Review: The Trafalgar

The Trafalgar opened in October 2025 and marked the tenth London opening in 22 years for Three Cheers Pub Co.

Founders Tom, Mark and Nick, who met at school, opened their first pub together (The Abbeville) in 2003; they have since launched eight more, scooping up prestigious awards along the way and introducing boutique bedrooms into some of the venues.

It's a surprisingly spacious venue; the dining area is separate from the bar area, allowing each to have its own character and ensuring it still feels like a proper pub.

The dining room had distinct country house vibes but was genuinely comfortable and not noisy, despite the high ceilings and being full on our visit. As an unexpected extra our seats were at the window next to the pavement which meant we were treated to a series of weddings at Chelsea Town Hall, which is directly opposite.

We visited during Chelsea in Bloom, so went for their special set menu. It's worth mentioning here that the standard set lunch is £22.00 for two courses and £27.00 for three, making it a very affordable and comfortable option during a shopping or culture trip.

We began with two Wright Brothers oysters each, served with a delicate elderflower mignonette and a bottle of tabasco for those that prefer some spice.

I’d been craving a dish celebrating spring and the appearance of English asparagus for a while, and this really delivered. Beautifully cooked asparagus with the right amount of bite; a puree made from one of my favourite spring vegetables, broad beans; lightly toasted Kentish cobnuts (a type of hazelnut) for texture, and a summery topping of pea shoots. There was nothing not to love about this dish and I would order it again in a heartbeat.

Gin-cured chalk stream trout with pickled cucumber and horseradish was fresh, lively and interesting. I'm a fan of horseradish with cured and smoked fish - the smoked eel sandwich at Quo Vadis is perhaps the pinnacle of this combination - and this didn't disappoint.

Roast hake, samphire, Jersey Royals and an English sparkling beurre blanc showed a restrained hand, respectful of the ingredients: delicately flaking fish, salty samphire, wonderful Jersey Royals and a rich, buttery beurre blanc sauce. The balance of the dish was spot on, with the gentle flavour of the hake still shining through; a lovely lunch dish.

My roast lamb rump with pearl barley, spring greens and a mint & anchovy jus was one of the best lamb dishes I've had in a while. The lamb was cooked to perfection; so tender and full of flavour, complemented with soft and slightly nutty pearl barley and lightly buttered greens with a rich jus. This dish showed a confidence that is fully deserved and it would not be out of place in a high-end restaurant; this was a stand-out dish.

Elderflower posset, macerated strawberries and shortbread was an elevated take on strawberries and cream, hitting all the right notes for a light but indulgent summer dessert. The posset was quite firm in texture but delicately flavoured.

The baby Guinness cake with Baileys mascarpone, served mirroring the black base and creamy top of the famous black stuff, was a more filling finish to the meal. Moist and tender, the cake had an intensity without being too sweet and paired well with the gently creaminess of the mascarpone.

Overall, I was happily surprised by the standard of cooking in what is still very much a traditional pub. As mentioned earlier, the standard set lunch is £22.00 for two courses and £27.00 for three, includes several of the dishes mentioned here, which is remarkable value for such accomplished cooking in a very pricy part of town. Highly recommended.

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Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David

Amanda David is a freelance food and drinks writer specialising in London and Margate’s restaurants, bars and events, and food-focused travel. She is the author of EAT THIS NOW! on Substack, the Events Editor and a contributing writer for London Cheapo, a regular contributor to Palate Magazine and a Member of the Guild of Food Writers.