It’s rare to find such an enormous, influential concert venue slap bang in the middle of a major city, but Manchester’s AO Arena is just that.
Indeed, you could hop off the train at Manchester Victoria, the city’s second biggest transport hub after Manchester Piccadilly, and be plonked in your seat for Peter Kay’s show, pint in hand, within minutes of alighting. Better late than never? No chance of that here…
Since its grand opening in 1995, this iconic venue has played host to a wide range of events, from electrifying concerts by global superstars to thrilling sporting spectacles and captivating theatrical performances. With a seating capacity of over 21,000, the AO is one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe, drawing millions of visitors each year.
Those visitors are hungry and in need of something more exciting than the chains doing their identikit thing in the nearby Corn Exchange. We know you’re more discerning than that, so without further ado, here are the best restaurants near the AO Arena, Manchester.
Skof
A one minute walk from the AO Arena, Skof is the first restaurant from acclaimed chef Tom Barnes (who has a spell leading the kitchen at world renowned L’Enclume on his CV, as well as a dish at the Great British Menu 2020 banquet). It has quickly become one of Manchester’s, if not the UK’s, most talked about new restaurants since its opening in June 2024.
A contemporary venue specialising in the type of super precise, hyper seasonal British fine dining that earns stars, Skof manages to keep things refreshingly casual and unpretentious, helped by refined but relaxed service that falls on just the right side of the formal/familiar fence.
Without the starched white tablecloths and outdated dress codes, Skof allows the focus to fall on the food. Owned and operated by Barnes, and supported by culinary heavyweight Simon Rogan, highlights from a recent lunch (£50 for four courses, plus snacks and petit fours) included a pretty-as-a-picture main of confit Sladesdown duck, artfully cut into three chunks and served alongside the sweetest, deepest beetroot we’ve ever tasted. It’s all showered with edible petals and served with an aerated but surprisingly meaty duck sauce. Alongside, a Parker House roll that’s so cute it looks like a particularly chubby baby’s arm, emphasises the homelier side of the restaurant.
There’s also a longer (see: significantly more expensive) evening tasting menu, priced at £120 for a dozen or so courses, as well as an even longer tasting menu which is a real undertaking. A couple of extra courses – a lobster number and a round of cheese – are thrown in and the cost rises to £165. Sure, these tasting menus represent something of a commitment if you’ve got to rush off to the AO Arena to catch the start of your show, so a late lunch and a wander might be a better bet. Do be aware that Skof is only open for lunch on Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays.
Whichever time you turn up (don’t just turn up; booking in advance is pretty much essential) and whichever way you play it menu wise, do yourself a favour and order the signature Guppy’s Mezcal to start. Skof’s take on a Negroni, it’s powerful, punchy and god damn delicious.
Already recognised in the Michelin Guide, a star will surely follow when the next red book comes out early next year. It would be Manchester’s second.
Not to be confused with the Brighton restaurant just a digit superior, 63 Degrees (a ten minute walk from the AO Arena) is a quintessential French restaurant infused with the confident culinary techniques and laid back, brasserie-style hospitality of Paris at its best.
Sure, there are starched white tablecloths and a leather-backed banquette, but there’s also exposed wood floors and an always open door that spits you out right into the heart of the Northern Quarter, with all the rambunctious, kinetic energy that entails.
The name itself is a homage to chef Eric Moreau’s unique cooking method, perfected over years, where poultry is cooked at 63 degrees to achieve unparalleled tenderness and flavour. It would be pretty wild, then, not to order the ‘Chicken 63 degrees with truffle sauce’; a decadent, luxurious affair that’s silky, heady and as good a plate of food as we’ve had in Manchester. Yours for £24 from the a la carte menu.
Not knowing when to stop, Moreau’s luxury burgers are the stuff of legend, with three to choose from; a lobster and confit tomato burger, a wagyu steak number, and a wholly decadent, completely delicious pigeon and foie gras burger. Sure, you’ll pay in the mid-thirties for the privilege, and feel decidedly uncomfortable all through the concert, but it’s well worth it for the kind of French indulgence rarely seen these days, on these shores.
