If someone is said to ‘make a pig’s ear of something’, it means that they’ve made a right mess of it, and that is dangerous in London’s pubs. No such thing here though – it’s rhyming slang for beer, and in fact the Pig’s Ear has indeed succeeded in pulling off the tall order of being a gastropub that fancies itself as a local that’s a cut above your average local. For such a chichi location (just off the King’s Road) this corner boozer feels immediately welcoming and lived-in, with battered laminate tables and worn-in vintage signage. The Pig’s Ear food is a real draw, with a daily-changing menu that includes – as befits the name – offal (for example, bone marrow on toast and, appropriately, deep-fried pigs’ ear). But if you don’t dig on swine – or pigswill – there are plenty of prime cuts, fish and vegetarian options to, er, pig out on. The porcine theme continues, with dried pigs’ ears for dogs to chew on and Pig’s Ear ale, a strong, smooth light beer from Uley in Gloucestershire. As one happy customer said, it’s a silk purse of a pub.