Restaurant Review: The Hunter’s Moon, South Kensington

I seem to read an article every week about the rate at which pubs in London are closing down.

It’s therefore refreshing to see a new one pop up – in this case The Hunter’s Moon in South Kensington.

This is the first site to open under the umbrella of a new venture called Lunar Pub Company, which plans to open two more venues in the next few years.

Lunar Pub Company is co-founded by Owner Chef Director Oliver Marlowe, who has nearly two decades of kitchen experience in top establishments, and Owner Director Hubert Beatson-Hird – who has worked in hospitality for a decade and already launched a number of pubs in the Fulham area.

I paid a visit to The Hunters Moon for a champagne and canapés launch event ahead of the venue’s opening to the public.

As I enter, the front section of the pub is intimate and cosy – emulating a traditional countryside drinking establishment with aged armchairs and ornamental bookshelves.

It takes me a while to weave through throngs of people – giving a taster of what the pub might look like on a Friday night – to the dining room area at the back of the building.

This is the standout part for me. The area is spacious with a striking vintage tiled floor, feature lighting and stylish seating booths.

The canapés served throughout the evening were predominantly meat focused – which is also true of the pub’s menu (I guess the clue is in the name!)

When fully up and running, there will be a daily-changing menu of European dishes served in the dining room, with a sample menu including items such as scallop ceviche with whipped avocado and slow roast suckling pork belly with apple tarte.

The front pub area offers a more casual menu of sharing plates and snacks.

The food offering is accompanied by a very extensive wine list alongside premium spirits, lagers and ales.