Best bar meals before fireworks in London

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Cracking food: The Britannia is one of the city’s best bets for Bonfire Night

London's skies will be a blaze of colour this week as firework displays take place in parks and gardens across the capital. This year, Guy Fawkes Night is set to go off with a bang, with more pubs and bars than ever before laying on Bonfire Night specials, so the fun doesn't stop when the last firework fizzles out. Here's our guide to where to warm up before and after the show...

Alexandra Palace
Saturday, fireworks at 7.30pm, adults, £4, under-16, £2
Bonfire night at Ally Pally is legendary. This year there's a funfair, stalls, live music and a German beer festival alongside the pyrotechnics.
One of the key pubs for revellers is Victoria Stakes, where this year they're doing a three-course Guy Fawkes menu for £30.
Treats on offer include slow-roasted hogget with spiced aubergine stew, rabbit and cinnamon terrine, lentil and mutton soup with cracked wheat, and sticky toffee pudding.
Victoria Stakes, 1 Muswell Hill, N10 (020 8815 1793)

Battersea Park
Saturday, bonfire 7.30pm, fireworks display 8pm, adults, £6, under-10, £1
Hard by the park gates, you couldn't find a handier spot for some of the best fireworks south of the river than the Prince Albert.
This year, they're appealing to our inner child by serving toffee apples (£3) and to our outer adult with mulled wine (£4) and cider (£3.50). To soak it all up, barbecue grub, hot soups and fat sausage baps (£5), will be served in the beer garden. Should the weather gods let us down, the Prince Albert promises to be nice and cosy inside, with real ales like Sharp's Doombar, Adnam's Old Ale, Hogs Back TEA and Sambrook's Wandle (brewed in Battersea, don't you know!).
The Prince Albert, 85 Albert Bridge Road, SW11 (020 7223 5378)

Crystal Palace
Thursday, gates open at 5pm, kids' fireworks at 7pm, main display 8pm. Over-14s, £5, children aged 5-13, £3, under-5s, free
Ever since the first event in 1865, thousands of sparkler-waving, toffee apple-munching visitors have streamed into Crystal Palace Park for its Bonfire Night fireworks. Crystal Palace's smartest bar, the Exhibition Rooms, is en route to the park and will be feeding the crowds from a barbie out front. Stop by for a burger or hot dog washed down with a cool beer or two. Those who don't like loud bangs or large crowds can always take shelter indoors over a deliciously spiced apple and blackberry pie martini, pomegranate bramble cocktail or Napoleon's nectar with gingerbread syrup and apple schnapps, all £7.
The Exhibition Rooms, 69-71 Westow Hill, SE19 (020 8761 1175)

Lord Mayor's Show
14 November, fireworks 5pm between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, free
The Lord Mayor's Show dates back to 1215 and marks the beginning of a new mayoral year when the new Lord Mayor of London traditionally swears allegiance to the Queen. Proceedings kick off with a three-mile procession of floats and marching bands at 11am and finish with fireworks at 5pm. It's a time-honoured tradition but you could mark it in 21st-century style — over cocktails. The Blue Fin Building's Refinery Bar should make a great meeting point, right on the river. On the day, in keeping with the firework theme, the Refinery will be serving a suitably fiery concoction, the firecracker mojito, made of
muddled birds-eye chillies, mint leaves, lime, muscovado and tequila. Quote London Lite and each one will set you back just £5.95.
The Refinery Bar And Restaurant, 110 Southwark Street, SE1 (0845 468 0186)

Ravenscourt Park
Saturday, kids' firework display 7.15pm, main fireworks 8pm, over-5s, £6 on the day (£4 in advance from the Lyric Theatre), under-5s, free
The nearest pub to Ravenscourt Park is the Anglesea Arms, a Bonfire Night destination in itself. “It's really rather romantic — if it's dry,” says the landlady, Jill. Fingers crossed for good weather, then, so we can enjoy their hot rum punch or mulled wine (both £4.50) on the terrace. The Anglesea Arms is one of the old guard of Nineties gastropubs stalwarts and remains known for its bold, ingredient-driven dishes such as potted duck livers and chutney (£7.50), or linguine with sardines and fennel (£9.95). For Bonfire Night, it loosens up a bit, delivering warming outdoor fodder to the post-park crowd. This year, there will be sticky chilli pork ribs, falafel in pitta bread and seasonal game pasties (all £5). The pub opens from 11am to 11pm.
The Anglesea Arms, 35 Wingate Road, W6 (020 8749 1291)

Victoria Park
Saturday, fireworks, 7.30pm, free
With its huge beer garden backing on to Victoria Park, The Britannia is the best place to enjoy fireworks for those wishing to steer clear of the glowstick-wielding kids. The classy British gastropub gets right to the heart of what Bonfire Night eating is all about with a delicious hog roast. Carving starts at 6pm, after which you can feast on roast pork and apple sauce baps, washed down with warming brandies, hot toddies and jugs of Pimm's Winter Cup. Meanwhile, indoors, a full menu will be served.
The Britannia, 360 Victoria Park Road, E9 (020 8533 0040)

 

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