Nothing gives Londoners greater pleasure than discussing the weather. It’s the thread that bonds us, our ice-breaker, our guaranteed point of common reference. “Isn’t this shit?!” we’ll say, “Awful!” we’ll agree, relaxing into the new relationship, with certification that the new companion is an ally and a human. It’s the equivalent of dogs sniffing bums: it says, “Hey pal, this isn’t great, but it’s what we do - we’re in this together, you’re one of us.” And so we unite in a common, moaning sentiment, regardless of whether the weather is crap (“God this is crap!”) or beautiful (“Well this will never last.”). But this current – and final – blast of summer is causing an underlying, very rare, frisson.

Why? Because we know – this time – it would be wrong to seem ungrateful. We must be happy. With the world’s media watching our heat wave, any flicker that betrays a feeling of disgruntlement will end up in some headlining consensus naming Britons amongst the top 3% of the world’s most snivelling, ungrateful yobs (again). 

But the problem is that, actually, most of us are a bit unhappy about it. It is very inconvenient: we’ve packed our summer mindset away in the attic along with all our decent summer clothes and a few pouches of lavender. So, we have nothing to wear but must bask about, sweating our nuts off, exuding waves of joy, with not even an allowance of moaning to seek comfort in. Never has such discord ensued.

Still, as I watched on this week, as everyone - with their pale skin on display and winter skirts without tights on parade – squeezed themselves into the obvious outside haunts like rush hour on the tube, commenting, “Isn’t this great?!” through gritted teeth, BB and I did get the chance to utilise a little known outside spot. So here it is, one weekend left, one more chance to experience the terrace at The Clarendon, Holland Park.

The Clarendon is a family run place, serving good, honest British food in a quiet residential part of Holland Park. The relaxed ground floor restaurant with its wooden furniture, exposed brick walls and view over the open kitchen is perfect to gather with friends over a low-key dinner or Sunday roast, and the lounge upstairs has a rustic, boho charm where you can chill out on sofas and wile away an evening. But when the air is warm, it’s their terrace that really gives them an edge.

This is where BB and I sat. It is nothing flash, but a perfect place for a bottle of rosé and a hugely enjoyable impromptu dinner when the sun appears. We were advised that the chateaubriand was superb and so – with poor lighting making it hard to read the menu in search of an alternative (though there are plenty) – we went for it. And were not disappointed. Perfectly cooked, the meat cut beautifully, melted in the mouth deliciously and vanished from the plate quickly. It was served with a selection of sauces and wonderfully cooked parsley and garlic skinny fries. For an understated pub, with a low-key charm, you couldn’t ask for much more.

As the cooler night air joined us at our table, we retreated inside to the Lounge Bar. It is a fantastic space, ideal for a party (a candlelit dinner for up to 18, or cocktail party with private bar and terrace) and will come to life when the bad weather does take hold. But as we cannot yet nestle in to a cosy pub as the rain batters on the windows and make friends over how hard done by we are, I urge you to embrace what you can, and head to this chilled out terrace. And the best bit of all? It’s dark, so wear what the hell you like.

THE ESSENTIALS

The Clarendon is a low-key pub nestled in Holland Park on the fringes of Notting Hill. The kitchen serves up good quality dishes with a particular passion for roasts, steaks and burgers. The pub can be quiet but, with its boho charm, pulls a local crowd and is ideal for private parties - including dinners and cocktail parties - in the lounge on the first floor. The outdoor terrace is a wonderful oasis in warmer weather. The Clarendon is open on Monday to Thursday from 5pm to midnight, on Friday from midday to midnight, on Saturday from
10am to midnight and on Sunday from midday to 11pm.