Back in Town? Here’s Where to Eat, Drink and Unwind in Central London
September in London has a particular energy about it. Diaries begin filling up again, inboxes are considerably less forgiving and everyone suddenly seems to be back in town.
After a summer of holidays, half-empty offices and trying to coordinate plans with people scattered across various corners of Europe, September brings with it the rather welcome return of proper London life. Colleagues are reunited, friends have several months’ worth of stories to exchange and there is every reason to swap the desk for the pub when the working day is done.
Whether you’re looking for after-work drinks in Mayfair, a business lunch in Belgravia, dinner with friends in Marylebone or somewhere for a long-overdue catch-up in Notting Hill, consider this your guide to getting back into the swing of things
For After-Work Drinks in Central London
The first week back calls for a drink. We don’t make the rules.
In Mayfair, The Barley Mow is just the spot for that first drink after work. Its handsome ground-floor bar sits at the heart of the pub, with plenty of stools and tables for a pint and a few bar snacks. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, live music provides another reason not to rush home.
Over in Marylebone, The Coach Makers Arms is a lively neighbourhood meeting place, with lagers, ales, craft beers, wines and cocktails flowing at the bar. If one drink becomes several, head downstairs to The Clubhouse, the pub’s hidden cocktail bar, for music, dancing and considerably less concern about tomorrow’s inbox.
Belgravia has a subterranean option of its own. Hidden beneath The Orange, the Blood Orange Bar serves cocktails, craft beers and Wood-Fired Pizzas, with live music and vinyl DJs adding to the fun.
For Lunch in Central London
There are desk lunches and then there are proper lunches. September feels like a good time to remember the difference.
For a business lunch in Belgravia, The Thomas Cubitt has a light-filled first-floor restaurant above its handsome ground-floor pub, serving a seasonal menu of British classics.
A short stroll away on Motcomb Street, The Alfred Tennyson offers two rather different prospects. Keep things relaxed with a pint and something to eat downstairs or head upstairs to Alf’s, an elegant dining room filled with British fabrics, antiques and soft candlelight, serving British and French classics alongside exceptional wines and properly stirred martinis. Very sensible business indeed.
In Marylebone, The Grazing Goat is open from breakfast through to supper, with a seasonal British and European menu served downstairs and in its first-floor dining room. For those September days when London grants us a little more sunshine, there’s the street terrace too.
For Long-Overdue Dinners and Catch-Ups
There are some conversations that simply shouldn’t be squeezed into a quick drink after work.
For those reunions requiring a proper table and a few hours, head to The Princess Royal in Notting Hill. From its horseshoe bar and Raw Bar to the light-filled Conservatory and dining room, there are plenty of places to settle in over a seasonal British and modern European menu. Start with oysters at the bar, stay for dinner and see where the evening takes you.
Book Your Table Over in Chelsea, The Builders Arms is a much-loved neighbourhood pub made for an easy catch-up. There’s a welcoming bar, comfortable restaurant and terrace for the last of the warmer evenings, with a blackboard menu of British classics served throughout the day.
And for a dinner that feels a touch more decadent, the first-floor restaurant at The Barley Mow pairs white tablecloths with Head Chef Chris Fordham-Smith’s French take on British classics. Exactly the sort of place where catching up over dinner can quite easily occupy the entire evening.
For Team Dinners and Private Dining in London
Sometimes the group chat grows beyond the capacity of a normal table. Happily, our pubs have plenty of private dining rooms and feasting spaces for team dinners, client lunches, celebrations and get-togethers.
At The Alfred Tennyson, The Boardroom is tucked away upstairs and can seat up to 14 for an intimate business lunch or dinner, while Alf’s can be hired for larger gatherings of up to 48 seated guests.
For something with a little more late-night potential, The Clubhouse at The Coach Makers Arms is hidden beneath the Marylebone pub and can be privately hired for parties, drinks, music and dancing.
There are more private and semi-private spaces across Cubitt House, from feasting rooms at The Princess Royal to spaces at The Orange, The Grazing Goat, The Builders Arms and The Thomas Cubitt, making it easy to find the right setting whether you’re gathering a handful of colleagues or bringing the whole team.
