Westbourne (The), London

This is a truly rustic gastropub with a lot going for it. For starters, it pulls the most enormous crowds of trendy local clientele - there's no booking system so you have to get there early to get a table. The decor is the epitome of rustic: wooden floors, chunky wooden furnishing, and rustic-style breads on display at the counter. It is simply a cool place to hang out at weekends, with a relaxing atmosphere and good solid cooking. The little street-side terrace area fills up in summer, but, with the use of outdoor heaters, manages to seat people well into the autumn. Modern British cooking is high on the agenda. The blackboard menu changes frequently, but there is always some form of fish and meat with an adventurous twist. Lighter dishes are also on offer for the not-so-hungry visitors but insist on the bread as it's delicious. The wine is a little pricey, but then you do have some real gems on offer.