As locals will know, Young’s run several of the area’s destination pubs, including The Constitution, which finally reopened earlier this year, and the Bull & Gate, which enjoyed a rather elegant spruce-up back in the summer. Today we’ve teamed up with both to talk all things festive.
First up? What locals call The Conny, the 1858 landmark building on the edge of the Regent’s Canal. If you haven’t yet been in since its restoration, you simply must check out its new upstairs rooftop terrace and bar, with panoramic views over the narrowboats drifting along the water. It’s also the perfect spot for some festive fizz.
Meanwhile, the downstairs towpath cellar bar is arguably the cosiest winter retreat, whether you’re looking to tuck into a three-course feast, winter sharers and cocktails, or the delicious Christmas Day lunch.
The festive three-course set menu costs £45 per person and includes starters of roast cauliflower soup, chestnut gremolata, toasted sourdough (vg), Devon crab & crayfish cocktail, chicory, radicchio, samphire and Bloody Mary sauce, and ox cheek & blue cheese croquettes and Cumberland sauce.
Meanwhile mains include crown of English turkey or West Country rump of beef with all the trimmings (goose fat roast potatoes, crushed winter roots, Brussels sprouts, maple roast parsnips, pig in blanket, cranberry sauce, gravy), as well as Hampshire Chalkstream trout, Cornish new potatoes, samphire & sea beets. The plant-based special is maple-roast heritage squash cassoulet, crispy sage & chestnut gremolata.
And to round it off there’s salted chocolate mousse, Christmas pudding and brandy butter ice cream and apple, fig & chestnut crumble, lemon thyme custard – to name but three. Find out more here.
And now over to Kentish Town institution The Bull & Gate, built back in 1871, which enjoyed a stunning refurb this June. The elegant former gin palace is as striking as it always was, but the vibe is now lighter and airier, the original wooden floorboards so polished you can see your face in them. And there’s a lot more referencing to its esteemed history as music venue where iconic bands including Coldplay, Blur, Oasis and The Manic Street Preachers once performed.
Like The Conny, it too has a busy festive season planned, with roaring fires, delicious seasonal menus, festive drinks and an experienced events team on hand. Gather the troops for a lavish Christmas feast, enjoy an intimate Christmas Day dinner with loved ones, or celebrate with work colleagues with tipples in hand. Looking for the perfect place for an exclusive Christmas event? The upstairs Boulogne Bar (pictured above), with its chic bohemian feel and newly painted ceiling, neon signs, eclectic furniture and diverse artworks – is a stunner.
While its three-course Christmas menu (full meat/ fish / vegan / veggie options) is also £45 per person, and includes the classic festive options outlined at The Constitution above, there are also starters like heritage beetroot, winter leaves, pear, clementine & toasted chestnut salad and mains inclulding pan-roast seabass, Cornish new potatoes, rainbow chard, samphire and Champagne butter sauce. Desserts include dark chocolate brownie, toasted hazelnuts, golden raisins, vanilla ice cream and spiced winter fruit Bakewell with clotted cream.
Chrismas Day at both pubs
Both pubs are open on Christmas Day itself (£90-95 per person), and, in addition to the full Christmas Day lunch options (Crown of English turkey, maple roast Dingley Dell gammon, Gressingham duck breast, pigs in blankets, redcurrant jelly or West Country 28 day aged sirloin of beef) they boast some sensational dishes like starters of Hampshire venison carpaccio, celeriac & apple rémoulade or baked South Coast scallops in the shell, samphire, clementine & garlic butter; and mains of pan-roast turbot on the bone, Jerusalem artichokes, Scottish girolles, samphire. Vegan diners will enjoy the wild mushroom & beetroot Wellington with Jerusalem artichoke purée, rainbow chard, red onion gravy.
And not only are there four tasty desserts to choose from, there are amuse bouches before the starter, as well as a generous cheese course. Phew: you’ll need a lie-down afterwards.
As for NYE? Both multi-floored venues will be jumping with DJs, snug rooms and all manner of mischief going on.
This is a paid partnership in conjunction with Young’s.
