The City Barge riverside pub to open in Chiswick
The pub was first built in the fourteenth century and is situated on the riverbank. Alongside the bar the venue includes a dining room, a large open kitchen and outside space that can be used by customers in nice weather.
Historical details and the garden
While refurbishing the team made an effort to retain many of the period features and fittings at the bar, such as the Victorian panelling and three open fires. A reclaimed Victorian bar has been put in as a focal piece, alongside more unusual features such as some rare bird taxidermy and a metre-long Thames barge. The restaurant itself has views of the river and includes a chef’s table that sits eight people by the open kitchen.
The City Barge intends to make the most of its large area of outdoor space, which stretches out to a metre from the Thames towpath. There will be 50 covers outside including bench seating, deck chairs on the grass, a terrace area and leather sofas next to a wood-burning stove. In the summer the City Barge plans to have pop-up bars and seafood stalls set up outside.
The garden area is overlooked by a private dining and events space on the first floor called the Harrowden Room, which has full-length French windows and can sit 20 people.
Menu and bar
The kitchen will be overseen by head chef Pat Lynch who has created a menu which revolves around seasonal British ingredients with a focus on fresh seafood which the City Barge will source from London’s Billingsgate Market.
Dishes served will include Oxtail cottage pie and seafood burger options such as the soft shell ‘Crabacado’ Burger with den miso mayonnaise. The bar will serve traditional pub food such as home-made pasties and plates of hams, artisan breads and cheeses. The City Barge will also serve breakfast and brunch at weekends from 10am.
There are seven local ales and ciders offered at the bar which will change on a regular basis, and a selection of stouts and lagers on draught and by the bottle including Camden, Fordham & Dominion and Hogs Back Breweries. The bar serves wine by the bottle and glass and has Prosecco available on tap and five different Rieslings. Entry level price is £18 for a bottle of wine and the bar also offers non-alcoholic options such as homemade lemonade.
The City Barge’s Robin Belither said: “The City Barge is everything you would want in a local pub. In winter it’s the perfect cosy spot to warm up and enjoy an intimate drink or dinner. In summer, the incredible outside space and riverside location speak for themselves.
“We hope it will offer residents, local businesses and Thames walkers both an everyday treat and a destination for a special occasion.”
The City Barge is located at 27, Strand on the Green and opens at the end of May.
