Hansom Cab Grill Room & Oyster Bar (Restaurant)

Overdosed on Gastro Pubs? Feel the whole Gastro movement is now passé? I’m there with you, well… I was until I visited the Hansom Cab recently. A renovated Victorian Pub; this is clearly how it should be done. A huge improvement in the Pubs appearance but where many other gastro-pubs fail, the hansom Cab comes up trumps – its still very much a locals ‘local’.

The Hansom Cab successfully fusses the traditional London boozer with a 21st century Gastro Pub. Friendly bar staff greet you and know regulars by their first name; an open fire throws out that warm comforting glow; original fittings kept and modified such as the Victorian gas lanterns (now with bulbs); subtle ceiling spot lights; groovy tunes play lightly in the background; dark wooden floorboards and a North African themed lounge area.

The food menu is limited, specializing more on ‘Lights’ and ‘Sandwiches’, with about six main courses (that change regularly) to choose from. For me this is all a small venue such as the Hansom Cab should be offering – I feel far more confident in the freshness of the ingredients. Although limited the menu offers a delicious mix of courses that’ll keep the connoisseurs happy. The 8oz Rib Eye Steak was cooked perfectly.

For a small pub the Hansom Cab offers an impressive array of drinks. Spitfire and London Pride represent the ales, draughts from Carling, Star, and Guinness through to Leffe and one for the ladies – Strawberry Fruli. A fruity draught, that we were told, works as a great introduction to beer (not sure on that myself). The bottled beers pull no punches with Asahi, Budvar, Erdinger and a very potent Duvel amongst others. Wine is selected from around the world ranging from £10 to just under £20.

Hansom by name Hansom by nature, this Victorian Pub is a fine representative of the Gastro Pub Genre....read more