The Woolpack - London Bridge

Not quite Greenwich you may say, but lets not forget that London Bridge is a super quick 9 minutes away on the overground from Greenwich Station and so is always worth a visit.  London Bridge is going through lots of changes at the moment what with the building of the new super tall Shard building and the regeneration of the area around Bermondsey Street.

And its on Bermondsey Street that we find The Woolpack pub, outside it has the look of a traditional boozer, inside the decor seems to be a cross between a east end pie and mash shop and a american diner.  Now this isnt a criticism - I think it looks great, I love the booths and the tiling on the walls.  Outside there is a terrace, lovely on a summers day and in winter if it gets a bit nippy they have a basket of blankets on offer to keep you warm and cosy - bliss.

Main courses are between £8 to £12 pounds and cover awesome burgers to fulfilling salads, they also do a Sunday Roast but if you go definitely try and check out one of their burgers.

The staff are friendly and efficient and the locals trendy and welcoming! Definitely worth the train ride!




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The Railway - Blackheath

I am a big fab of Blackheath, and there is nothing better on a weekend then to wander up through Greenwich Park, across the heath and into Blackheath Village.  When you get to Blackheath and have had a good mooch around the shops make sure you get to one of the nicest pubs in the area, The Railway.

Settled at the top of the hill and next to Blackheath train station, this pub dates back to Victorian and is super cosy in winter and bright and airy in summer.  The friendly and efficient staff will serve you a great selection of beers and wines, cocktails too, and the Sunday Roast is to put it lightly huge - and great value for money.  Apparently there is also a roof terrace somewhere but I haven't quite found it yet - maybe next time.  The decor is a cross between gastro pub and traditional - but it is nicely done and works well.  The pub seems to offer something for everyone and there seems to be all age ranges, locals and those from slightly further afield.

It is very easy to while away the hours here, and if like me you do and then cant quite be bothered to walk back down the hill and through the park - remember that handy train station and let the train take the strain!




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The Thursday Photo: The Walk to Blackheath

In an attempt to improve my (rather poor) photography skills I've decided to have a Thursday photo each week, (either that or I'm just being rather lazy and want a day off of doing a full post!!!)


In any case here is a photo from our walk from Greenwich to Blackheath last weekend for lunch - rather nice it was too, the walk and the lunch!

Greenlands Health Foods - Greenwich

I wonder if like couples, or perhaps owners and their dogs, that shops and their owners and / or staff take on each others characteristics? If so then I think that Greenlands Health Foods would be a perfect example. Placed along the edge of the hustle and bustle of Greenwich Market the shop is a little oasis of calm. The minute you step in you immediately take on a feeling of zen like harmony! (I guess it must be all the healthy and holistic items within!).

The shop is made up of two floors the 1st floor which you enter into has everything from supplements, seeds, organic food and wine to healthy teas and breads. Anything you could wish for to feed your body to health and beauty!....But wait.....theres more, down the steps to the ground floor and there is every type of organic and natural item for the body and home, from natural shampoos and body washes to hair dye and eco friendly house hold cleaners.

Now back to my first comment about shops and their owners, when you go to pay you wont help but notice how peaceful and calm the staff members are, I have been a couple of times now and each time the same - they truly seem to love their work.

So if you fancy making your body and mind a little calmer and healthier in what can be a frantic world make sure you take a little time out and visit the little oasis of calm on the edge of Greenwich market.


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Tai Won Mein Noodle House - Greenwich

Finally we got round to visiting the Tai Won Mein Noodle House.  Having walked past the restaurant for over a year, looking at the number of people always packing the place out and hearing its praises being sung by one of my work colleagues I was wondering could it really be that good?  I finally found out the answer!

We decided to go in on a whim  and found the place pretty packed, we were quickly shown to a noodle bench (ie a long benches with seating each side - its not as close quarters as some places I have been to) by an efficient waitress.

We both decided on noodle soups from the menu, it just being lunch and we fancied something light, but the menu covers anything noodle wise you could possibly want.

