Having recently experienced a Fuller’s Pie and Ale Pub (“Hung, Drawn and Quartered”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/restaurant/208986-review-hung-drawn-and-quartered), we chose another pub in the chain, “The Astronomer”:https://www.theastronomerpub.co.uk/find-us, for a girly lunch near London Liverpool Street Station.
Despite having worked in the area for many years, and walked past the pub many, many times, I’d never been in before, even under its previous incarnation, The Shooting Star. The pub on Middlesex Street has a small number of tables and chairs on the pavement and colourful and attractive window boxes.
We’d booked a table, which proved unnecessary, as on a Tuesday lunch time it was very quiet. As with many Fullers pubs, it was atmospheric with lots of the décor being astronomy related and a variety of tables and chairs. The downstairs Hubble Room was closed but is said to have a genuine antique Wray telescope whilst The Observatory has wood panelling, a mosaic tiled floor and tiled bar.
We were shown to a large round table with circular bench seating on half of it. Whilst I’d only envisaged having one course, the others were keen on starters, so I chose what I thought was the lightest dish, red pepper hummus with grilled flat breads. Other choices were crispy squid with a coriander, chilli and lime jam and a mini roasted cauliflower and Lincolnshire Poacher Pie with mash and red wine gravy (I resisted saying that I’d had this as my main course at the Hung Drawn and Quartered).
The friendly waiter asked if we wanted a slight pause before the mains which was a good idea. I chose a full-size version of the cauliflower and cheese pie but had it with chips and seasonal greens. The starter pie girl moved on to fish and chips with the third opting for the traditional steak , shallot and mushroom pie.
As Sauvignon Blanc girls, we had a choice of French, Chilean or New Zealand and opted for the mid-priced Chilean.
Service was good and we had a great long, leisurely lunch with lots of chat and catching up.
When we left, we spotted a blue plaque on the outside, unveiled on 26 June 1989 by the Lord Mayor, to mark the 130th Anniversary of the Jewish Board of Guardians who occupied the premises for 60 years between 1896 and 1956.
