woodsey

We are in Claremont, thanks for the offer on the shops we do have an English shop just down the road but its quite limited stock.
I know what you mean about the rain, having just returned from UK I think its colder here at the moment!
Do you know any decent pubs in east LA county?

woodsey

Thanks for the welcome, I coudn't agree more!
Being a working class northern girl who used to work at the dole office I find myself cringing though when I tell people where I live now.

Lord Lionheart

I am sorry I don't know of any pubs out there. I am in Santa Monica and we have an English pub 4 blocks from my house called 'The King's Head'.

http://www.yeoldekingshead.com/
worth a visit if you take the 10 west to nearly the beach

Also one called 'The Britannia' which isn't much cop. There is a couple of English shops with fairly good stock and an Irish pub also within short driving distance. LA has it's own free British newspaper called 'The British Weekly' which is given away at many English stores. Perhaps you can pick one up at the store you mention and it may have a local pub advertising in it. The other free British newspaper is 'The Union Jack'

http://www.ujnews.com/html/index.shtml

Perhaps they may have some local pubs advertising? These papers used to be my lifeline when I first came here for news from the UK however the news and sports is usually well out of date especially with the internet.Sorry I know many pubs on the Westside and in the S.F Valley and even Santa Ana(Orange County). Let me know if you are ever on the Westside and I will give you a few pubs and shops addresses.

Manc

I think we have met.

woodsey

I think we probably have!!!!!!!

woodsey

thanks for all the info, we have been to Santa Monica quite a bit so on our next visit we shall definately have to drop into the Kings Head.
Talking of being home sick after 17 years a lady started to talk to me in disneyland (she heard my northern twang whilst standing in the queue to see mickey mouse) she had been living here for 36 years and said she was still homesick, she went home 3 times a year every year for her 'english fix'. She had also embarrassed herself on many occasion by talking to every person with an english accent she heard.
We also have a friend who has moved here from switzerland at the same time as us, although he is Danish and in his desperation to meet other danes he chased a car through the streets of LA that had a danish car sticker on the back and then when the car stopped he chased the the occupant on foot which happened to be a very attractive young lady and then dared to introduce himself, luckily for him she didn't call the police!!!!!

Lord Lionheart

My girlfriend is Finnish and worked for a Dane, we are still friends and see her( the Dane) from time to time and various other Danes at mutual gatherings such as 4th July etc. E-mail me nest time youy are in Santa Monica and I will tell you the places to go

antjen

i was a bit dissapointed when i found the kingshead - i had the sunday roast beef.... it was pretty poor to say the least - they got my wifes ploughmans ok - but u cant go too wrong with that!!

the coupld of british shops round the corner from the kingshead are quite a find!!! - was cool to find my old junk food - ambrosia rice pudding and angel delight!! (not mixed together though)

i found a small chain 'world market' that has assorted foods from around the world (and some cheap looking furniture?) but was so so dissapointed after buying some cadburys - that its either from south africa or australia and just doesnt taste the same - though it still beats hersheys crap - roll on feb when my family are coming over with some supplies

Ant

Lord Lionheart

I think the King's Head is the closest thing to an English pub however I have been going there for years and know a lot of people there.Probably not everyone's cup of tea though and I never usually eat there as I am too busy drinking. They have a pretty decent Indian opposite called ' The gate of India' There is a shop on Wilshire/17th called 'The Continental Shop' ( not sure why as it should be the British Shop) They have the largest selection of food, sweets, DVD's etc. They also have a travel section and usaully offer very competitive rates on flights to the UK.

helenw

LOL, I am still in the UK and my hairdresser lives in Chicago. I get my hair done when ever I am in town!!

helenw

My better half lives out in the west burbs of Chicagoland. And he loves to take me into the city. Well anywhere really. It amazes me how distance is no object to him! I grew up in Essex but my parents were from London. And I grew up being taken all over London. I know it like the back of my hand. I lived there a couple of years even after leaving school, but returned to Essex.

Englishmum

I worked at the dole office too before resigning to live overseas LOL! (Harlow ESJ in Essex). It was a fun place to work....where you encounter some very 'interesting' characters LOL!

immunise

There is a fantastic Indian on 3rd Street, a few blocks east of The Beverly Center, it's called Electric Karma and it's the best Indian food I have ever eaten. We used to go every week when we lived in LA. Also just up the street at Farmers Market is a Costplus which has a fair range of UK goods (not the Cadburys though as its from South Africa!). Inside the Farmers Market, Monsieur Marcels or something like that has a good selection of biscuits etc.

For those of you in the Bay Area the Cost Plus off the 101N around Corte Madera/San Rafael has a huge selection of UK stuff and also Mollie Stones in Sausalito has a good choice too. Safeway in Mill Valley has some biscuits, Highland Spring water, some Welsh water and various other goodies on it's shelves!

Finally BevMo in San Rafael has a whole bunch of beers from the UK - which I avoid and head straight for the Staropramen!!

nxylas

There are things I miss about the UK, from major quality-of-life issues such as the NHS (a particularly sore point at the moment, as my wife has just come out of a hospital where the standard of care was as bad as the worst the NHS has to offer, but they charge a ****ing fortune for it) and half-decent public transport to little things like Ribena and Have I Got News For You.

Conversely, there are things I'd miss if I moved back - the sense of space, the standards of service in shops and restaurants and so on. I guess nowhere is perfect, so you just have to make the best of it.

Lord Lionheart

[QUOTE=immunise]There is a fantastic Indian on 3rd Street, a few blocks east of The Beverly Center, it's called Electric Karma and it's the best Indian food I have ever eaten. We used to go every week when we lived in LA.

Thanks for the tip.
A decent Indian is hard to find here as most seem to cater to US palate( obviously) and are very mild compared to the standard UK curry.
Why is Electric Karma so good? Can you expound a little?