Based in Holborn, sorry Midtown, The Rosewood is easily one of London’s finest hotels. From the minute you walk into the courtyard, past the fire pit and into the copper-clad corridor (that’s over a million pounds-worth of copper FYI) you can’t fail to be impressed. It is also home to one of London’s finest bars; Scarfes Bar named after the artist, Gerald Scarfe, who’s paintings … Continue reading Scarfes Bar, The Rosewood
Kaspar’s is the seafood restaurant that replaced the River Restaurant in The Savoy. It’s not somewhere I’ve heard much about but as we were off to see Made in Dagenham at the Adelphi (which is 100% worth seeing by the way) we thought we’d pop in for a spot of pre theatre dinner. There’s something about The Savoy which I simply love – it’s just … Continue reading Kaspar’s, The Savoy
The Mondrian has opened its ship inspired five star hotel in the old Sea Containers building right on the river near Blackfriars Bridge. It’s a pleasant, if not a little showy, hotel with a large tin covered ship’s hull running all the way along the reception and through to the restaurant. The dining room is all open plan with a semi open kitchen and lively … Continue reading Sea Containers at The Mondrian
The Colony Grill is the latest offering from restaurant giants Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, who also own The Wolseley, Delaunay, Colbert, Brasserie Zédel, Fischer’s and now this, inside the recently opened Beamont Hotel in Mayfair. It’s a grand building in an understated kind of way – the giant Antony Gormley art installation on the outside (which is actually a suite you can stay in) … Continue reading The Colony Grill, Beaumont Hotel
Hubbard & Bell is the restaurant inside the new Hoxton Holborn hotel (there’s also a Holborn Grind coffee shop and a Chicken Shop in the basement). It’s the creation of Nick Jones – the clever chap behind the ever growing Soho House empire. It’s a very casual space; the dining room merges pretty seemlessly between the foyer and bar area. The open kitchen and long shared … Continue reading Hubbard & Bell, The Hoxton Holborn Hotel
Cliveden House is a stately home in Taplow, not too far from Bray, and after a rather illustrious past (it’s where much of the Profumo affair took place) it’s now owned by the National Trust and leased as a five star hotel. It’s still very much a work in progress; some of the grounds were in the middle of being renovated and the hotel entrance … Continue reading Cliveden House
Rivea (pronounced like Nivea FYI), is the second UK restaurant from Alain Ducasse – after his three Michelin starred eponymous restaurant in the Dorchester. This one also has a swanky location, in the Bvlgari Hotel in Knightsbridge down in the basement. A hotel restaurant in the basement is never an easy thing to pull off. We shouldn’t have been so pessimistic however – as we … Continue reading Rivea, Knightsbridge
We had a truly brilliant meal at Nathan Outlaw’s Michelin starred restaurant in Cornwall a few years back; the service was outstanding and it was the only time we’ve ever had a seafood tasting menu. I wasn’t entirely convinced the whole ethos of fresh and mostly local fish would transport well to his second restaurant (in the Capital Hotel, Knightsbridge) but it got a Michelin … Continue reading Outlaw’s at The Capital, Knightsbridge
It’s fair to say that Chiltern Firehouse is London’s hottest ‘sleb’ spot right now. Anybody who’s anybody ain’t anybody if they haven’t been papped leaving this restaurant in Andre Balazs’ first UK hotel based in a former, and rather grand, fire station in Marylebone. It’s not all smoke and mirrors however, as head chef Nuno Mendes (formerly of Viajante in Bethnal Green) is running the kitchen … Continue reading Chiltern Firehouse, Marylebone
Backed by none other than Jason Atherton, Typing Room is the new restaurant which replaces Viajante in the Bethnal Green Town Hall. I was really sad to hear Nuno Mendes (now of Chiltern Firehouse fame) was closing Viajante as it was such a unique and exciting restaurant. Intrigued as ever by a new opening, we popped down for lunch to see what head chef Lee … Continue reading Typing Room, Bethnal Green
Located near Portsmouth harbour, Spitbank Fort was built as a sea fort to defend the Solent in 1859. Even though it was stocked with many a weapon, it never actually ‘fired in anger’ during its eighty four year existence under military rule and it is now listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Anyway, enough of the Wiki history lesson, a company called Clarenco have since … Continue reading Spitbank Fort, Portsmouth
Two Michelin starred Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley Hotel recently underwent an extensive refurb including, a name change to Marcus, in the hope of making it a much more relaxed affair. We had a brilliant lunch there a couple of years ago so when I received an invitation to review the new place, I jumped at the chance. Ever since blaggergate (what? You’ve not heard … Continue reading Marcus at The Berkeley
China Tang is a Chinese restaurant which resides in the basement of the Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane. We’ve been meaning to go for quite a while now and after a recent meal at A. Wong in Pimlico, we found ourselves craving a bit of dim sum so we popped down for lunch. It was a pretty and quaint restaurant; the dining room felt like … Continue reading China Tang, Park Lane
Chiltern Firehouse is the restaurant inside the new hotel with the same name in Marylebone by André Balazs and it’s run by head chef Nuno Mendes. I was sad when I heard he was leaving Bethnal Green’s Viajante and Corner Room but after seeing this new venture, I can understand why he did – it’s pretty amazing. The hotel wasn’t open yet on our visit … Continue reading Chiltern Firehouse
Sixty One is the latest restaurant from the Searcys group (they run the restaurant at the top of the Gherkin) and it’s based inside an unassuming looking hotel near Marble Arch, called the Montcalm. It was a pretty restaurant inside and although the place was quiet during my weekday lunch, the atmosphere didn’t feel awkward; it was relaxed and almost tranquil. There were straw placemats … Continue reading Sixty One