We still can’t stop. The seasonally changing risotto (currently a prawn and tomato number) is even richer than it needs to be, and all the more delicious for it. And finally, to finish, chef Moreau’s legendary sphère au chocolat et à la pêche – that’s chocolate orb with peach to you and me – is something of a mainstay on the menu and a must order.
With the chef’s wife Florence working the floor with a genial touch, the whole 63 Degrees experience is like having a bath in Isigny Sainte-Mere butter – unpasteurised of course. Wine prices are equally heart-attack inducing, with no bottle clocking in at under £42. Still, there are several capable drops by the glass for under a tenner, if you are watching your spending.
Fortunately, there’s a defibrillator just round the corner on Cable Street.
With arteries still not sufficiently clogged, we’re sticking around in the Northern Quarter for something a little faster and a lot more casual, for when your show at the AO is approaching but you still need a damn good feed.
Ten minutes on foot from the arena, Northern Soul Grilled Cheese takes comfort food to the next level with its iconic grilled cheese sandwiches. Known for its boisterous atmosphere and fully loaded toasties, this joint has a deserved cult following.
The restaurant embodies the spirit of Manc innovation with its unique takes on the humble grilled cheese. Imagine stacked, gorgeous toasties and the obligatory skewered pickle, with local craft beer and Northern Soul deep cuts soundtracking your experience, and you’ve pretty much dreamt up Northern Soul Grilled Cheese. It’s so good, in fact, that we’ve named the Mac Attack here as one of the best sandwiches in Manchester.
This one is open from 11am to 6pm, perfect for a quick bite before the show.
Reviewed fondly by Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner a year ago, Manchester’s Edinburgh Castle offers a classy gastropub experience that surely ranks as the finest of its kind in the Ancoats area of the city. An area which, the property experts at heatongroup.co.uk tell us, is still the hottest ticket in town.
Anyway, since 2022, the food here has been overseen by talented chef Shaun Moffat. Known for his precise cooking and for knowing just what people actually, you know, want to eat, the Edinburgh Castle takes pub grub to dizzy, delicious new heights, evidenced in the hearty chicken, bacon and girolle pie for two (£45) and in the beef fat grilled oysters (£4).
That sensibility is perhaps most keenly realised in Moffat’s iconic way with snacks. Though the famous chip butty hasn’t been on the menu for a while, the Lancashire cheese doughnuts with Henderson’s relish tick all the same boxes in that kind of elevated, refined, but still obscenely tasty way.
There’s also a keenly priced, expertly cooked Sunday roast here, with two courses for £33 and three for £39. When you consider the quality of the cooking, that’s something of a steal.
With the pub a 15 minute walk from the venue and open everyday from midday (3pm to Mondays and Tuesdays) until late, the Edinburgh Castle makes perfect sense for a fantastic meal within walking distance of the AO Arena.
Opened in 2015 by a group of friends from Turin, The Pasta Factory’s concept is surprisingly straightforward and eminently satisfying; to serve nonna-worthy bowls of the good stuff, quickly and efficiently, at a price point that won’t have the residents of Manchester baulking.
They’ve largely delivered on that promise, and since you’re likely looking for a quick restaurant meal before attending a show at the AO Arena (it’s a five minute walk from the venue), the Pasta Factory could just be the perfect place for you.
Located in the handsome, proud Old Bank building next to Shudehill Interchange, this humble restaurant specialises in handmade pasta (not a factory at all, then) that’s prepared freshly on the premises daily, as well as a short selection of antipasti and a couple of desserts.
A recent visit brought with it a textbook carbonara, the guanciale properly rendered and crispy, and the bores blathering on about whether or not it should have cream thankfully out of earshot. A round of squid ink bucatini, cured tuna and black garlic was gorgeous at first, but quickly became pretty a little too rich and moody, with the umami dialled up several notches louder than we could take (too-mami? Is that a phrase?). The mafalde with beef ragu brought things back around in some style.
It’s all forgiven once the freshly fried cannoli hits the table, still warm and with a centre that’s running ever so gently. Neck a quick espresso, settle up, and head to your gig with a spring in your step and a wallet that’s not been troubled too heavily by the experience.