Looking around I couldn't help but notice that the portions are huge and this was confirmed when our noodle soups arrived, super big bowls with plenty of chicken and prawns in respectively.

The food tasted very fresh and healthy, we did manage to finish but around us people were pouring their leftovers into handy doggy bags, well actually take away boxes (they charge 50p for one of these), but to be honest its well worth the money.  I always think noodles are like Pizza, even better the day after (although is that just me?)

You pay up at the till here and as we approached the lady magically seemed to know what we had ordered.  The cost (without service charge - they don't add one or expect you pay one) was £14.95 all in - but we did make sure we popped some money in the tip box by the till.

If you are after great noodles, at an amazing price and brilliant value for money with no nonsense staff (I love no fuss kinda of places) then this isWon  the place for you.  I just wished we had had something a little more naughty and had to take advantage of the doggy bags!




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Bristol Bound

I was in Bristol this weekend and managed to catch some of the wonderful and colourful balloons from the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.  I would have taken photos but I'm currently still waiting to get a camera and have decided not to inflict my mobile phone photos on you any more!

I had never been to Bristol before, I had to Bath but not Bristol.  We stayed with a friend in Clifton and spent many a happy hour sampling the local pubs!

The view from the Avon Gorge Hotel bar was amazing and was the ideal place to sup a Saturday afternoon beer!

If you are going to Bristol over the next few weeks make sure you watch out for the Wow Gorillas, between the 6 July and the 7 September there are a number of colourful and lifesized gorillas that have been decorated by various artists There are 61! yes 61 gorillas in all to spot.  Very similar to the Elephants that were on show in London I think it was last year or the year before.

Anyway, however nice Bristol was it was lovely to come back to Greenwich - home sweet home!

The Auctioneer - Sunday 1 May 2011

Three weeks of roast dinners were beginning to take their toll, so that our love for the great british roast remains we decided to have a weekend off and try something else.
We were up and out early (mainly because the other half had to be back for the Man U v Arsenal game!).  So we decided a brunch would work and decided on The Auctioneer.
Pub location
The pub is about 5 minutes from the Cutty Sark DLR station and about 2 minutes from Greenwich DLR / overground. If you are walking from Cutty Sark DLR take the back roads to get a view of the nice Georgian houses.
Whats it like inside?
Its not the most beautiful pub in the world, but I dont think people go there for the decor... and to be honest its more of a sports pub / bar - we are talking dark wood and traditional pub, meets big screens and pool tables. Well known as one of the main pubs in Greenwich if you want to see any sport.  When we got there about 11.30am there were already people outside waiting to get in.  The opening time was meant to be 11.30 but it didnt open until 12 noon.  There was also a football game starting early that day hence the queues outside.  
Who goes there?
Well frequented by students, those trying to catch a game and those after a budget bite
What was on offer? 
The Auctioneer is part of the Scream Pubs chain and the majority of the menu is burgers and British classics so sausage and mash, English breakfasts.  The menu is big so I can imagine that a lot of it isnt cooked to order!  But they do have a reputation for great burgers. All food is priced at £10 and below. These guys are also famous for their beer and burger deal, come after 3pm and you can get a beer and a burger for 4.75!
What did we order?
Couldnt decide on whether to go for the english breakfast or a burger - so decided to combine the two and go for a Breakfast Burger which is served with chips - cost was a truly budget saving 5.75.

The Verdict
Loved the...
Price - the portion was huge with a good majority of chips, the Breakfast Burger consisted of a burger, a hash brown, bacon and a fried egg - phew!! I couldnt finish it!
Service - the bar staff were super friendly
Attitude - they dont pretend to be something they arent
Liked...
Pretty much everything else, the burger was flavoursome, the chips fine, they were hot and crispy and werent bland, the hash brown was crispy on the outside and tender in the middle and the egg was fried well.  It was a perfectly nice burger and chips
Disliked...
If anything, the location, its on a main road, but they do have a outside area out the back
Overall verdict
Look, the food here is a great budget bite, if you are expecting gastro food do not come, but if you want a decent burger at a great price then this should be your first stop.






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