London Lamppost - The Illuminating Guide to London

Cafe Boheme

By Joss Bassett 16 August 2018

Cafe Boheme is all about that wonderful Parisian/French Cafe culture and has just had a refit along with its owner Soho House. The menu, is, as you’d expect, covered in nothing but the classic French dishes. While sadly no frogs legs, you’ll find Steak Tartare, Escargot, Croque Monsieur, Pate, Salmon Rillettes, Toulouse Sausages, Poulet Frites,…

The Connaught Bar

By Joss Bassett 14 August 2018

Consistently ranked among the top 10 cocktail bars in the world you’ll find the Connaught Bar tucked in the corner behind the central staircase of the famous Connaught Hotel. The decor is classic wood panelling painted a cool grey and highlighted with silver leaf with low marble tables, leather trim about the place. The drinks…

St John

By Joss Bassett 9 August 2018

It is ‘simply’ the home of nose to tail eating in the Western world, the movement and approach to cooking reestablished and championed by the globally revered Fergus Henderson. His kitchen has seen many of the head chefs of London’s best restaurants and gastro pubs like the Anchor & Hope pass through it, learning and…

As You Like It at the Open Air Theatre

By Joss Bassett 7 August 2018

The verdict – certainly not Shakespeare as you know I, but can we be surprised by that given recent productions of Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre? The play came replete with music, and while some Shakespeare plays did have songs and music to go with it, it didn’t have these.…

Lisbon's New and Old Heritage

By Sammy Gao 2 August 2018

I was in Lisbon in early spring with my sunglasses, linen trousers and loafers ready, and… it was raining, raining cats and dogs, and rather cold. However, I was not really upset. I was sat comfortably in an armchair next to a quirky 18th century fireplace that crackled away giving off a light smoky aroma,…

Characters – The European Posho

By Matthew MacLachlan 25 July 2018

Nicknamed the ‘posho Euro’, he sat opposite me in a rooftop bar, chainsmoking. The cigarettes mustied the pashmina around his throat. The waitress came over. “Hello, yuz?” A Polish inflection. “I’ll have a whisky and soda, please.” He looked at me. “Oh, whithky and thoda? I love you awready,” a smile, a frank expression. He…

Set Lunching at Tredwell's

By Steven Shakeshaft 19 July 2018

The venue for lunch was to be Tredwell’s, one of Marcus Wareing’s fine restaurants. Tredwell’s offers “relaxed fine dining” and was the winner of the AA Restaurant of the Year Award 2015. It’s now under chef-patron Chantelle Nicholson, who has been working with Marcus Wareing since 2006. By the way, Chantelle recently released a fantastic…

GBR London

By Joss Bassett 17 July 2018

Dukes, of course, is world famous for its bar. Run by Alessandro Palazzi and his team, it’s recognised by almost every martini aficionado as serving the best martini in London if not the world, so much so that Alessandro and the martinis are both spoken about in hushed tones of reverence. When it comes to…

Bodean’s

By Steven Shakeshaft 12 July 2018

I’ve been eating at various Bodean’s BBQ restaurants for years, and they have just introduced a deal between 12-5pm, for a whole rack of ribs, chips and coleslaw for £10. I was going to see my friends screening of her music documentary, Bunch of Kunst, at Rough Trade East, so decided to take advantage of…

A Soho to Guide

By Joss Bassett 10 July 2018

(This covers east of Wardour Street and south of Brewer Street.) Once synonymous with the sex industry (both gay and straight) and London’s nightlife, Soho has been smartening up over the years. This has seen the area clean up its act, but in the process concerns have been raised that it’s losing it’s character. As…