Keep an eye out for the daily specials on the chalkboard overlooking the dining room, as this is where some of the best cooking at the Pasta Factory is found.
Just 10 minutes on foot from the AO Arena, Climat, owned by restaurateur Christopher Laidler, offers a minimalist yet refined dining environment where the panoramic views of Manchester City Centre and the River Irwell risk stealing the show if it weren’t for the equally eye-catching food that’s just been placed elegantly in front of you.
Nominally a wine bar that happens to serve great food, head chef Luke Richardson describes the menu here as “Parisian ex-pat”, with the chef taking inspiration from his time cooking in the French capital and his upbringing here in the North to great effect. So, that’s pig’s head croquette with green garlic mayo, charred half bonito head with kumquat hot sauce (a lot of head being given here, matron), and Dalesbred hogget Barnsley chop with grelots, celeriac puree, and a caper and brown butter sauce. It’s hearty and generous, with big, bold flavours but plenty of flair, too. It’s perfect.
Anyway, back to the wine; at Climat, as the name implies, there’s a stacked cellar of over 400 different wines, with the Burgundy region a focal point. In a recent interview, Laidler said that he envisioned a space that allows visitors to focus on both the breathtaking views and the exceptional food and wine, and after a recent meal here, we can safely say it’s mission accomplished.
In fact, when the late summer sun’s streaming into the dining room here, there’s a plate of hash browns and taramasalata on the way, and you’re two glasses down on a bottle of Bernard Defaix’s 2020 Chablis, there are few better places to be in the world.
Things are lifted up even higher by some gold-standard desserts to end the meal (and our roundup) on. The poached Carmen pear, swimming in a liquour of port, vanilla and perry vinegar, is exceptional. Hmmm, we think we might stay here a little while longer…
If you do the same, be careful not to forget you’ve got a gig to attend!
Let’s put this on the page and in writing before we begin; Salisbury feels like a contradictory sort of place. Boasting a cultural might pretty much unrivalled for a city of its size anywhere in the UK, it’s also a place that’s a little, well, lowkey. Its culinary capital follows suit, with plenty of pleasant places to dine, sure, but not many that will truly rock your socks off.
This city may boast one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world, be within a massively heavy stone’s throw from Stonehenge, and house one of just four copies of the Magna Carta, but weirdly, you’re not going to find any Michelin-starred restaurants or one-to-watch young chefs here.
What Salisbury lacks in high-profile dining, however, it more than makes up for with its charming, locally-loved restaurants and cafes, some that offer a genuine taste of the region and others that take inspiration from the other side of the world.
From historic inns to contemporary cafes, the city’s dining scene is a reflection of its heritage. With that in mind, here’s our guide on where to eat in Salisbury, and the best restaurants in the city.
Rai d’Or
Ideal for pints and Panang curry in a historic pub…
A local favourite if ever there was one, Rai d’Or wears its inherent contrasts proudly, offering a unique blend of delicious, uncompromising Thai cuisine and a traditional British pub atmosphere – frothy flagons of ale and all – housed in a 14th-century beamed building that exudes historical charm.
Now in their third decade on Brown Street, and with a Thai team at the stoves and the amiable host Simon out front, it’s a match made in heaven. Or, at least, in Siam…
Pleasingly for a city centre operation, The Rai D’Or continues to operate as a pub, and you’re more than welcome at the bar if all you’re after is a pint. There’s a great selection of real ales here, featuring a rotating lineup of top-quality brews from local breweries, which has earned the place high praise and recognition from CAMRA via inclusion in its Good Beer Guide annually since 2004. That real ale pairs particularly well with the coconut curries here; the Panang curry of chicken is particularly well-judged.
Please note that the Rai d’Or is currently closed for its Christmas break, and will reopen in on 16th January for its usual evening service.
