The Westbourne Pub- “The place to be” in Notting Hill

The Westbourne pub opened three years ago has become “the place to go” on a Friday for anyone craving a good old beverage after a hard days work or simply to enjoy a good atmosphere with plenty of young professionals and, let’s not forget, a plethora of male and female eye candy. Good banter, drinking and beauties aside, it was also awarded a place in the 2004 edition of the Michelin Guide having acquired a fabulous reputation for its tasty fare, ranging from rock oysters to pot roasted pheasant with bacon, shallots and oyster mushrooms. Fresh and vibrant in the summer and cosy and inviting in the winter, you simply cannot go wrong with this pub.

Contact details are listed below:

The Westbourne
101 Westbourne Park Villas
London W2 5ED
0207 221 1332

“Notting” But A Tastey Plum Tray Bake With A Cheesecake Swirl.

Put your aprons on!!!! Dieters look away.  Below is the work of the diet devil, the cake lurer….the sweet siren!!! 

This is the most delicious recipe for a cheesecake bake that will have you corridor creeping, or even leaping, through the night in order to experience the lovely fluffy texture contrasting with the sweetness of the baked plums on your lips.  One slice will never be enough  and be warned now…..within seconds you will be digging in full heartedly with the nearest soup spoon, shoveling as much of this heavenly dessert in to your mouth as possible….it is pure ambrosia.  The fabulous thing about this tray bake is that it can be eaten hot or cold, with tea or with ice cream and although it makes ten pieces it is also a perfect meal for one for those of you trying to mend a broken heart…

Ingredients

200g tub cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla bean extract
3 tbsp caster sugar
4 medium eggs
175g unsalted butter, softened
175g dark muscovado sugar
200g self-raising flour
400g ripe plums, halved, stoned and roughly chopped

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Grease and line a 28cm x 18cm shallow baking tin with baking parchment, making sure that the paper comes higher than the rim of the tin.

 

In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft. Add the vanilla bean paste or extract, caster sugar and one of the eggs, and beat using a hand-held electric whisk until smooth.

 

Place the remaining eggs, butter, muscovado sugar and flour in a separate bowl. Beat for about 2 minutes until pale and creamy.

 

Spread half of the creamed flour mixture onto the base of the tray, then dollop half of the cream cheese mixture over it, spreading an uneven swirl through the base mixture. Scatter with half of the plums.

Spoon the remaining creamed flour mixture on top and dot with the rest of the cream cheese.

 

Scatter with the remaining plums then bake for about 45 minutes until risen and just firm to touch. Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into pieces. Serve warm or cold, with ice cream.

 

When cooked, the surface of this tray bake should feel just firm to the touch, but bear in mind that it will firm-up slightly as it cools. If over-baked, it will lose its moist texture.

 

N.B. Recipe is curtesy of www.waitrose.com

Children’s Hobbies and Child Care Around Notting Hill

So you have moved to your new West London dream home and life is just perfect.  The location, the views, the transport links and shops are all you ever needed and as close as you could have possibly ever wished for.  But there is just one thing…what do you do when your kiddies have finished school at 3.30pm and you are still at work?

 Worry not dear mummies and daddies we have a few ideas that may be of help; if you are new to the U.K and are not familiar with the educational system, it may be worth while popping in to your child’s school and asking a few questions.  The majority of schools have after school activities ranging from net ball or foot ball to chess club and computers.  The government over the past year has also been strongly promoting the idea of healthy living and so many schools are now ensuring that they offer fitness clubs( dance, athletics, rugby)  and cooking clubs in order to teach the adults of tomorrow how to take care of themselves in order to have a healthy body and mind.  These get togethers normally run from 3.30pm till about 6pm often allowing the pupils a “focus” hour or so to finish their homework.  Homework or “prep” clubs, as they are referred to, are also offered and (having been to them myself when I was younger) are an ideal way of focusing a child on the work they have to complete for tomorrow without the noise and distractions of parents and siblings at home. After school clubs are also an ideal opportunity for your child to learn a new art (singing or choir, piano or flute, painting, sewing etc.) without the pressure and constant examination of a school day. 

 If you are searching for day care, i.e. nannies, it is better to go via a reputable nanny agency, as then you can ensure that your child’s guardian will have the necessary police checks (CRB) and first aid training should your little one need it.  Nannying agencies find nannies that are specifically tailored to your needs, for example, if you are moving over from Greece and need someone who speaks both Greek and English, who cooks Greek food (as this is what your children are used to eating) and who can drive, the agency will pick out two or three people from their books who suit the specification and will suggest you meet them and pick the one of your choice.

 If you do not want to take on a full time nanny it is possible to either book them part time or to take on a child minder.  Child minders are people who take on all the after school responsibilities such as pick ups, feeding the little ones etc from 3.30pm until you are able to pick your child up, and generally they run this service from their own home.

 A few after school activities to look at in the Notting Hill area are listed below but there are plenty more so get googling!

www.harbourclubnottinghill.com – Tennis for adults and children plus other activities

www.westlondondanceacademy.com- Ballett classes.

www.perform.co.uk – drama, music.

www.chelseafc.com- football.

