Prince Regent, Herne Hill

A band will often speak of the difficult second album, whereas in cinema it is trilogies that often expose a director’s weakness. The Godfather Part 3 was terrible compared to its two predecessors. As was the third Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Terminator, Lethal Weapon and Die Hard (although some might argue that the second was the worst) struggled by their third iterations. Even Police Academy saw a drop in standards.

And thus the final story in the ‘Three Amigos do London' trilogy has been fraught with the challenges that Coppola, Spielberg and err …the guy who did Police Academy no doubt suffered in bringing part three of their masterpieces to a screen near you. In my case writers block, rewrites, endless coffees and the small but hardly insignificant obstacle of holding down a day job.

So, Bank Holiday Monday and three days of hard partying had taken its toll. We had eaten and drank our way through the best venues that Borough Market, Spitalfields, Brick Lane and Shoreditch had to offer so it seemed only right that the story finished where it all began back in the Dirty South.
The Prince Regent in Herne Hill used one of the rougher pubs in the area, which given its proximity to Brixton and Tulse Hill is saying something. One critic event went as far to say that popping in for a drink there was like walking into a branch meeting of the BNP. Harsh and unfair, but you get the point. However a gastropub makeover in 2005 saw it lose its previous scruffiness, whilst retaining its original Victorian pub charm, and quickly become the favourite eating and drinking ground for the areas middle class punters.

The Regent was named as one of the top three gastropubs in London last year by the Observer Food Monthly, no doubt in part helped by the fact that their leading food critic Jay Rayner is a local. Nevertheless it gives you an indication of the quality of the place, something quickly appreciated by the ravenous Amigos and Northerner as they devoured salmon, burgers, bangers and mash and copious amounts of top quality wine and beers all in the space of two hours. By the time the Vice Consul showed up all of us were in shouting and gesticulating mode, not even slightly interested in listening to other people. Great company then. Back to the pub, which manages that nice trick of being very family (and therefore child) friendly while still remaining a very grown up venue. The garden bar is a glorious suntrap, the food is top quality, and the range of top notch wine and beers on offer surpasses any other pub of recent memory. You don’t find hipsters or many pretty young things there, but it has that great local country pub feel without being the slightest bit twee or faux rural.
The final word must go to the Amigos whose social stamina over the Bank Holiday weekend did so much to make my week at work after they had departed, very, very difficult. The Regent is ‘ace’ and they can’t wait to be back. We are bracing ourselves for their return.

Boro in the Borough – Black and Blue, Borough Market

Farmers Markets have become very fashionable in London over the last few years. Every middle class suburb worth its salt proudly has a market of its own, where on a either a weekly or monthly basis you can buy all sorts of farm reared items from ducks eggs to fine cheeses, with of course a large selection of meat, game and poultry. Much like a supermarket but outdoors, with less choice and more expensive. The only thing you will not see at any of these markets are farmers, which pretty much tells you all that you need to know about life in London. Not so Borough Market though, the original and probably best ‘farmers’ market in London town, which in recent years has been transformed into both a tourist and social destination.
The Three Amigos had descended on London for the Bank Holiday intent on a weekend of drinking, talking and errr… drinking and talking. Fresh out of Manchester but made in Middlesbrough the Amigos come complete with stories for every occasion and a seemingly endless appetite for bars, pubs, restaurants and music. The perfect weekend companions. Despite struggling with hangovers and sleep deprivation, Saturday night saw the Amigos, the Northerner, the Vice Consul and yours truly head to Borough Market for a night of metaphorical carnage at Black and Blue.
Black and Blue specialises in steak, steak and more steak. Okay you can get fish there, and they do nod their farmers’ hats to vegetarians with a couple of salads. But this place is about top quality meat and plenty of it. Its got a great bar area, and as you don’t have to book is always busy and buzzing with its mix of locals, returning customers and stray tourists who didn’t book a table at Roast. After a sharperner at the wonderful Market Porter pub, we settled into a steady supply of drinks and food as the Amigos regaled us with tales of failed burglaries (not by them might I hasten to add) and the like while working our way through a half dozen bottles of wine or more. Splendid food, cracking atmosphere and the never-ending stream of anecdotes made for a great night. So good in fact that when we went for the obligatory post dinner drink / nightcap we were not allowed into a pub because the six foot 7 bouncer said we were in possession of contraband. Not drugs or weapons of course but vacuum-sealed sausages courtesy of the Vice Consul. Chorizo and the like. I blame the Amigos.