I tried the new menu at the Angel Inn Highgate

New Zealander Heath Ball has notched up multiple awards at The Red Lion and Sun in Highgate, including being named London pub of the year and one of the UK’s top 10 gastropubs.

When the lease of the nearby Angel Inn came free, he took a chance to open a second Highgate venue with what he calls “a different, relaxed vibe”.

Landlord Heath Ball who has taken on his second pub in Highgate after making a success of The Red Lion & Sun. (Image: Supplied) He and his team took over last November, gave it a paint job to brighten up the interior, and installed green banquettes and marble-top tables.

They are now serving an informal menu to walk-in customers, which has already found favour with Kentish Town local and Times food critic Giles Coren.

Heath says he spotted a gap in the market in Highgate for a really good breakfast.

The Angel boasts a plaque to the late Python star Graham Chapman who used to drink there. It was put up by the British Comedy Society. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) So the pub, which boasts a British Comedy Society plaque to Graham Chapman, who it says “drank here often and copiously” and is said to have written sketches there, is serving breakfast and brunch from 8am – think kippers, eggs benedict and full English.

At lunch there are sandwiches and burgers, then for dinner there are dishes such as chicken Kiev, fish and chips and steak, along with Sunday roasts – using the same suppliers as The Red Lion & Sun.

The Angel dates back to the 1600s when it was a coaching inn but the current pub was built in the 1930s. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) The Angel dates back to 1610 when a coaching inn stood on the site as a stopover for travellers. The current pub was rebuilt in the 1930s and Heath says the kitchen is tiny so the menu is simple.

We started with super fresh crab and mayo on sourdough toast, and a garlicky toasted bread topped with Mediterranean tomatoes and salty anchovies.

Both were simple but satisfying and hit the spot flavour-wise.

Heath and his team pride themselves on their drinks – one bugbear is Champagne served in tiny 125ml glasses – so at the Angel you can order a 175 ml of a crisp and biscuity bubbly.

Heath and his team have repainted and brightened up the interior which has green banquettes and marble top tables. (Image: Supplied) There’s also keg beer and cider and frozen Margaritas in a slushie-style machine and a kimchi Bloody Mary – perfect for this hot summer.

I enjoyed a terrific glass of Stellenbosch red with my roast porchetta – the pork was herby in a tasty cider jus with roasted veg.

More summery, and utterly delicious, was a salmon fillet in a beurre blanc with garlic potatoes and broccoli.

We enjoyed a roast porchetta and supreme of salmon but they also serve burgers, chicken kiev and fish and chips. (Image: Supplied) We loved that the mains – ranging from £20 to £26 – needed no sides – unless you fancied a bowl of chips.

On Heath’s advice we tried their bestselling superfood bowl with beetroot, avocado, quinoa pickled ginger edamame and a great miso and tahini dressing.

It was a hot and humid night but we still managed hearty desserts – a super light sticky toffee pudding sweetened with dates, and a deeply chocolatey brownie – both served with vanilla ice-cream.

The clientele ranged from couples and a table of friends to a dad and daughter dinner. No doubt everyone was glad to enjoy such quality food at decent prices without having to book.

The Angel is serving from 8am to 9pm at 37, Highgate High Street www.theangel.pub