Admittedly though, this was a lovely pub with wooden partitioned areas and a fabulous long bar. I'm not sure how much of the pub was original but it had the feel of a pub from a bygone era.
Choosing a beer was a bit of an experience, we were disappointed to discover that there were no real ales however the fact that there was the previously untried Samuel Smiths Organic Lager helped to compensate.
We sat in the beer garden round the back of the pub and, although this was a bustling area situated between Notting Hill and Portobello Road, it had a sense of tranquillity to it.
I wandered back into the pub for a comfort break and had a look round hoping that I may feature on a Lonsdale family portrait on the pub's wall. Unfortunately the focus was on Hugh Lowther, the fifth Earl of Lonsdale, but to my surprise my relative (I'm claiming him, particularly if Heir Hunters come knocking at my door !!) was quite an interesting gentleman.
The Earl of Lonsdale inherited enormous wealth from the Cumberland coalmines and owned 75,000 acres up land there, maybe that's why I'm so partial to a pint of Cumberland ale !! It is said that he devoted his wealth to a life of 'ostentatious pleasure', bang goes my inheritance !!
He had a penchant for the colour yellow, I must have known, check out my tee shirt, and was the founder of the Automobile Association who adopted the Earl's favourite colour in their badge. He founded the original Lonsdale boxing belt, the Lonsdale clothing brand (made famous by The Jam and Sports Direct !!) and was also the originator of the Lonsdale cigar size, me neither, I've never heard of it !! He was also chairman of Arsenal football club in the 1930's and founded The Our Dumb Friends (aka v*lla fans) League during the war.
It was a great pleasure to drink in his pub !! Cheers great, great uncle !!
No comments:
Post a Comment