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

Oh, who am I kidding.  What else could I possibly highlight about Notting Hill today but the impending Carnival.  This is essentially the sole feature to be had in the neighbourhood this weekend anyway.  Be a part of it, enjoy it, leave it with a strong desire to live in Notting Hill, then call us to schedule an appointment to view your new Notting Hill flat.  So simple!

~~~Festival of the Week~~~

It’s Notting Hill Carnival!  At the risk of being redundant with our earlier post, we would be remiss not to comment on this grand fete going into the weekend of its occurrence.  This is just one of those events that makes me give a double-take to the Notting Hill neighbourhood.  Just when you might fear it will become too gentrified to appease tourists, its diverse background rears its head and strikes out with a lashing of eccentric, multicultural festivities to remind us of the Caribbean demographic that once dominated these streets and celebrate the general joy and debauchery of life.  This is a time when Notting Hill really lets its hair down and decks itself out in color and glitter, entertaining the masses with vibrant costumes and ethnic music and cuisine.  Sunday is Kid’s Day, which will appeal to you if you’re looking for a lower-key experience of Carnival; otherwise, if you’re ready to swim in the sea of parade-watchers, mark down the bank holiday Monday in your diary.

If you come to the area this weekend, commit to the Carnival experience–your other favourite shops and eateries will likely be closed if not boarded up to brace against the onslaught.  Cheers to those of you moving to the neighbourhood this week–what better way to kick off your new tenancy!  If you’re looking to move to the area after things settle down a bit and you can actually view the buildings, Notting Hill Properties will have braved the eclectic storm and still be here for your call!

In Bloom

Having recently swapped my Tube ride for the bus to enjoy the lovely outdoors as much as possible during the remainder of these fine summer days, the Churchill Arms has become my favourite eye candy on the way into Notting Hill!  I reckon one of these days I’ll have to venture in for a frosty brew (twist my arm), but, until then, cheers to the pub for its almost obscene investment in a third of the UK’s flora used in adorning its exterior!  Hmm, perhaps Notting Hill Properties needs to organise an open-house social there…

Deli Delights

Deli recommendation for the day:  Mr. Christian’s Delicatessen.  We’ve been following this lil’ establishment on Twitter, and its delectable daily tweets finally broke me down today.  You temptress!  But I’m glad I submitted to its Siren song, as it brought a goat’s cheese, artichoke, sundried tomato, and rocket sandwich on a poppyseed bun to my lips this afternoon.  Sweet temptation!  They can also brew a fine cappuccino, which is not helping me get over my caffeine addiction that makes me crave it fortnightly…In any case, make your way over to the deli at 11 Elgin Crescent just off Portobello Road (you’ll see the Duke of Wellington right on that corner).  It makes for a pleasant afternoon stroll, and you’ll have more than just an array of prepared sandwiches out for the purchasing–fresh breads, pastries, meats, and a long wall of packaged foods and sauces stocking its floor-to-ceiling shelves will satiate any appetite, any day.  Notting Hill Properties can situate you near the deliciousness–give us a ring!

Got Book?

I was meeting friends for lunch the other day at the Notting Hill Gate tube station.  Standing by the exit at the appointed time, I received a text message that they were running a half hour late.  I figured in case they arrived earlier than estimated, I should remain in the vicinity, so wondered where I could pop in to kill some time.  The bright yellow beacon unto my line of sight was the Book Warehouse.  Modest in size and collection, yes, but huge in savings.  Their books cover the range of fiction, history, children’s literature, and more–my personal favourite was the wall of classic literature at the back, offering £1.99 novels or 3 for £4.99.  Yes, that’s right–by the time I wandered back to meet my friends, my bag was 3 books heavier and £5 lighter

While you’re there indulging your literary fancies and wishing oh-so badly you could live in a neighbourhood like this with so much at your disposal, why not live here?  Notting Hill Properties is a few minutes’ walk away off Westbourne Grove and happy to place you.

~~~Festival of the Week~~~

A mere two Tube stops away from Notting Hill Gate, Earls Court is hosting the annual Great British Beer Festival.  Spanning the 4th through 8th August, the event features 450+ varieties of beer from around the world, along with live music, pub food and games, and tasting tutorials.  Tickets are £6 if purchased in advance and £8 at the door. 

Notting Hill Properties wants you to enjoy such fun events the area has to offer, but we also encourage you to drink responsibly for the health and safety of yourself and others.  Cheers!

‘At’s Amore!

The other day after work, I was famished and hoped to find something super close by Notting Hill Gate station, but off the high street to avoid all the pedestrian chaos.  Solution:  Portobello Ristorante Pizzeria at 7 Ladbroke Grove.  A cool yet pleasant, sunny early evening, I passed through their quaint garden trellis archway to be comfortably seated outside beneath the soft, beige-y glow of their deep awning.  Their complimentary bread serving is sparse–a basic 1 slice : 1 person ratio–but so what when it’s free and one shouldn’t be carb-loading before a big meal anyway!  Said big meal was well worth saving belly room:  the pizza is crisp and the gnocchi infused with basil.  An escape from the noise, yet still a moment’s walk from the Tube. 

Yet another reason Notting Hill is a convenient place to live…Notting Hill Properties will be happy to show you in person!