http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33994 On the menu are British favourites such as great roasts for Sunday lunch, and there are more adventurous offerings; such as fillet of Gilt Head Bream with fennel and lime dressing. There are plenty of veggie options too.
The Tiger is a great place to chill out with a cool drink, wake up with a coffee, or cheer on the team with mates.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33994 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32112 A beautiful Victorian gem, after you've had a blustery weekend walk from Highgate over Hampstead Heath, this is definitely the place you want to go to. The food is top notch, you can get a venison burger there if you so wish, and with a range of ales on tap and a warm dark wood interior that has plenty of little corners in to sit this is the place to go to warm up and relax.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32112 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32024 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32024 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32023 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32023 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31906 The fish is fresh and comes from sustainable sources & British seas. The supplier is F.C Sopers fishmongers in Nunhead (www.fcsoper.com), a local institution since 1898.
The meat is free-range and organic. The chicken, pork & lamb comes from a small farm, Gillwing, in Sussex (www.gillwing.co.uk/farm) and is delivered by Andrew, the farmer, who makes the sausages all by hand.
The opening times seem to vary, the staff are exceptionally friendly and continued to pour the beverages long after midnight on a Thursday, as everyone was still having a good time and reluctant to leave!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31906 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31748 Best of all, it's accessible on the Metropolitan tube line and a round trip will cost all of £7. En route, the Cock Inn at Sarratt and the Rose & Crown at Chorleywood make splendid stopping off points for sustenance and liquid refreshment. We passed a watercress farm too, and a huge bunch of freshly-harvested greens cost £1.50 and tasted a hundred times better than the stuff from the supermarket.

Take the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street or Marylebone Station to Chalfont & Latimer. Follow the river walk along the Chess river to Chorleywood village.
Chorleywood is on the Metropolitan tube line also.
The walk is about 7km.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31748 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31747 The pub is still popular with London's literatti, including Martin Amis, Julian Barnes, Ian McEwan and Clive James, who titled his second book of literary criticism 'At the Pillars of Hercules', allegedly because most of the pieces were commissioned, delivered or written within its very wooden walls. The beer is excellent, the craic always witty and the Hungarian barmaid particularly charming, especially if you say 'egészsegedre' ... !]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31747 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31730 The short menu has over-priced tapas-style offerings in disappointingly small portions: Greek salad, smoked salmon, grilled Halloumi, tortilla and nibbles such as pistachios and olives.
The main reason to go is the great, chilled out atmosphere and the old-fashioned decor with an emphasis on old wood, which makes a change from the usual sleek, up-to-the-minute, minimalist places all around.
The Star also has a great collection of sign memorabilia, including a pet food advert, which the waitress claims is the 'most photographed sign in London'.
Drop by and you'll see why!
Don't let the Crossrail building works occupying 95% of the street put you off. The word on the street was that the Star would have to close, however they are digging their heels in and staying put, hopefully for a lot longer.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31730 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31729 However, it's also one of the most convivial in the area. Named after a Dutch sailor who bought the tavern in 1890, De Hems was a meeting place for the Dutch Resistance during World War II.
The place is packed with office workers, tourists and homesick Dutch folk, enjoying their favourite Dutch and Belgian beers (Leffe, Lindeboom, Kwak, Duvel, Hoegaarden and the almost hallucinogenic Chimay) in their special glasses: the Kwak test tube holder and strange shape is particularly entertaining. The food is traditional Dutch pub grub, such as bitterballen and the chunky chips are excellent.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31729 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31530 The small, slightly cramped pub has on tap about a dozen ciders, still and sparkling, and several versions of scrumpy, cloudy and clear.
Many come from Somerset, home of the legendary apple juice and it's a great place for a refreshing drink after doing sport in the summer sun, after all, apples are part of the necessary five (fruit) a day.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31530 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31503 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31503 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31458 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31458 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31326 Chaplin’s dad used to tinkle the ivories at the 120-year-old inn and scenes from the film ‘Snatch’ were shot on location here
Situated in the historic Black Prince Road, London’s first German gastro-pub has 16 great German beers gushing from gorgeous ceramic draught taps and 32 bottled brews. There are lots of 'weiss' (white) wheat beers and I sampled a version called 'Hell'....which was heavenly.
The kitchen serves up lots of sausages, schnitzels and Bavarian specialities. Two big screens show the German Bundesliga and we watched a medley of Wimbledon matches and live performances direct from Glastonbury. I won’t even mention what a great atmosphere there was during the football World Cup…!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31326 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31171 It's a Wetherspoons pub, which keeps up the theme, and also this means that the prices are very, very competitive. I tried two ciders for the first time; a South African Savannah Dry and a Healey's Cornish Rattler; both were delicious, heady tipples, and neither broke the bank. A huge range of beers from Turkey, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, as well as all the usual brews, completes the line up. There's food too. The clientele range from elderly gents nodding off over a pint of mild, students, Milwall fans, groups of girls in hot pants, Polish builders; in fact everyone is welcome and everyone seems to be having a jolly good time.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31171 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31164 Horses were tethered and watered on Streatham Common, just across the road, and coaches pulled up to allow thirsty drivers and coachmen to wet their whistles before the drive to the coast.
Nowadays, The Waterfront is a large, cavernous, yet friendly bar space and they serve excellent Italian inspired dishes: bruschetta, great pizzas and classy salads. There's a good choice of beers, plus icy cider; something almost like a slushy, but with bite. Organic ice cream and home-made desserts can be enjoyed in the garden, on the decking.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31164 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30161 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30161 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30157 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30157 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29783 I arrived feeling delicate the afternoon after a big night out, and a couple of hours of its relaxed vibe and a few pints of yummy stuff sure did set me straight again, no problem.
Foodwise, I was most impressed to hear they offer a veggie scotch egg with a lentil batter instead of pork, as well as other meaty stuff.

This is the type of pub everyone wishes they had around the corner.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29783 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28888 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28888