The Scarsdale Tavern

The Scarsdale has a picture postcard Georgian façade with trailing ivy, hanging baskets and window boxes brimming with flowers, and sits facing the lush gardens of Edwardes Square, creating a wonderful village pub feel.

This continues inside, where the atmosphere is warm and friendly, and locals natter over a meal or just a drink. The décor is rustic yet grand with etched windows, an open fire, bare wooden tables, a Tudor-style moulded ceiling and buttermilk coloured walls.

Both the square and the pub were built in 1812 by Louis Changeur, a speculative French builder. These days this is a very well t'do area and regulars at the Scarsdale answer to names like Sebastian, Julian and Dominic. How many other pubs have chalk boards offering a champagne selection including Dom Perignon?

The open kitchen serves good, hearty, meat oriented meals while the international wine list is also a cut above the average and includes 15 wines by the glass. There are four well-kept cask ales to choose from. The Scarsdale is part of the Fuller's Estate so the brewer's own products predominate.

This is a special pub for me personally and is where on the 5th May 2013 I met Paloma, my partner in life and business.