The World’s End is at the end of the King's Road that you might not necessarily be drawn to. But if you can persevere past the shops and restaurants before it, and around the World's End corner, the pub is perched on the side of the road while buses roar past.
It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside the World’s End has three separate spaces and, on a Saturday afternoon, it’s buzzing with families, couples, and groups of girls enjoying a slap-up lunch.
The Scene, the pub’s main restaurant area, serves up American-style food in a room decorated with Hollywood memorabilia. There’s Pretty in Pink playing on the televisions attached to the walls and the special offers for the week are displayed in huge letters on a board, like outside a cinema.
The menu is full of heart attack-inducing classics, befitting to the surroundings. There’s an excellent selection of small plates which would be perfect to nibble on with a drink, and would fill you up for a lunch.
The mozzarella sticks served with red pepper dipping sauce were delicious, as was the salt and chilli squid, which was served with a mayonnaise so garlicky that you couldn’t risk going near anyone for the rest of the day.
Mains include slow grilled pork ribs with apple coleslaw and hickory barbeque sauce, chilli crab linguini and a cheeseburger.
The burger was actually disappointing – probably more so because it’s the one thing you’d expect a place like this to get right. The meat was overcooked and rather dry, and it underwhelmed in a room full of bright lights and big flavours.
The same couldn’t be same of the ribs, which were delicious and messy. The sticky marinade was smokey and the ribs were juicy and tender. A side of mac and cheese was a real highlight – stringy cheese and soft macaroni were perfectly matched.
Possibly the high point of the meal was the creamy milkshakes – milk mixed with ice cream and served in a proper sundae glass, and so thick it was basically a dessert. But if you’ve got room, there’s a selection of cheesecake, pumpkin pie and an amazing chocolate sundae.
It would be worth coming back in the summer to experience The Summerhouse – the roof terrace open in the better weather. You couldn’t go wrong here with a cocktail and a couple of plates to share, or a chocolate sundae for two, and one spoon.
Two course meal (because that is all you’ll fit in) for two, with drinks, is around £50.
Rhiannon Bury
Follow