Betting on Blighty

It's been under wraps for a while. When the covers of The Big Ben finally came off last Wednesday.

Written by Jagmeeta Thind Joy
September 18, 2010 03:16 AM IST

3 min read

Londons best-known landmark,the Big Ben,is the theme of a new pub and cafe in the city
It’s been under wraps for a while. When the covers of The Big Ben finally came off last Wednesday,it was a pleasant surprise. The place is divided into three sections the Big Ben cafe,the English pub called Peddlers and Nosh and an in-house bakery. The Big Ben,complete with its huge clock and the vibrant Union Jack outside,builds up its all-Brit theme. Step inside and an earthy palette runs through. The furniture is no fuss with quintessential button-studded leather seats and sofas with round wooden tables. The walls are replete with photographs of the Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster where the famed clock tower is located. I was really keen on an English pub and cafe as it has not been done before in Chandigarh, says Big Bens well-travelled owner and restaurateur Vipul Dua. The cafe houses an open kitchen at one end and the stewards,sporting their white and red uniforms complete with a pair of suspenders each,can be spotted. We headed to the Peddlers pub,housed in the cafes basement,for a quick bite and drink. Dua recommended the Mojito and it certainly was a good choice. The food is a mix of delicacies from the UK,Scotland and Ireland as well as some Indian fare, says Dua,quick to point out that British cuisine has been influenced by French,Indian and Italian fare.

The Big Ben menu offers a variety of soups and 15 salad recipes apart from the main course. We start with a BBV,which is a traditional English salad comprising a smorgasbord of fresh greens,green baked beans,peanuts,mushrooms,cilantro and green chilly. Even if you are strictly non-vegetarian,the salad is worth digging into. While the menu brings in staples like sandwiches,mini burgers,hot dogs,Shepherds pie and beer batter fish with tartar sauce,do opt for the unusual like pork pies with caramelised apples,Dublin-style grilled prawns with mushy peas and the roast chicken with baked potatoes with honeyed carrots,greens and roast gravy on the side. All the baking is done in-house and our bakery Nosh will be dishing out specials including desserts, says Dua. While the fare seems good,what really gets Dua brownie points is the Peddlers pub. Named after the British pop band of the 1960s and 70s,the drinks at Peddlers rocked and so did the music. We are going to stick to a retro rock theme and wont be playing trance or house, says Dua. Meal for Two : Rs 700-1,000 (including taxes)Contact : 0172-2605909 / 26024709Location : SCO 467-468,Sector 35,Chandigarh