Ideal for sophisticated farm-to-table dining in a restored country inn…
Just five miles north of Salisbury (and a really pleasant bike ride, too, if that’s your thing), The Great Bustard has somewhat flown under the radar since its opening in October of last year. Sure, it’s been already been awarded 2 AA Rosettes. A coveted spot in the Good Food Guide has been secured. And yes, it’s already received a glowing review in The Times…
…Okay, The Great Bustard definitely hasn’t flown under the radar; we just wanted to use a laboured pun. In actuality, it’s no surprise this place has hit the ground running, its credentials impeccable and its premise precisely delivered – head chef Jordan Taylor cut his teeth at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and the two-Michelin-starred Moor Hall in Lancashire, and there’s a keen connection to the surrounding estate and its produce. The menu, accordingly, writes itself.
Taylors menu celebrates both the surrounding Great Durnford Estate and the finest West Country producers with real technical flourish. A visually stunning terrine of estate game – layered with breast of pigeon, pheasant and partridge – demonstrates the kitchen’s ambition perfectly, while the loin of estate hare wrapped in cabbage with celeriac fondant shows Taylor’s deft touch with local, notoriously tricky-to-cook ingredients.
The dining room, housed in a contemporary wood-clad extension, matches the food’s sophistication. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light and look out onto a heated terrace and gardens, while a striking picture window into the kitchen, framed by fine wines and gleaming stemware, hints at the serious gastronomic intent. Two elegant rows of black leather banquette seating divide the room, adding a touch of city sophistication to this rural retreat.
But it’s not all refined dining – there’s a dedicated, laid back pub menu too, featuring precise but not ‘cheffy’ takes on classics like beer-battered fish and chips and a seriously good estate venison burger with charcoal mayo. The bar area, with its beamed ceiling, inglenook fireplace and wingback chairs, is exactly where you want to be with the Sunday papers and a pint of house Great Bustard lager, a complex, malty little number that’ll have you contemplating a second before you’re halfway through your first. And true to proper pub form, the Sunday roast is killer – Great Durnford lamb or Springbottom Farm beef, served with all the trimmings including massive Yorkshire puddings and spiced creamed kale.
Service, under the watchful eye of general manager Matheus Sanches (formerly of the Harbour Hotels group), strikes that perfect balance between polish and warmth. The wine list deserves special mention, featuring an impressive selection by the glass and some seriously special bottles from the Great Durnford Manor’s own cellar.
With its formula of technically accomplished cooking, warm hospitality and that irresistible combination of pub cosiness and restaurant finesse, The Great Bustard is a more than welcome addition to Salisbury’s dining scene, confirmed by its inclusion in last night’s 2025 edition of the Michelin Guide.
Book ahead for the restaurant, especially for Sunday lunch, though the pub operates a walk-in only policy.
Ideal for light, seasonal lunches surrounded by art and sculpture…
Fisherton Mill is more than just a place to graze; it’s something of a cultural hub that combines a gallery, studios, and a café under one roof.
Located in a beautifully restored Victorian grain mill just off Fisherton Street and a handy five minute stroll to Salisbury station, the café offers a delightful menu of homemade dishes with just a little flair, from hearty brunches to light lunches and an enticing cake display.
The emphasis here is on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with a menu that changes seasonally to reflect the best of what’s available from Wiltshire. It’s an ethos that has earned Fisherton Mill runner-up in the OFM Awards Best Value Eats category back in 2022, as well as a Local Gem mention in 2024’s Good Food Guide.
So, that’s freshly made tortelloni stuffed with pesto and dressed with fresh peas, artichoke and pecorino, or green olive focaccia (again, made on site) with grilled courgettes, heritage tomatoes and roasted red peppers. It’s wholesome, lovely stuff, and just what you want to eat for lunch in Salisbury before exploring its sites.
The setting is equally impressive, and after enjoying a meal or coffee here, visitors can explore the gallery and studios, which showcase the work of local artists and makers.
Please be aware that Fisherton Mill isn’t open for dinner, shutting up shop at 5pm daily. It’s also closed on Sundays.
Ideal for an old school boozer and a globetrotting menu…
The Compasses Inn, located in the picturesque village of Chicksgrove 12 miles west out of Salisbury, is a quintessential English country pub with a reputation for excellent food and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. What more could you want?
