We had just docked in Portsmouth, driven quite a bit of the morning, and still tried to get in some sights. So we were quite tired to say the least but as it was the weekend we felt we at least needed to try a true pub Sunday roast at least once.
Luckily Chesterfield Arms was a few minutes walk from our hotel, The Athenaeum, and had good reviews. We ended up there at quite a random time, but they could not have been more wonderful! Admittedly we didn’t have the full British pub experience. We would have loved to have stayed a bit longer, chatted with some of the other patrons, and had another pint…but honestly, we would have been asleep at the bar. What we did experience though was great and we couldn’t have been happier. Our server, Paula, was so kind and welcoming. So friendly and easy to chat with. She definitely made a difference for us.
So let’s talk food –
Obviously, we weren’t leaving without at least one of us ordering a roast, but in the end, three out of four did. So much else looked good, but it was hard to turn it down.
Sunday Roast ~ roast beef or lemon & thyme roasted chicken with roasted potatoes, cavolo nero, maple carrots, sage & suet stuffing, & Yorkshire pudding. Each thing was delicious on its own, but the combo was amazing!
Chalk Stream Smoked Trout with avocado, mango, salted giant corn, & wasabi peas – This was also paired with roasted beetroot with goats curd, toasted kasha, cured lemon & dill dressing. Sometimes starters & sides make the best entrees.
Sticky Toffee Pudding with butterscotch, maple pecans, & clotted cream ice cream. So good we thought of ordering another one!
Poached Orange Polenta cake with clotted cream, & candied pistachio. So delicious and a great balance to the sticky toffee pudding. And clotted cream makes everything better.
Although the menu wasn’t huge (definitely not a bad thing), there was a great range of items, including vegetarian and vegan options. Not sure if this is the norm for pubs, as this was our first visit, but it was great to see. Even in a 300 year old pub, it felt like a bit of a modern take on what pub food is all about. It’s a great place to come with friends or family, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Our evening came to an average of £40 per person, with 3 of us having drinks and getting 2 desserts to share. (Also including the 12.5% service charge)
It was super cozy & our odd time of going meant we had the dining room to ourselves & a perfect spot by the window. Although there’s some space for dining downstairs, the main dining room is upstairs in a wonderful wood paneled room. Exactly what you want in a 300 year old pub. If you are in the Mayfair area of London, definitely make sure to stop in for at least a pint (maybe the sticky toffee pudding too)
Where to find them –
50 Hertford Street, Mayfair
Greater London
Just minutes from Hyde Park
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