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The Grove gastro pub

Interested in the review of this but the noisiness of the place puts me off. The last time I ate there I had to shout to be heard by my companion and woke the next morning with a sore throat.Why have the music so loud? What's the point? I don't go there now unless it's a warm evening to sit out.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6936d9 Comments

Went to the Grove recently and have to agree with most of the comments here. It was noisy and the food, although not bad, didn't really justify the cost. 4 out of 10.

Paul Corcoran ● 6908d

Thanks, Rosemary - I am certainly going to try the evening menu some time.

William Hosking ● 6933d

I've only been there on about three occasions following concerts in a friend's nearby house. We were about twenty in all, in the back room, and had a set menu. I recall chicken and apricot for the main course, yummy middle-eastern starters, and can't remember the pud at all -  not surprisingly since the size of the main course alone would have satisfied someone digging roads all day.All very enjoyable but hardly a regular evening out.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6933d

Well - no music in the mornings, but it is just a cafe then.  I saw that the evening menu has Chateau Musar 1996 at £19 a bot which is a steal - but have not tried the meals  in the evening.  Recommended?

William Hosking ● 6933d

Does Adams in Askew Road have music on? I've only been there in the evenings for dinners at the back where it's music-free.Not too much off-message, have you noticed that Ravenscourt Park tube is now playing classical music?  I heard that classical sounds discouraged anti-social behaviour - surprise, surprise.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6933d

I agree about the Andover which is my preferred pub of an evening.  Of course you can sit outside at the Anglesea, and last time I went it was music free and tolerable sound level.  Food excellent.  But if you haven't tried Annie's do so.  You can sit outside and the atmosphere inside is charming and relaxing.  Even our nice new coffee house in Askew Road (Louche) has music, and when I ask them to turn it down they do so - a bit - and one has to read the newspaper over coffee with a vile background of disco bang-bang.  It seems to be most popular with the Eastern Europeans who, presumably, consider it "cool".  It's the low ceilings and high rents that push these new restaurants into small spaces and high-density seating.

William Hosking ● 6933d

Couldn't agree more about music and noise that's why I don't go to the Grove except occasionally for a drink in the summer. Some years ago Kogan Page published a book on music-free pubs and restaurants - don't know if there have been updates? Locally, the Andover in Aldensley Road has nice, home-made Thai food, although there's nowhere to sit out, but very cosy the rest of the time. The Brackenbury is music-free. The Olive Tree in Atwood Road has music downstairs but will turn it off upstairs (best to ask first if it's that important).What I'm looking for is just enough noise/conversation so I don't feel that everyone can earwig, but absolutely no more.Restauranters - are you listening?

Rosemary Pettit ● 6933d

I think that noise and piped music make any place a no-no.  I have even given up eating at the Chelsea Atrs Club in the eveninf as the noise level gets unbearable, and the Thatched Cottage nowCafe? has piped music, so that is out.  For peace and quiet I like Annie's, but the food is not outstanding.  I wonder what others think?

William Hosking ● 6933d

I'm a regular at the Grove and have always found it a lovely pub with good food.  I read the review and wondered if the reviewer had even been the right place as she said it was the other side of Goldhawk Road to Brackenbury!!

Katherine Marsh ● 6936d