Seven restaurant and pub reviews

I’ve just finished seven reviews which will appear shortly in the restaurant and pub/club sections of Allinlondon but I thought I’d provide an advance summary for those looking for things to do this weekend with the weather reports looking decidedly grim. Hopefully I managed to find something for everyone!

About eight years ago there was a lot of interest in a couple of upmarket clubs in Lancashire Court (a small private courtyard round the back of Brook Street/New Bond Street) so it was with great pleasure that a property industry colleague recently chose Hush for a recent lunch venue. I hadn’t been for years and am delighted to report that it is still fabulous. One of the main attractions is the lovely al fresco court yard seating area but if you choose to eat inside you are able to admire the numerous celebrity photos - all in the famous “Shhh” pose. I couldn’t decide whether the addition of a Simon Cowell photo was a good or bad thing. Anyway, the food and wine is excellent and apparently the upstairs area remains a popular bar and club hangout for the young and wealthy. It seems that thin, blonde lovelies hang out there even in the middle of the day!

By coincidence, when I met an old friend from a West End law firm for lunch this week, she had made a reservation at Rocket – which is also in Lancashire Court. Whilst there are only a couple of outside tables here (it is in the narrow part) the upstairs restaurant has lots of space, is beautifully bright and the food and wine much more affordable than Hush. I love the large dog photo, the wall of wine and the delicate glass ceiling. Whilst the salads are good, the pizzas – made in the easily visible ovens – are a real triumph. This is a highly recommended eatery which has a sister restaurant over in the heart of lawyer land.

On the other side of the West End, I recently visited Latium in Berners Street with one of my PR friends. This is tucked into a basement opposite the Sanderson Hotel and easily missed if you are not paying attention. This was allegedly one of the greatest Italian restaurants a few years back. Whilst I can’t say that I was particularly impressed with the food (but maybe I was expecting too much of an asparagus risotto and should have selected from the specialist ravioli menu), the classy modern décor and the staff did make it a rather endearing establishment so I may return here some day.

After a meeting with some designer friends over in Shoreditch, I was taken to an achingly trendy if not rather scruffy bar/club called Dream Bags and Jaguar Shoes. Whilst I love the idea of inviting local artists to redecorate the place in its entirety once a month – and enjoyed the current artwork – I think that this one is for those who are at two decades younger than me, at least 10 points higher on the “cool” scale and able to stay up into the early hours listening to the latest sounds.

With some City chums, I revisited a classic wine bar in a former banking hall at The Grande Marque on Ludgate Hill. As a favourite venue for informal after work parties and gatherings, it is rare to see it quiet. On the evening that I was there, enjoying a bottle of chilled white while I caught up with all the news from one of my former work mates, I was stunned at the incredible number of attractive, well attired (not too many in suits) and respectable young men in there. So is that where they always hang out? Someone ought to let me know so we can alert the droves of single ladies who are constantly in search of this rare breed.

Moving further West and much more towards my home ground, I thought I’d write about one of my regulars – The Turks Head in St Margarets near Twickenham. It’s a huge, bright and welcoming pub that’s as popular with the locals as it is with the rugby crowd on match days and the many families who enjoy the extensive outside area (complete with an attractive wooden play area for younger kids, two large water features, a barbeque and a smoking hut) and the indoor dining facilities. Others will know this pub from the adjoining Winchester Hall which is home to the Bearcat Comedy Club.

And finally, a little known traditional pub (The Roebuck) with a bijou garden and an incredible display of ceiling and wall mounted paraphernalia tucked away in Hampton Hill. Whilst popular among the older local residents, the beer selection is good and all manner of other customers are to be found here.