In sight of the iconic Trellick lift shaft, several journeymen of the Pie and Mash Club tethered their two wheeled ponies at the bustling junction of Golbourne and Portobello for a springtide session of traditional London comestibles – courtesy of Cockney’s, just around the corner.

The shop interior is a modest but brilliantly-lit white refectory, the industrial appearance tempered by inclusion of some green and white tiling and tasteful half-length net curtains in the windows.

The menu white-board allows for flexible pricing, but I was pleased to note that a simple one and one is available for less than 4 sterling – not bad in this upwardly mobile quarter of West London. And you can get a cup of milk for 60p – if you’ve got the cash.

The warmth of the March sunshine and the availability of tables on the pavement was irresistible as the Pie and Mash Club went al fresco for only the second time in recorded history.

Two scoops equals two portions of mash here. A two and two is a harmless enough combo you’d think, but steam and sunshine together make this a formidable proposition, as Ed Mosse discovered.

We’ve counted retirees Al Smith and Ray Goldstone amongst our core representation this season . . .

. . . along with Doug Benford who has propelled himself into second spot in the Pie and Mash League with freeness and pedal power.

The heat of the moment called for deliberation and pontification, while the activity of Golbourne Terrace’s pavement market reached its lunchtime crescendo.

A crisp and flaky sunlit upland, flanked by green-flecked creamy escarpments . . .

. . . but if you got no cash then you gotta dash.

Stainless steel and spotless ceramics.

Our place in the sun.

Cockneys is blazing a trail with its modest outdoor set up. Our loaded basins certainly drew a few eyeballs – let’s hope pavement widening pulls in the punters.

If you’re not happy with a glass of milk, dessert must be sought elsewhere. On this day, the Eagle gastropub round the corner on Ladbroke Grove provided the necessary sweetener for Edward Mosse, along with requisite pintage.

In this case 4 pints plus an espresso.

The dreaming redbrick spire at the top of this feature is that of St Augustine’s Kilburn, which Edward and I passed during a delightful cycle ride home on a remarkably balmy mid-March afternoon.

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