If you’re looking for somewhere to make the most of the recent good weather in London, try Docklands-based gastro pub The Gun.

From today, The Gun is firing up its charcoal barbecue and offering al fresco dining on its gorgeous terrace, A Grehla, for the summer.

Having recently returned from a trip to Portugal and knowing The Gun’s strong reputation for its food (and Best Gastro pub award from a few years back) I was eager to sample its Portuguese menu and see if it really could serve up a taste of the Algarve.

The Portuguese salt cod croquettes (baccalau) were as tasty as any I’d had in Portugal. We also tried spicy chicken piri piri, lamb espetada (kebab) and delicious Valencian paella (not so Portuguese!) which was cooked in a giant paella pan.

If you’ve ever had a beer in Portugal, it was probably Super Bock or Sagres. If you developed a taste for either, you’ll be happy know that both brands are served at The Gun.

I didn’t try any desserts but if you have a sweet tooth you can’t go wrong with a Pastel de Nata (Portuguese custard tart) or if you’d prefer a savoury option, The Gun serves a selection of Portuguese and Spanish cheeses to round off the meal.

You won’t be looking out onto a beach, but A Grehla does offer nice views across the Thames and of The O2.

Definitely worth a visit on a sunny summer’s evening.

A Grehla at The Gun. From 12 May until mid- September 2011 (or longer if the weather stays good!)

Last Sunday, I went for dinner at the recently-refurbished County Arms pub in Wandsworth.

The pub is huge and just a few minutes’ walk from Wandsworth Common – great for a Sunday lunch if you’ve just been for a stroll.

The County Arms is a pub at the front, a restaurant at the back and also has a conservatory, comfy lounge and a beer garden. Our waiter told us there is even an upstairs section of the restaurant should they need it.

Like the pub, the menu was extensive! The mains were divided into lighter options, Sunday roasts, and the regular menu. There really was a great variety – from risotto to burgers to guinea fowl.

To start, we had rustic tomato soup and organic pearl wen brie, pear and hazelnut salad with apple and honey vinaigrette. The soup was thick and tasty and the salad was refreshing. I thought the balance of cheese, pear and dressing was just right.

As it was a Sunday, we both opted for roast dinners. I ordered the vegetarian option of a root vegetable parcel: a puff pastry parcel served with green vegetables and roast potatoes. My dining partner had roast chicken.

The root vegetable parcel was a perfect autumnal meal – warming and full of seasonal orange and red veggies. The only thing missing for me was a Yorkshire pudding – although perhaps it would’ve been too heavy alongside the pastry.

Although I was full, I did manage a dessert – pecan pie with ice cream. Again, a nice winter treat, the pie was very sweet and I had to go home before the post-sugar slump hit!

The County Arms would be a great place to meet up with friends for a Sunday lunch – due to its size you’d have a good chance of getting a table for a group and the pub does take reservations. Plus, you can work it all off with a brisk walk on Wandsworth Common afterwards…

 The County Arms, 345 Trinity Road, SW18 3SH

The Globe

Recently refurbished, The Globe’s interior has a traditional English pub feel, with a dose of French bistro (chequered table cloths and black & white photographs of Picasso, Bridget Bardot etc) thrown in for good measure. This can be attributed to new manager Oliver Trotel – a pleasant and engaging chap who has been working hard over the past few months to reinvigorate the look and feel of the place.

The Globe’s menu is a good mix of pub and bistro fare with pies, steak, fried calamari, pasta and daily specials, plus a specially selected wine list to match.

Chatting to Trotel after our meal, he let us in on some of The Globe’s fascinating history. The building is part of the site of the world’s first Police Station – home of the Bow Street Runners. There’s even an original cell in the basement that’s now used for storage (not accessible to the public). And, of course, there is a ghost, although Trotel said he’d never seen it himself.

During the World Cup, The Globe will be screening matches downstairs. Upstairs,  the outside terrace will be open shortly, just in time for the summer.

Best of all, Visit London is offering you the chance to win a meal for two at The Globe (click the link for info on how to enter).

Chris Dexter

How old are you, Chris?
I’m 29.

And where are you from?
I’m visiting London from Manchester.

How long are you staying in London?
I’m here for the weekend. I’m staying with friends in Wandsworth Town.

What have you been up to?
I’ve taken a wander down Northcote Road in the sunshine, which was lovely. My friends and I ate lunch sitting outside a cute café called Al Gusto (great paninis) and watched the world go by. There was an Italian market on Northcote Road on Saturday. We didn’t buy anything, but the waffles looked amazing. The pubs and bars in the area were all really busy with people watching the rugby. Luckily, a place called Babel doesn’t have big screens (and so was emptier), so we were able to have a quiet glass of wine in there.

And where did you go on Saturday night?
I went to a party with some friends I met while I was travelling a couple of years ago. The party was at a pub in Dalston called The Haggerston. I found it eventually, after taking a wrong turn out of the station. It was a cool place for a party, although it was absolutely rammed. Lots of people in there had very big hair. And very skinny jeans, with turn-ups. Particularly the boys.

What’s different about life in London and life in Manchester?
In London, things are a very long way away from each other. If you want to see someone for a cup of tea after work in Manchester, it’s no problem. In London, it takes 40 minutes to get anywhere. If I drove for 40 minutes from my work in Manchester, I’d be in Leeds! And I’d expect more than a cup of tea for my travels.

What surprised you during this visit to London?
Lots of blokes have moustaches in London. It makes them look very 80s; I’m not sure I like it. That’s a trend that hasn’t reached Manchester. Yet.