The menu is a celebration of global gastropub cuisine, with a focus on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Though there’s Balinese croquettes with Vietnamese slaw, and lamb stifado with tzatziki, we’ve found the most joy in the more prosaic corners of the Inn’s menu. A recent dish of roast whole plaice with brown butter and capers was particularly good, as is the gold-standard fish pie, with burnished mash lid and pleasingly generous chunks of fish (mustn’t. say. swimming) beneath it.
Image via @thecompassesImage via @thecompasses
The inn itself is steeped in history, with parts of the building dating back to the 14th century. Inside, you’ll find a cosy interior with open fires, wooden beams, and a relaxed vibe to the service. End with the chocolate mousse – dark and decadent – and settle in for a pint or two afterwards. You better make the journey count, after all.
The Jade is a family-run Chinese restaurant that has been a staple of Salisbury’s dining scene for over three decades (despite a 2016 announcement of closure that ended up being, thankfully, temporary).
Known for its extensive menu of traditional Chinese dishes, The Jade offers everything from dim sum and Peking duck to a pleasingly vast variety of vegetarian options. The fried-to-order pineapple fritters have been a dessert staple here for as long as its been open, and still hit the spot.
The restaurant itself is elegant yet unpretentious, with banquettes rendered in – you guessed it – jade green, and a dining room that’s defined by the gentle hum of conversation (and the odd clatter of woks when the kitchen door swings open), rather than a raucous, unruly din.
Only open for dinner, Monday to Saturday, and closed entirely on Sundays.
Ideal for contemporary Indian dining, square plates, swooshes and all…
Anokaa is a contemporary Indian restaurant that brings a welcome contemporary twist to traditional Indian cuisine whilst still keeping the flavours punchy and complex. The menu is a fusion of classic Indian dishes and innovative creations, all prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Signature dishes include the rump of Welsh lamb with cashew nut, coriander and tomato, which hits the table as pretty as a picture, its square plate decorated with all manner of 90s style dots, dabs and swipes. Boy do those dots, dabs and swipes taste alive, though.
Salisbury’s only city centre restaurant ever to be recognised in the Michelin Guide (2017), Anokaa might feel a little dated now when held up against contemporary Indian dining in the UK’s bigger cities, but the food here is carefully seasoned and creatively presented. Sometimes, that’s just what you want from a special occasion kind of meal.
Ideal for South Wiltshire’s best dining experience…
A half hour’s drive north of Salisbury in the charming village of East Chisenbury, The Red Lion Freehouse is a Michelin-recognised pub (previously starred, but for some inexplicable reason recently ‘demoted’) that offers the best dining experience in the local area, hands down and by some distance.
The menu is – as any self-respecting gastropub should be – a celebration of British cuisine, with a focus on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients that’s earned plaudits from The Spectator (“as good as pub food gets”) and the AA Rosette Restaurant guide (“astonishing cuisine”) among others.
We’re very much with them; in a refreshingly unfussy dining room, we recently enjoyed a £65 a head, five course tasting menu that was perfectly paced, celebrating summer’s bounty with precision. Bookended by a gorgeous chilled gazpacho of locally grown tomatoes and a cleansing strawberry sorbet, the Red Lion Freehouse is a class act.
It also boasts a beautiful garden, perfect for al fresco dining in the warmer months. With its combination of excellent food, charming setting, and top-notch service, it’s no wonder this pub has earned such high acclaim.
If you do choose to visit the pub from Salisbury, Stonehenge is on the way (or on the drive back), standing tall around halfway between the two. Sounds like the perfect day out to us!
Back in Salisbury centre, and to Cafe Diwali, a vividly rendered restaurant just seconds from the magnificent cathedral. The menu is inspired by the diverse flavours of Indian street food and snacks, leaning on the lighter side of the country’s culinary canon with signatures like the always-invigorating samosa chaat, its yoghurt, mint chutney and tamarind dressing just the livener a tired palate needs. Even better are the dosa plates, crisp and airy, and served with three pots of chutney – sambar, coconut and tomato – for dipping and dredging. Lovely stuff.
In fact, the whole place has a lightness of touch, from the sunflower yellow walls and natural light streaming through the conservatory out back and into the dining room, all the way to the dexterous service. We’ve said the word ‘light’ enough now…
Though the ‘cafe’ in the name might lead you to think this is a soft drink, tea and coffee only operation, Cafe Diwali do serve beer.
