A taste of...
The Churchill 132 Lambton Quay, Wellington.
We’d heard… A three-storey British pub had opened in the CBD to much local excitement, so we went for a cheeky drink and some English grub.
We ordered… Fish and chips ($23), ceremoniously served on some rather patriotic Union Jack paper.
The malty beer-batter was light and non-greasy; the chips the real deal – cooked in dripping and just about crispy enough.
The dish was accompanied with a side of mushy peas, which – being a Pom – I was disproportionately excited about and thankfully not disappointed by. Authentically made with marrow-fat peas, it was a taste of home.
The side of oysters ($4 each), were juicy and fresh – however, I would have rather had the option of distributing my own shallot vinegar, as one came overloaded, and another nearly naked.
Much like the drinks scene in London right now, the cocktails here were well-crafted.
I shunned a traditional pint (sorry), and sipped on a wellbalanced Doris plum and ginger sour ($14) – spicy Indian black pepper and juniper-led botanicals of Opihr gin, beautifully balanced with the smooth layer of stone fruit and zingy aftertaste of fresh ginger.
The sticky toffee pudding ($9) was heavenly. Velvety smooth icecream, ever so slightly speckled with vanilla pods, and a moist, date-packed sponge topped with a thick, indulgent sauce was spot-on – there are definitely some fellow UK folk in the kitchens.
The service… Plentiful. There were a lot of staff on the floor, a welcome strategy for a place of this size. Effortlessly friendly, they were happy to chat through the menu in my (consistently) indecisive moments.
The service was swift, efficient and personable, although my request for vinegar – for the chips, being forgotten was a noticeable hiccup.
The vibe… Proper British boozer with a charmingly eccentric edge.
The place was absolutely packed with pint-drinking patrons on a Wednesday night, proving the guys here have definitely spotted a gap in the market. We dined upstairs in the rooftop gin bar, a pleasant space bursting with vibrant blocks of colour set against bright, white walls and high ceilings.
The venue has just about the right blend of kitschy British iconography and tongue-in-cheek touches. Royals on loos, lawn flamingos, phone boxes. We laughed. We loved it.
If you go… Try out all three floors, each one boasts a different vibe kitschy – the basement bar makes a great whiskey-sipping drinking den. Also, treat yourself to an espresso martini on tap.
Rating out of 5: 4 – Janan Jay