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The Blue Stoops

86

Signal score

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

A handsome, history-rich revival of a classic British boozer by the Allsopp brewing dynasty, serving refined, comforting pub classics alongside heritage cask ales.

Cuisine

British Gastropub

Price

££

Neighborhood

Kensington

Location

127-129 Kensington Church St

Date SpotGroup FriendlyCounter Dining

Ordering Strategy

Start with a pint of Allsopp's cask ale and the refined pork scratchings at the bar. Move to the dining room for the suet-crust pies or braised meats. If visiting on Sunday, be aware the gravy has received mixed reviews compared to the stellar main menu.

What to order

Safe first

Beef and Ale Pie

Described as 'fluent pub' fare, this oval dish of beef stew with a pastry lid is a menu essential—as Jay Rayner notes, 'the room would be naked without it.'

Hungry

Braised Shoulder of Lamb

Hailed by William Sitwell as the 'lunch of champions' and a 'magic potion for happiness,' this dish is soft, earthy, and 'deeply sumptuous' with spring-like green beans.

Wildcard

Pork Scratchings

More like a Mexican chicharrón than a standard pub snack; these are dehydrated then puffed up to a 'hand’s length' with a 'pleasing collagen stickiness.'

Wildcard

Cuttlefish Stew

A chilli-spiked British bistro dish with a shellfish-rich broth that Jay Rayner claims 'tastes like Marseilles smells when the breeze is coming in off the sea.'

What to skip

Skip
Anchovy ToastCritics were left asking 'Where’s the anchovy?' after finding 'no trace' of the fish, which the chef whips into the butter rather than serving as fillets.

More in Kensington

See all restaurants in Kensington

Signal Score

86
Strong SignalStrong, consistent praise across multiple sources.Agreement 70%2 Elite · 2 Editorial · 10 mentions

Signal score reflects how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.

Top critic: William Sitwell (90%)

Editorial Weight 57 pts

Authority + depth + recency

Agreement 7 pts

How aligned the critics are

Coverage 8 pts

How many real review signals exist

Public Signal 13 pts

Google rating + volume

Boosts 0 pts

Manual boosts + hidden gem

Review signals

2 Elite · 2 Editorial · 4 total signals

Public signal

4.7★ (260 reviews)

Good to know

This is the first London pub from the historic Allsopp brewing family in 90 years. The kitchen is run by Lorcan Spiteri (of Caravel fame). Walk-ins are generally fine for the front bar, but booking is recommended for the dining room.

Trust signals

  • Not yet visited
  • mediumConfidence level

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