Nole Pizza is Salisbury’s most popular pizzeria, and one that prides itself on serving proudly inauthentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, its several outposts across the city and surrounding area testament to the group’s success.
With seating overlooking Salisbury’s bustling market square, Nole On The Square is our favourite iteration. Here the dough is made fresh daily and cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven, resulting in a perfectly crispy crust with a soft, chewy centre – just as it should be.
Images via @nolepizza
We’re very much into some of more leftfield creations here; the pepper pork, potato, blue cheese and pesto is just as punchy as it sounds. Damn delicious it is, too. For those preferring something a little more traditional, the anchovy and artichoke number is a lovely marriage of the sweet and the salty.
Sure, the pizza prices are at the more premium end here, with the two just mentioned clocking in at £15 and £14 respectively, but this is quite comfortably the best pizza you’ll find in Salisbury, and worth those extra few coins. The craft lager, from the restaurant group’s own Rude Giant brewery, is great too.
We end at Tinga, a Mexican bar and taqueria that aims to bring the flavours of Mexico to Salisbury city centre, and delivers on that promise with a pleasing range of tacos, burritos and quesadillas.
The signature dish is the eponymous tinga tacos, which sees chicken breast poached until tender before being shredded and bathed in a rich, gently spicy chilli and tomato sauce. £6.75 will get you three of these, which is an absolute steal, quite frankly. Equally good are the agave cauliflower tacos, which sit on guacamole and are dressed with a smoky adobo dressing. A couple of spicy, pokey margaritas seal the deal.
Transforming a garage into a spare bedroom is an excellent way to maximise living space and add value to a home. Hey, in some cases, you may even eke out a new ‘side hustle’ in the form of a room rental opportunity.
Today, we’re exploring the process of converting a garage into a functional, stylish bedroom, touching on the legal aspects of undertaking such a project in the UK. Without further ado, here’s our step-by-step guide on how to turn your garage into a spare bedroom.
Step 1: Assess The Space & Plan The Layout
Before diving into the renovation, it’s essential to assess the garage space and determine its potential as a bedroom. Measure the area, noting any obstacles like support beams or utility lines. Sketch out a floor plan that includes the placement of windows, doors, and built-in storage. Consider how to incorporate natural light, ventilation, and heating systems to create a comfortable environment.
In terms of the minimum floor space required for turning your garage into a fully fledged living space, there are a couple of key factors to consider. The first is the size of your garage. Generally, a single-car garage will be too small to comfortably accommodate a bedroom, but a two-car garage may be suitable.
The second factor to consider is local building codes and regulations. These vary by location, but in general, you will need to meet certain requirements for ceiling height, ventilation, and egress, all of which we’ll explore a little later.
Step 2: Insulation & Heating
Garages are often not insulated or heated, so it’s crucial to address these issues during the conversion. Install insulation in the walls, ceiling, and floors to improve energy efficiency and create a cosy atmosphere. Choose a suitable heating system, such as underfloor heating or radiators, to ensure the room stays warm during colder months.
Step 3: Flooring Options
A garage floor may not be suitable for a bedroom, so consider installing new flooring. Carpeting is a popular choice for bedrooms due to its warmth and softness underfoot. Alternatively, opt for laminate or engineered wood flooring for a more contemporary look.
Step 4: Walls & Ceilings
Transform the garage’s walls and ceilings by adding drywall or plasterboard, creating a smooth surface for painting or wallpapering. Choose a colour scheme that complements the rest of the house while reflecting the desired ambiance for the bedroom. Light, neutral colours can make a small space feel larger and more inviting, which is rather crucial in a garage space that may not be blessed with loads of natural light.
When it comes to painting a garage conversion, it’s important to choose the right type of paint that can withstand the wear and tear, as well as the potential moisture and temperature changes in the space. For instance, you might want to consider using epoxy paint, which is incredibly durable and resistant to stains, scratches, and chemicals. This type of paint is often used in industrial settings like warehouses, so you can trust that it’s tough enough for your garage conversion.
