I always loved this place when I first moved here, back when it was the Belle Isle. It had a casual, relaxed vibe. Being close to the seafront it was somewhere you could always pop to when you had been for a long walk or one of the cool events happening on the common. The one thing I loved more than anything though was the seating outside where on a beautiful sunny day you could park your bum and people watch while drinking a cool beer.
Fast forward to now and the Belle Isle became The Greenwich and had new owners. Lockdown happened and created a whole lot of worries in the hospitality industry and was sold on again. The new owners have totally refurbished the pub now and I love the new look. It is refreshing, on trend and easy on the eye!
Co-owner Mark who also owns the Parade Tea Rooms talked to me about the refurbishment and the new menu that has been launched recently. He said he wanted the establishment to have a relaxed atmosphere and also have the food choice reflect this. He is happy with the new refreshed look and also loves the location of this seaside drinking hole. Being a successful owner of a local independent business, he knows how to make things work and is passionately involved in the Greenwich’s success.
I came on Saturday with my family to try out the new menu on what can only be described as a perfect sunny day. We came at lunchtime and looked at the menu. It is very relaxed and not trying to be too fussy. There is an option for sharing plates and also small plates. They have the basket classics section and then also burgers. You can choose a mezze board to share and also nachos. I do like how there are vegan options here so no one is feeling left out. There is also a child option too which is always important for families.
Checking out the small plates menu made me HANGRY so we picked a good 6 dishes for grown-ups and the basket classic of chicken and fries for my 11-year-old. The food arrived quickly and was a nice table of food to tuck into. We tried; the Teriyaki Chicken, marinated Olives, Bread and Oils, Patatas Bravas, Prawn Pil Pil, and Chorizo in Red Wine. Chilling in the sunshine, we loved being able to share small plates and our favourites were the Teriyaki Chicken and the Chorizo in Red Wine. They had fab flavours and had been cooked well.
As it was a nice sunny wknd day, I tried the house gin which was a Boxer Gin and is priced at £4.10 for a single measure. They do have a cool local selection of gin which is great for supporting other indies which were Southsea Spirit and Mermaid Gin. There are no dessert options here but I am ok with that as I think the kind of food on the menu is meant to be something that compliments having a nice drink and not competing to be more of an eaterie than a pub. The food options are unfussy but the menu selections are well thought through and cooked nicely. My son really liked the chicken as he said it was done with gentle seasoning and doesn’t try to overpower the meat.
From the outside walking past, it is the Interiors that draw you in. Having a combination of rattan, black with plenty of foliage means this has a modern look. Natural features are still there like the prominent brick wall which now houses a huge round mirror and it has a light airy feel about it. Hanging from the ceiling are industrial lights that enhance the look of the premises. Leather chairs mixed in with rattan offers an eclectic focus and the marble tables with gold legs bring the whole style together. I like the interior better than it has ever looked before and like I said at the start, I feel it has a chilled vibe which means you could spend a good amount of time here with friends and loved ones. There are TV’s dotted about for watching sports but they don’t overpower the venue at all, but have a subtle way about them.
Sunday’s wouldn’t be the same without a delicious Sunday roast and so this is an option to have which is reasonably priced. During the week there is a special price of 2 cocktails for £12 and any burger and drink for £13. I like the small plate offer of 3 small plates plus 2 drinks for £24 which makes eating out in the week an easy option.
If you love cocktails and love that Summer vibe then you will like the cocktails on offer here, where you can grab an Aperol Spritz for £6 which sounds perfect to me. Go and pop in and see the new refurbishment and invite the Spring sunshine to head right back to us as we have been spoilt these last few weeks!
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