Day 14: Ken’s Fish & Chips, Old Pubs and Humble Crumble
We’ve mentioned the Netflix series Somebody Feel Phil a couple of times now, and our last quest to visit a location he spotlighted in his London episode was Ken’s Fish Bar in Herne Hill. It is touted as the best fish and chips in London so we thought we would give it a try. It was a 10 minute walk, 35 minute train ride and then another 8 minute walk to get there. There is no inside seating, just a place to order and wait for your food. There were a couple tables outside and even though it was a little chilly today (around 50 degrees) we ended up eating our fish there. We chatted with Ken while we waiting for our fish to be ready. He was very happy that we had seen the episode and had made to trip to his store. When we told him we were from the States, he told us he is headed to Los Angeles and San Francisco on Christmas day for a holiday. Finally, our fish & chips were ready and we dug in. They were truly the best fish and chips either of has ever eaten. So crispy on the outside, flakey on the inside and the chips were perfect. The tartar sauce homemade and such an amazing pairing with the fish. Normally I don’t like tartar sauce, but I loved Ken’s!
From Ken’s we made our way by train back across the Thames to and old pub called Ye Olde Mitre. Built in 1546 for the servants of the Bishops of Ely, The Ye Olde Mitre is famous for having a cherry tree, (now supporting the front) that Queen Elizabeth once danced around with Sir Christopher Hatton. It is also considered London’s most hidden pub as it sits at the end of a narrow alley behind the high end jewelry shops on Hatton Garden. The pub definitely has that old world feel to it. On the way back to our flat, we stopped at another of London’s oldest pubs, Ye Old Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street. The pub was rebuilt in 1667 after the original one was burnt down by the Great Fire of London. It has been visited by numerous literary figures such as Dr Samuel Johnson, Mark Twain, W.B. Yeats and Charles Dickens, who even featured it in his novel A Tale of Two Cities. The inside certainly feels old. We sad downstairs which is where the wine cellars were. It had a very cool vibe and with people meet for the holidays, there was a buzz about the place.
We continued on our walk back to our place and side tracked to another place Jimm has read about call Neal’s Yard. Neal's Yard is a vibrant and colorful courtyard tucked away in Covent Garden and is really close to where we are staying. Its history dates back to the 17th century when the area was developed as part of the expansion of Covent Garden. In the 1970s, Neal's Yard was transformed by Nicholas Saunders, an entrepreneur and advocate for natural health. He opened the Whole Food Warehouse in 1976, which became a hub for organic and sustainable living. Saunders' vision led to the yard's revival, turning it into a lively center for alternative lifestyles. Today, Neal's Yard is known for its eclectic mix of shops, cafes, and businesses and it’s colorful building that reminded us of Burano, Italy.
Our final stop of the day was Mr. Fogg’s Tavern & Gin Parlour. Last time we were in London we went to the other location, Mr. Fogg’s Society of Exploration. Both locations are based on Phileas J. Fogg, the protagonist from the 1872 novel by Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days. Dating back to 1785, a traditional tavern has been on this site at 22 Great Chapel Street, before Ambrose Forte took over in 1933 and, many years later in 2012, his granddaughter, Julia, established The London Gin Club. The London Gin Club has since been transformed into Mr Fogg's Tavern & Gin Parlour. The parlour had a cozy atmosphere with beautiful decorations and Christmas music playing. We enjoyed a couple of their speciality cocktails while taking in the whole scene. It was a great ending to another fabulous day in London!