Alternatively, you could use a latex or acrylic-based paint, which is also durable and easy to clean. These types of paint are perfect for walls and ceilings, and they come in a variety of colours, so you can find the perfect shade to match your decor.
Regardless of whether you choose epoxy paint or a latex/acrylic-based paint, make sure you choose a high-quality brand that will provide a long-lasting finish. And don’t forget to prepare the surface properly by cleaning it thoroughly and applying a primer before painting. That way, you’ll be sure to have a safe and durable finish that will last for years to come!
A well-lit bedroom is essential for creating a comfortable and functional space. Incorporate a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting to cater to different needs. Hire a certified electrician to install new wiring, outlets, and light fixtures, ensuring that all work meets safety standards.
If your converted garage is going to be more convivial, less crack den, then incorporating windows and doors into the design is essential, for natural light, ventilation, and access.
Consider installing double-glazed windows to improve energy efficiency and soundproofing. Choose a garage door style that complements the overall design, whether it’s a traditional wooden door or a sleek sliding option. Either way, keep things synergistic and succinct.
Step 7: Furnishing & Decorating
Once the construction work is complete, it’s time to furnish and decorate the new bedroom. Select furniture pieces that maximise storage and functionality, such as a bed with built-in drawers or a fold-out desk. Add personal touches with artwork, textiles, and accessories to create a welcoming and stylish space.
Step 8: Storage Solutions
And now, the all important storage, which can make or break the liveability of your converted garage space. Here are a few ideas:
Built-in Cabinets: These are perfect for storage in a converted garage. They can be custom built to fit the space and can be used to store clothes, linens, and other household items. When installing new garage cabinets, remember to leave enough room between them for easy access and manoeuvrability. It is also important to make sure the cabinets are securely mounted to the wall.
Overhead Storage: You can install ceiling mounted storage racks or overhead storage. These can be used to store bulky items like seasonal decorations or sporting equipment.
Wall Shelves: Wall shelves provide an easy and affordable way to add storage to any room. You can customise them based on the size of the room and needs.
Under-bed Storage: Beds with built-in storage drawers, or small under-bed boxes, can be great for storing clothing and linens.
Closet Storage: You can add a closet storage system to a converted garage to maximise space and keep clothing and shoes organised.
Storage Ottoman: A storage ottoman can serve double duty as a place to sit and a place to store extra blankets, linens, or pillows.
Storage Bins: Plastic storage bins can be used to store a wide range of items from clothing to tools, and can be neatly stacked to save space
Is It Legal To Convert Your Garage Into A Spare Bedroom?
The short answer is: it depends.
Firstly, the law in the UK states that any alterations or additions to your property that affect its external appearance may require planning permission. This means that if you are planning to convert your garage into a spare bedroom and the exterior of your property will be affected, you will need to apply for planning permission.
However, there are some circumstances where planning permission may not be required. This is known as ‘permitted development’. The rules around permitted development are complex and may vary depending on the location and type of property, as well as the extent of the alterations you are planning to make.
For example, if your property is a house and not a flat, and the garage you are planning to convert is attached to the house rather than a separate building, you may be able to carry out the conversion without planning permission. However, there are still some limitations you need to be aware of, such as the amount of floor space you can add and the height of the new room.
It’s also worth noting that even if planning permission is not required, you may still need to comply with building regulations. These regulations set out the technical requirements for building work, such as structural safety and insulation standards.
In summary, the legality of converting a garage into a spare bedroom in the UK depends on a number of factors, including the location and type of property and the extent of the alterations. If you are considering making any changes to your property, it’s always best to seek professional advice to ensure you comply with the relevant laws and regulations.
Some helpful laws to keep in mind include the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which governs planning permission in England and Wales, and the Building Act 1984, which sets out the requirements for building work and compliance with building regulations.
Can I Rent Out My Converted Garage On Airbnb?
In the UK, you may be able to rent out your converted garage on Airbnb. However, this would depend on the planning permission you have obtained from your local council.
