Any place under the sun is a good place to be in these warmer months. But add a cocktail in hand, a raft of delicious British dishes, and a long overdue old catch-up with the friend who loves a good time, and you’ve got yourself pure end of summer perfection.
The Broadcaster isn’t new to White City but if you’re new to this area or (gasp) have never visited it – you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The Broadcaster is a stylish modern pub and restaurant in the heart of White City, London, right by the iconic Television Centre. Set within the lively Wood Lane development, it combines the feel of a traditional British pub with a more contemporary restaurant and cocktail-bar atmosphere.
The 3-floor building allows for everything from a relaxed lunch or dinner to drinks with friends, with an enviable rooftop terrace that’s as eye-catching as a terrace gets.
We visited the terrace recently – here’s all about our experience and recommendations.
What’s the vibe like?
Let’s just say the vibes are vibing here – you could easily close your eyes and be transported to a beach club in Vilamoura, Algarve: a live DJ set, comfy chairs, the light wood, rattan furnishings, beige and white – very modern and summery, welcoming, relaxing and refreshing. It was busy when we went on a Tuesday afternoon, but the space is vast, with a few tables outside on the balcony (the rest is enclosed by retractable glass walls) and a decent-sized bar, so it doesn’t feel crammed or uncomfortable even when full. Importantly, there’s plenty of staff, so you’re well looked after and don’t have to wait long for drinks or food.
And what’s on the menu?
Cocktails and drinks
The cocktail list is restrained but covers all bases (and of course you can always order the classics off menu). If a spritz is your love language in the summer, you’ve got the Al fonzo with vodka and spiced mango, as well as an Orchard Collins or Smoked & Spicy with, you guessed, the trendy mezcal.
One thing to note…
The bar is currently offering a frozen Paloma that’s absolutely heavenly, even if you raise an eyebrow at Palomas usually. Sweet but not too sweet, smoky but not too smoky, and hyper refreshing – a true summer celebration.
With wines aplenty, we ordered a French Picpoul (a thin-skinned white wine) to accompany our mains and desserts. The staff bring the bottle out in a wine cradle to keep it chilled throughout the meal, adding an extra touch of luxury to the whole experience.
What about the food?
This is a modern British cooking affair, using seasonal ingredients and offering everything from small plates and seafood to steaks, burgers and vegetarian options. There are lots of interesting starters, from tiger prawn scampi to black pudding sausage roll and beef carpaccio.
We had a burrata with pickled apricot chimichurri & toast (£12) that somehow seemed three times the size of what you usually get – oozing with the creamy gooeyness that makes it so craveable. It was served with a really lovely crunchy toasted slice of thin bread and a pickled apricot chimichurri that was perfectly sweet and juicy. You’ll be off to a great start if you order it – we guarantee. We also got some bread with truffle butter (£7) to line up the stomach – the truffle butter was divine and full of flavour.
And for mains…
We went for the fennel risotto, cauliflower, summer truffles, girolles (£22) – essentially a glorified mushroom risotto, let’s call it how we see it, but a bloody good one. Rich, intensely savoury and pleasingly runny, it had a hidden layer of mushroom paste underneath that sent the umami levels through the roof.
The pan-roasted Shetland salmon, sea vegetables, charred corn & calamansi (£26) is the lighter, seriously summery option. The salmon was beautifully cooked – flaky and juicy – with the sharp calamansi keeping the plate fresh. We did find ourselves wishing for a little more substance, though, so we’d recommend ordering a side of potatoes or another carb to round it out.
Meat eaters are well catered for, too, with the likes of Suffolk ham hock with Cacklebean egg, mustard hollandaise & triple-cooked chips (£22), alongside Dexter sirloin or ribeye with hand-cut fries and your choice of peppercorn or béarnaise sauce (£34/£38).
Desserts
All is well when it ends well and we’d argue with conviction that dessert is the highlight of the meal. It’s a short menu which may be telling that most people here don’t really save space for a sweet treat, but we ordered the two main desserts (the other two being a cheese-based dish and ice cream):
- Chocolate marquise with coffee tequila, raspberries (£9). The hint of tequila got lost in this slice of indulgent divinity but we can’t stress how deeply satisfying the rich mousse layer is.
- Strawberry trifle with cardamom custard, elderflower jelly (£9). How not to love a riff on a summer British classic? The cloudy custard gave this fruity, fresh dessert a proper pudding feel, served in an elegant dessert coupe.
Verdict
The Broadcaster is the place to be this summer, particularly if you’re based in West London. The food is comforting and familiar, but with enough creativity to keep every dish feeling fresh and slightly unexpected. The drinks are excellent, the atmosphere channels a full-on beach party, and the terrace views give you all the summer escapism without the grit of sand getting everywhere. Best of all, the service is exceptional: the team is warm, attentive and impressively quick. What’s not to like? Book ahead, though – this one fills up fast.
Key details
Address: 89 Wood Ln, London W12 7FX
Website: www.thebroadcaster.co.uk
Socials: @thebroadcasterlondon
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