lime and lightly-battered tempura King prawns, all priced between £6-£7 with main courses such as typical British fish and chips, a rib eye steak with Borderlaise sauce, a hearty burger and a proper Caesar salad served with traditional anchovies. Main courses all cost around a tenner.

The Drink
There’s every drink imaginable on the drinks menu at Under the Westway with coffee, smoothies, juice, and a long selection of wine and Champagne. Make the most of the great cocktails though, which are priced at a reasonable £6-£7 on average. A real favourite is the Westside Spring Punch (fresh raspberries, blackberries and strawberries stirred with gin, Chambord, lemon juice and Champagne). Just as unmissable are the refreshing Blueberry Julep (bourbon, blueberry licquer, mint and sugar) and the Cucumber and Elderflower Margarita (a potent blend of Patron Silver, Cointreau, cucumber, elderflower and lime), two or three of which will leave you on your back.

The Last Word
If you’re bored of the dearth of traditional boozers and slightly dingy clubs that make up most of Notting Hill’s nightlife, then the Under the Westway offers a great alternative with good prices, unusual cocktails, and a very cool crowd in a unique setting. The only letdown is poor door staff, but once past them you’re in for a night that makes you feel you’ve been let in on a cool little secret.

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