The Elephant and Castle is a traditional Nicholson’s pub at 40 Holland Street in Kensington. Its characterful interior and central location make it a convenient place for lunch, dinner or drinks after exploring Kensington High Street and the surrounding neighbourhood.
The food menu is substantial and rooted in British pub cooking. Speciality pies are served with mashed potato, seasonal greens, glazed carrots and gravy, with fillings that can include game, pulled beef and ale, chicken balti or a meat-free lentil cottage pie.
Fish dishes range from fish pie with prawns, salmon and smoked haddock to battered haddock and Whitby scampi with chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. Sandwiches, lighter plates and Sunday choices give diners alternatives when a full pie or fish supper feels too substantial.
Real ales are a defining part of the pub, supported by beer, wine, spirits and alcohol-free drinks. The atmosphere suits both a casual pint and a complete meal, and vegetarian or vegan filters are available on the current menu; guests with allergies should review the pub’s live allergen guide before ordering.
Address: 40 Holland Street, Kensington, London W8 4LT, England
The Elephant & Castle Pub Kensington Menu
Small Plates & Starters
Lightly Dusted Calamari
Mango & sweet chilli salsa
Hand – Cut Nachos (V) – Large
Hand-cut tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. Add pulled beef brisket
Hand – Cut Nachos (V) – Small
Hand-cut tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. Add pulled beef brisket
Beef Brisket Nachos – Small
Hand-cut tortillas chips , pulled beef brisket, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.
Beef Brisket Nachos
Hand-cut tortilla chips, pulled beef brisket, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.
Tomato & Basil Soup (V)
Toasted rustic ciabatta. Vegan alternative available.
Roasted Garlic Mushrooms on Rustic Toast (VE)
In a creamy garlic & spinach sauce. On toasted rustic ciabatta.
Tomato & Basil Soup (VE)
With basil pesto, and toasted rustic ciabatta.
Pulled Beef Rib Croquettes*
Gochujang mayo, watercress & pickled pink onion salad.
King Prawn & Smoked Scottish Salmon Cocktail*
With toasted ciabatta, little gem lettuce and a bloody Marie Rose sauce.
Traditional Sunday Roasts
All our Sunday roasts are served with roast potatoes, glazed parsnips, thyme roasted carrots, long stem brocolli, a Yorkshire pudding and gravy.
Nut & Root Vegetable Roast (VE)
Walnut, almond & hazelnut roast, with onion gravy.
Roast Beef
Hand-carved roast rump of beef
Nut & Root Vegetable Roast (V)
Walnut, almond & hazelnut roast, with onion gravy. Vegan alternative available.
Roast Chicken
Succulent roasted chicken breast with sage & onion stuffing
Sides
Cauliflower Cheese (V)
Yorkshire Puddings (V)
Pigs In Blankets
Roast Potatoes (VE)
Crispy garlic & thyme roast potatoes.
Halloumi Fries (V)
Sweet chilli mayonnaise.
Skin-On Fries (V)
Chunky Chips (V)
Long-Stem Broccoli (VE)
Truffle & Parmesan Fries
House Salad (VE)
Tomatoes, cucumber and mixed leaves in a pineapple & lemongrass dressing.
Garlic Ciabatta (V)
Our Pie Collection
We pride ourselves on serving the very best traditional pies. Our pies are served with buttery mashed potato, thyme roasted carrots and a rich gravy.
British Steak & Nicholson's Pale Ale Pie
Awarded gold at the British Pie Awards. Blade of beef in Nicholson’s Pale Ale gravy in a thyme pastry pie.
Chicken, Leek & Tarragon Pie
In a creamy white wine and tarragon sauce. Topped with golden puff pastry.
Mushroom & Spinach Suet Pie (V)
In a rich red wine and tarragon sauce. Vegan alternative available.
MUSHROOM & SPINACH SUET PIE (VE)
In a rich red wine and tarragon sauce. With long-stem broccoli, thyme roasted carrors and a rich gravy with baby potatoes.
Mains
Nicholson's Fish & Chips
Hand-battered haddock in Nicholson’s Pale Ale. Chunky chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. Add curry sauce.
Garlic Chicken Schnitzel
Schnitzel smothered in garlic butter, skin-on-fries, watercress and pickled red onion salad.
Ocean Fish & Chips
Hand-battered* haddock & breaded wholetail Scottish scampi, Chunky chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. Add curry sauce.
