Escape the tourist hordes at The Hillgate

If you're in Notting Hill and you're tired of the tourist hordes on Portobello Road and the shouty locals in the boozers around it, a short walk to the south of the area, may well prove to be a tonic for you. Here, the houses are slightly less grand (and all the more charming for it), populated with real locals - not people who merely commute from the area - and serving these real locals are a couple of jolly decent boozers.

One of them is the Hillgate; a good-sized Victorian building on a prominent corner plot in this very desirable residential area. Inside the pub you'll find a no-frills 21st century pub interior - wooden furniture, upholstered benches and bare floorboards. On the bar are three hand pumps offering Pride, Sharp's Doom bar and Harvey's Best accompanied by the usual lagers etc. on tap.

If you're hungry, there are sarnies at lunchtimes and if you're really hungry there's a restaurant upstairs. The bar staff are friendly and efficient and they keep the pub spic and span.

As for entertainment, in addition to the TVs for sport, there's a quiz on Mondays and if you need a bit more of a mental workout the book club posts the current read on one of the blackboards.

The Hillgate is a pleasant, relaxing pub that manages to achieve this without appearing soulless. It's a perfect complement to this part of Notting Hill.

NEAREST STATION: Notting Hill Gate station

FEATURES
Outdoor seating
Quiz night Monday
Separate restaurant

Hillgate
24 Hillgate Street, W8 7SR