City Barge riverside pub to re-open following refurb

Historic 14th century pub the City Barge, in London's Chiswick, is to re-open in late May following significant refurbishment.

There will also be an array of rare bird taxidermy, a reclaimed Victorian bar, and a new metre-long Thames barge, in a bid to create a relaxed feel.

The pub will offer local ales and ciders â€' including Camden, Fordham & Dominion and Hogs Back Breweries â€' wines by the glass and carafe, and Prosecco on tap, plus five Rieslings, and house drinks such as home-made lemonade.

Food will be from head chef Pat Lynch - formerly of Scott's â€' and include a British seasonal menu, with a focus on seafood from Billingsgate Market. The kitchen, which also has an eight-seat chef's table, will also serve freshly-baked pasties and bread; cheese, and home-cured ham, and serve brunch on the weekends.

The 100-cover outside space, which stretches to just a metre from the Thames towpath, will include bench seating, deck chairs on the grass, a terrace area, leather sofas, and a wood-burning stove. There are also plans to host pop-up food stalls and bars in the summer months.

Robin Belither from the City Barge said that he hoped the riverside location would "speak for itself".

He added: "The City Barge is everything you would want in a local pub. We hope it will offer residents, local businesses and Thames walkers both an everyday treat and a destination for a special occasion."

The Metropolitan Pub Company aims to operate London-based, "non-branded" pubs, often with strong historical links, in a bid to create your "home away from home".

Properties include the Artisan of Clerkenwell, the Vine in Kentish Town, the Ladbroke Arms in Notting Hill, the Clarence in Balham, the World's End in Finsbury Park, and the Merchant near Clapham Junction.