Nicholson's Fish & Chips (Large)
Pan-Roasted Salmon Fillet
Crushed baby potatoes, long-stem broccoli and Scottish mussels with a white wine butter sauce.
Nourish Bowl Salad ▲ (VE)
Kale, brown rice & quinoa salad, with cherry tomatoes and mango, long-stem broccoli and pumpkin seeds.
Chicken Caesar Salad
With crisp lettuce, cherry tomatoes, smoked bacon, Parmesan, croutons, and a classic Caesar dressing.
Vegetarian Sausage & Mash (V)
Vegetarian sausages served on a bed of creamy mash and topped with gravy.
Sausage & Mash
British pork sausages, buttery mash, caramelised onion gravy. Vegetarian serve available.
Pesto, Cheese & Spinach Gnocchi (V)
Basil pesto, creamy garlic & spinach sauce, thyme panko breadcrumbs, rustic garlic ciabatta.
Pesto, Cheese & Spinach Gnocchi with Chicken
Basil pesto, creamy garlic & spinach sauce, thyme panko breadcrumbs, rustic garlic ciabatta. Add Chicken.
Add On Curry Sauce (VE)
Burgers
Our mouth-watering burgers come with lettuce, gherkin, tomato and mayonnaise on a brioche bun and are served with skin-on fries.
Classic Cheese & Bacon Burger
Chargrilled beef patty, smoked back bacon, Cheddar cheese.
Spinach & Falafel Burger (V)
Pink pickled onions, plant-based slice, baked mushroom, tomato salsa. Vegan alternative available.
Buttermilk Chicken Burger
Crispy buttermilk chicken breast, smoked bacon, Cheddar cheese, guacamole.
The Nicholson's Burger
Double beef patty, cheese sauce, smoked back bacon, crispy onions, hash brown.
Spinach & Falafel Burger (VE)
Pink pickled onions, plant-based slice, baked mushroom, tomato salsa. Vegan alternative available.
Beef Brisket Burger
Chargrilled beef patty, hand-pulled BBQ beef brisket, cheese sauce.
Puddings
Sticky Toffee Pudding (V)
Bourbon vanilla ice cream.
Zesty Lemon Tart (V)
With berry coulis and freshly whipped cream.
Apple & Cinnamon Crumble Pie (VE)
Mixed berry coulis and indulgent custard.
Double Chocolate Brownie (V)
With bourbon vanilla ice cream.
Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream (V)
Chocolate Sauce.
Sandwiches
Available Monday – Friday until 4pm. Served with your choice of skin-on fries, chunky chips or house salad.
Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich
With Gochujang mayo, little gem lettuce, pickled pink onions and crunchy slaw. On rustic ciabatta.
Fish Finger Sandwich
Nicholson’s Pale Ale battered fish goujons with tartare sauce, in a brioche bun.
Grilled Halloumi Sandwich (V)
With grilled red peppers and basil pesto, on rustic ciabatta.
Nicholson's Club Sandwich
Triple decker sandwich. Grilled chicken breast, crispy smoked back bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, in toasted farmhouse bread.
Chargrilled Sirloin Steak Sandwich
21-day aged sirloin steak, served medium. With chimichurri sauce & baby watercress on rustic ciabatta.
Sandwich Choices
Choice of side included with sandwiches.
Choice Fries V
Choice Chips V
House Salad (VE)
Tomatoes, cucumber and mixed leaves in a pineapple & lemongrass dressing.
Truffle & Parmesan Fries
Fries Upgrade
Upgrade Fries – Truffle Parmesan
Bar Snacks
Enjoy any 3 for / 5 for. *Excludes Large/ Brisket Nachos
Sticky Chicken
Sweet chilli & som tam dressing
Hand – Cut Nachos (V) – Small
Hand-cut tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. Add pulled beef brisket
Hand – Cut Nachos (V) – Large
Hand-cut tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. Add pulled beef brisket
Beef Brisket Nachos – Small
Hand-cut tortillas chips , pulled beef brisket, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.
Beef Brisket Nachos
Hand-cut tortilla chips, pulled beef brisket, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.
Halloumi Fries (V)
Sweet chilli mayonnaise.
Padrón Peppers (VE)
Loaded Chunky Chips
Pulled beef brisket, mature Cheddar cheese.
Lightly Dusted Calamari
Mango & sweet chilli salsa
Traditional Sausage Roll
With Bloody Mary ketchup*.