The Blue Stoops pub in Kensington was recently recognised by CAMRA as being one of the prettiest pubs in the UK. Credit: The Blue Stoops – via CAMRA Pubs and London go together like ham and cheese, salt and vinegar, fish and chips, and all sorts of non-food-related pairings (none of which my hungry brain can produce right now). Our city is full of pubs with incredible history, as well as some stonking pints. You’ll find them perched by the river and tucked away down corner streets. And within some you’ll find roaring fireplaces or impressive beer gardens. But did you know that London is also home to one of the prettiest pubs in the UK? The Campaingfor Real Ale (CAMRA) recently released its annual ranking of some of the most picture-perfect pubs in the country. CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards recognises “the UK’s most visually stunning, lovingly restored and historically significant pubs.” And one London boozer rose to the top with an impressive award. The Blue Stoops, in Kensington, took the number one spot in the ‘Conversion to Pub Use’ category. It was joint winner alongside St Peter’s Tavern in Liverpool. Credit: The Blue Stoops Now you might think that conversion to pub use doesn’t sound all that glamorous an award, but the award name belies how beautiful the pubs are. There is no over-arching ‘prettiest pub in the UK’ title as part of the CAMRA Pub Design Awards. Instead, they recognise the prettiest pubs, while paying respect to the journey that some of these pubs have taken to even be open in the first place. The award “centres on the building’s character and historic features to capture a pub’s atmosphere and ambience.”. The Blue Stoops The Blue Stoops is a truly stunning pub, which serves up plenty of history alongisde tasty (and also historic) pints. The pub was previously a wine bar, but the building was completely transformed for its new identity. Inside you’ll find half-height partitions (for that suggestion of privacy while you’re sat with your mates) and an array of memorabilia festooned around the room. There are old-school beer ads, mirrors engraved with brewery logos, and charming tiled floors. But it’s perhaps the bar that is the most striking. Cask beer is dispensed from tall swan-neck beer pumps, and served to customers on a striking bartop. The bar itself features a bright blue ceramic frontage, bearing the logo of the Allsopp’s brewery, which runs the pub. Credit: The Blue Stoops – via CAMRA Fittingly for a venue that’s obsessed with history, the pub has brought back some beer history for modern drinkers to enjoy. The house IPA is Allsopp’s IPA. This is a beer that dates back all the way to the 1700s, and was recently brought back into production. They also serve Double Diamond – another beer that has been brought back from the dead, that your parents or grandparents might have once drunk. The prettiest pubs in the UK Altogether, 5 London pubs won big in CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards. The following pubs were recognised as part of the awards: The Blue Stoops, Kensington (Conversion to Pub Use Award) – joint winner St Peter’s Tavern, Liverpool (Conversion to Pub Use Award) – joint winner Leyton Engineer, Leyton (Refurbishment Award) – winner European, Leyton (Refurbishment Award) – highly commended Duke of York, Fitzrovia (Refurbishment Award) – commended Lord Southampton, Kentish Town (Community Local Award) – winner You can find out more about CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards here. 📍 The Blue Stoops, 127-129 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LP.🚇 The nearest station is Notting Hill Gate.
