August 26, 2026
The Latimer bar in London is a pub with very good bloodlines, which is usually a dangerous thing. Too much pedigree and a place can arrive already pleased with itself.
Here, though, the mood is calmer. The Spiteri family have taken a corner of North Kensington and turned it into a proper local: half pub, half dining room, with pints, cocktails, bar snacks and a short menu that knows when to stop.
It is not trying to reinvent the gastropub. Thank God. It is trying to be useful, warm and quietly excellent.
At a Glance
Best for: Casual dinners, Sunday lunches, bar snacks, dates and neighbourhood drinks
Cuisine: Seasonal British pub food with modern European touches
Location: Latimer Road, North Kensington
Price: Around £45–£80 per person with drinks
Signature dishes: Masala haddock, cider-braised pork belly skewers, roast hake and milk bun with salted butter
Atmosphere: Warm, local, unfussy and properly pub-like
Nearest station: Latimer Road
Booking tip: Sit in the bar for snacks and drinks, or book the dining room for a fuller meal
What Is The Latimer Bar in London?
The Latimer is a family-run pub and dining room from one of London’s better-connected hospitality families. Jon Spiteri has The French House, St John and Sessions Arts Club in his history. Melanie Arnold co-founded Rochelle Canteen. Lorcan and Fin Spiteri were behind Caravel.
That could have produced something insufferably polished. Instead, The Latimer feels like a pub first, with the food allowed to be good without turning the whole building into a tasting-menu hostage situation.
Lorcan runs the kitchen. Fin looks after the drinks and front-of-house. The result is confident, but not showy.
The Atmosphere and Design
The room is smaller than the reputation might suggest. The front works as a proper pub, with stools, pints and snacks. The back becomes the dining room, with white tablecloths and a little more intent.
It is handsome rather than grand. Big windows, high ceilings and a street terrace give the place light and ease. There is none of the gloomy faux-Victorian styling that can make new pubs feel like expensive escape rooms.
The best version of The Latimer is probably early evening: a cold pint, a snack, someone ordering a second round before pretending to study the menu.
The Menu
The food walks a useful line between pub and restaurant. Milk buns arrive with salted butter, which sounds simple until the table orders a second round. Pickles are there for the same reason pubs once understood: they make drinking better.
The masala haddock with tartare sauce is the snack to order first. It has the spirit of fish and chips, but none of the heaviness. Cider-braised pork belly skewers with apple sauce are already behaving like a signature, sticky and rich without collapsing into sweetness.
Elsewhere, the menu might include white crab with borlotti beans, fennel and tardivo, grilled asparagus with herb sauce, tagliatelle with courgette, stracciatella and lemon, roast hake with chips and aioli, rolled lamb belly with peas, mint and anchovy, or onglet with San Marzano tomatoes and green sauce.
Puddings stay brief: buttermilk panna cotta with apricot and amaretti, or hazelnut and strawberry mess. A short dessert list is usually a good sign. It suggests somebody knows when dinner is finished.
Drinks & Wine
The drinks are central to the pub’s appeal. Cocktails include the Latimer Martini, Fino Highball, Dry Daiquiri and Westway, while the beer list keeps things reassuringly direct. There are also temperance drinks, homemade shrubs and non-alcoholic options, which makes the pub feel current without becoming pious.
Who Is The Latimer Best For?
The Latimer is best for people who want a pub that still feels like a pub, but happens to serve very good food. It works for casual dates, local dinners, solo bar meals, drinks with snacks and relaxed Sunday lunches.
It is less suited to anyone chasing Mayfair gloss. That is not the point. The charm is in how little it strains.
Is The Latimer Worth Booking?
Yes. The Latimer understands something many new pubs forget: atmosphere comes before ambition. The food is sharp, the drinks are properly considered and the room feels lived-in rather than styled to death.
The dining room may be the formal choice, but the bar is where the pub’s heart sits. Book if you want dinner. Walk in if you want a pint, a stool and the masala haddock.
Practical Information
Address: 274 Latimer Road, London W10 6QW
Area: North Kensington / Notting Hill
Nearest station: Latimer Road
Cuisine: Seasonal British pub food
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 12pm–11.30pm; Sunday, 12pm–11pm
Service charge: 12.5% discretionary service charge
Reservations: Recommended for the dining room
Best for: Pub dinners, bar snacks, casual dates, local lunches and relaxed drinks
FAQs
What type of food does The Latimer serve?
The Latimer serves seasonal British pub food with modern European touches. The menu includes snacks, fish dishes, grilled meat, pasta, vegetables and simple puddings.
Who owns The Latimer?
The Latimer is run by the Spiteri family. Lorcan Spiteri leads the kitchen, while Fin Spiteri looks after drinks and front-of-house. The wider family has links to restaurants including St John, The French House, Rochelle Canteen, Sessions Arts Club, Koya and Caravel.
Where is The Latimer?
The Latimer is at 274 Latimer Road, London W10 6QW, between North Kensington and Notting Hill.
What should I order at The Latimer?
Order the masala haddock with tartare sauce, milk bun with salted butter and cider-braised pork belly skewers. For a fuller meal, add roast hake with chips and aioli or one of the seasonal larger plates.
Is The Latimer expensive?
The Latimer is fairly priced for a new West London gastropub. Snacks and smaller plates sit mostly in the low-to-mid teens, while larger dishes such as hake, lamb and onglet are priced in the high twenties to low thirties.
Is The Latimer good for a date?
Yes, especially for a relaxed date that does not need ceremony. The bar is better for a drink and snacks, while the dining room works for a proper dinner.
Can you walk into The Latimer?
Yes, particularly for drinks and bar snacks. Dining room tables are more likely to be booked, so reservations are advised for lunch, dinner and weekends.
The Latime Bar London Bookings
Capital A List members can make bookings for The Latime below.
