Full disclosure: Parlour is exactly my kind of pub. Although “pub” doesn’t quite do it justice. It’s a proper hub of the Kensal Rise community, with outstanding food and drink, its own cinema, and, most importantly, a genuine warmth and big heart.
For me, the real measure of any restaurant or pub is how happy the staff seem to be. Everything trickles down from the top, and when people serving you genuinely look like they enjoy being there, you know the values of the place are right. Here, that starts with chef and restaurateur Jesse Dunford Wood. If you’ve come across his book, you’ll know he’s all about modern British food - and I can confirm it’s seriously good. Think liver pâté profiteroles, chicken Kyiv with hash browns, and rhubarb and custard to finish. Proper, comforting classics done brilliantly.
I had a quick peek into the kitchen while they were prepping dishes for the day, alongside a few dozen free meals for North Kensington Youth Club. That tells you everything about the place. Spend a few minutes with Jesse and you start to wonder if Parlour is really just an excuse for him to connect with his neighbours. That sense of community runs through everything and the list of local causes he supports is as my
That said, Parlour’s appeal goes well beyond Kensal Rise. People travel from all over for their film nights-classic movies paired with carefully themed menus. It’s a lovely idea, and it works.
Around the pub you’ll also spot artwork by Jesse’s father. Jesse himself flirted with art school before finding his way into food, but that creative thread is still there. There’s something immediate and human about preparing a meal and sharing it with others. That’s what Parlour, and his more refined sister, Six Portland Road, is really about: connection.
Places like Parlour are the backbone of local communities, and people like Jesse are the heroes who make them what they are.
