04 Feb Tudor Barn Eltham
I love walking around cities, getting a feel for them through their buildings and history. London is particularly great for that, so good that we don’t even blink an eye when we see sleek minimalist glass towers beside regal Georgian townhouses. This may be why I didn’t realise at the time that the aptly named Tudor Barn in Eltham is London’s only existing Tudor barn!
This unique building located in Well Hall Pleasaunce dates all the way back to the sixteenth century. Thanks to the Internet, I now know that Pleasaunce is an old word for a pleasure garden, ‘a region of garden with the sole purpose of giving pleasure to the senses, but not offering fruit or sustenance’. Thankfully, these days you can seek both fruit and sustenance at the Tudor Barn as it has been transformed into a cosy gastropub. Traditional features remain in abundance, from the medieval moat to the old wooden beams and other Tudor architectural details. Add thirteen acres of parkland and it makes a charming setting for small weddings.
It was a wet and windy day so the warm glow from inside the barn looked extremely comforting. We sat by the fireplace which was decorated with wooden shields bearing coats of arms. The gastropub part of the barn is long, with the bar on one end and tables down the other. As we’d turned up post morning rehearsal, we were having a late lunch but other diners had already started on afternoon tea. Their selection of mini cakes and scones looked pretty on three tiered stands.
My dish was King Henry’s Bangers, their take on sausages and mash ??There wasn’t a description as to whether the sausages were special in any way but they tasted great. They were meaty, not too fatty and simply seasoned. Perhaps they were a little salty on their own but paired with the rich mash it worked well. Accompanying these were a handful of wilted cabbage and lovely dark gravy.
Mr Munch had the less excitingly named lamb burger served with crispy sweet potato fries. Mint and cucumber yoghurt added a freshness as well as a slightly mediterranean vibe, like what you might get with a mezze lamb kebab. The burger was perfectly cooked to medium rare which allowed it to keep its moisture. Nothing worse than a dry burger! We shared seasonal greens in order to feel somewhat healthy, a mixture of spring greens, onions and peas.
The food here is good gastropub fare. I’d like to come back in Spring or Summer to walk around the gardens, perhaps after trying their Sunday roast. The Tudor Barn is about comfort and giving you that cosy weekend feeling no matter what day it is. One for those days when you want to wear a snuggly cashmere jumper instead of a mini skirt!
What are your favourite gastropubs? Have you eaten somewhere of historical significance? Let me know in the comments below and give this post a thumbs up if you enjoyed it! Check out my instagram for more #minnsmunchtime and I’ll see you next week! ???
STATS
Nearest venues: Eltham Palace, Progress Hall, Bob Hope Theatre
Total receipt (2 people): £33
1x King Henry’s Bangers 12.5
1x Lamb burger 14
1x Seasonal greens 3.5
2x Fresh mint tea 3
Rating: 7/10 Home comforts in a historical setting
Tudor Barn Eltham, Well Hall Pleasaunce, Well Hall Rd, London SE9 6SZ
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