Right Here, Right Now

It’s happening. Good food — at a pub near you.

We first talked about plans to get good street food into pubs back in February. Then we decided to do more than talk about it. The Pub Takeover is now officially up and running, with a full line-up of traders on rotation. Where? Bermondsey, of all places. With Hampton coming online this week. And Waterloo before Christmas.

We’ve been getting all Christmassy up at The Winter Gathering in Manchester — and the special Yorkshire Christmas we’ve got planned in Trinity Kitchen. But Bermondsey is as London as it gets. The Marquis of Wellington, which (as locals and frequenters of the Bermondsey Beer Mile will know) has been lovingly brought back from the dead, and it’s going to play host to a roster of traders for the foreseeable. Some of our favourites from the British Street Food Awards. The likes of Harley Dogs, Smokin’ Lotus, Blooming Tasty and Sticky Bundits. Which means Asian cuisine, but with extra smoke – think ‘Northern style’ ox tail noodle soup, and smoked beef shortrib with chilli hoisin sauce — one week, and first rate barbeque from the back of a Harley Davidson the next.

To give you a heart-warmingly oozy mouthful of melted cheese, Raclette Brothers and Chip Club will be setting up outside the new-look Marquis on Druid Street all this weekend. Of course you’ll be after something to wash it all down. Well guess what — Bermondsey is London Beer Central, with five-plus craft breweries in the area, including UBREW (who brew our British Street Food beer) and regular suppliers to the pub Anspach & Hobday across the road. Naturally, the pub’s well stocked with the likes of Curious Brew, Beavertown, and Lagunitas too.

The pub is a perfect spot for a bit of afters, on the way back from the amazing Druid Street Market (which closes at 4pm on Saturday) and the more established Maltby Street Market (which closes at 4pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday)

So, ladies and gents, the wait is over. Say hello to good pub grub.