The Harwood Arms

Words by Simon Difford

The Harwood Arms image 1

Address: Walham Grove, (corner Farm Lane), London, SW6 1QP, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7386 1847
Email: admin@harwoodarms.com
Website: view The Harwood Arms’ website
Door: Make reservation
Style: Gastro bar
Food: Set menu
Established: 2008

Review

As it proudly declares on its website, The Harwood "is not your average gastropub". Indeed, it is the only gastro pub with a Michelin Star. The Harwood may boast pub essentials such as a solid wooden old bar counter, a couple of cask ales on hand pump and a classic pub mid-19th century corner building. However, all other aspects are decidedly more restaurant than pub, and an upscale restaurant at that.

The Harwood lies in the streets of well-healed houses behind Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge stadium. As befits a pub, its interior is elegant and well-appointed rather than plush with gun metal grey and cream walls rising from a bare wooden floor, its vintage mismatched tables and chairs are classic gastro pub but less wobbly and in noticeably better condition. The artwork and photographs that dot the walls follow a hunting theme, reflecting the prominence of game dishes on the daily changing menu.

Head Chef, Alex Harper, who came here in 2014 after a period under Brett Graham at Two Michelin Stared sister restaurant The Ledbury, presents distinctly British dishes that befit the surroundings but with the delicate little flourishes those Michelin inspectors admire. Being a pub, dishes are more reasonably priced than other comparable restaurants with a set-priced menu for lunch and dinner, at £33.50 for two course and £39.50 for three courses.

The impressive old world-led list of some 200 wines offers 13 by the glass and some very affordable bottles, extending to great Burgundies such as Grands Echezeaux Domaine de la Romanee-Conti 2005 at £1,000 a pop. As we said, The Harwood "is not your average gastropub."