If your property has planning permission for a garage conversion and the change of use to a holiday rental is within the permitted usage, then you can rent your place out on Airbnb. Additionally, you will need to comply with local regulations, such as fire safety requirements, insulation, ventilation, and other health and safety guidelines. It’s essential to check with your local authority to ensure that you are compliant.
The Bottom Line
Transforming a garage into a spare bedroom can be a rewarding project that adds value and functionality to a home. By following these tips and considering the legal aspects, homeowners can create a beautiful, comfortable space that meets their needs and enhances their property.
Though it’s by no means Peru’s largest or most influential city (that title of course goes to Lima), chances are if you’re planning a trip to the Land of the Incas, then you’ll have heard of Cusco, the ancient capital of the empire. In fact, it almost certainly features high on your list of must-do destinations. That’s because this humble but happening place serves as the gateway to Machu Picchu, the globally famous ruins, hiking spot and designated New Wonder of the World.
That’s not to say you should treat the city as simply a launchpad to the ruins. Scratch the surface just a little, spend a few days here, and you’ll find so much to love about Cusco, from culture to cuisine, history, heritage and more. So, to those pondering whether Peru’s Cusco is worth visiting for a day or two, we say an emphatic yes.
A Morning Trip To San Pedro Market
Open seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset (that’s around 6am to 6pm), Cusco’s San Pedro Market is best enjoyed early doors, when the freshest items haven’t yet been snapped up by discerning locals (there’s no refrigeration here) and the tourist crowds are lighter on the ground.
Inside, the space is tightly packed with vendors selling fruit and veg, some familiar, some only found in Peru (did you know there are more than 55 types of corn indigenous to the country?), and also a few small food stalls dishing up empanadas – not so far removed from a Cornish pasty but much lighter and much spicier – and lomo saltado – a type of stir fried beef.
So, skip breakfast and head straight here; the freshly squeezed fruit juices are particularly lovely and there are pastries everywhere. Look out for camu camu, a small apple coloured berry which has the highest concentration of Vitamin C of any fruit in the world. Also, don’t leave without trying chirimoya, the local custard apple with super creamy flesh.
Souvenirs of all shapes and sizes are also available here, if you’re after something which won’t end up in your stomach before you get back to the hotel. Be prepared to haggle, modestly, and be adventurous!
Settle In At The Plaza De Armas & Cusco Cathedral
Suffering from ‘soroche’? You’re not alone. Cusco sits at an altitude of 3’400 metres, and a little lightheadedness is expected as you acclimatise. In fact, the city is higher than Machu Picchu, so prior to any hiking, it’s a good idea to get used to the altitude here for a couple of days.
There’s nowhere better to do so than in the Plaza de Armas, the city’s main square and focal point, and just a ten minute walk from the market. Originally, a hub of religious ceremonies and vital meeting point for the Inca Empire, now the Plaza is lined with beautifully kept gardens, cafes and restaurants; a perfect spot to kick back, people watch, reflect and adjust to the pace of Cusco.
While here, make sure you visit the imposing Cusco Cathedral, on the square’s North Eastern side and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and particularly the intriguing painting of the Last Supper which lies within. We say intriguing, as there are some divergences from the traditional renditions found in European cathedrals and churches, most notably, the local delicacy ‘cuy’ (guinea pig) being enjoyed by the apostles.
Machu Picchu
We couldn’t mention Cusco without, of course, speaking of the Machu Picchu ruins. This can be done on a day trip from the city, though we wouldn’t recommend doing so as it tends to be a rushed affair and wouldn’t take in any element of the Inca Trail.
That said, the three and a half hour train journey from Cusco (actually, a town called Poroy close by) to Aguas Caliente is as scenic as you like, but you should book tickets in advance as seats get booked up. After arriving in Aguas Caliente, you can either take a shuttle bus or hike to Machu Picchu. Of course, the majority of Peru luxury tours will arrange all of this for you.
Once there, prepare to have your mind blown. The Incan citadel high in the Andes mountains is cloaked in mist, cloud and mystery, with lush vegetation surrounding and enclosing the ruins and making for some spectacular views. Watch out for mosquitos here and book every aspect of the trip (entry tickets, transportation and hotels in Aguas Caliente) well in advance; Machu Picchu is hugely popular.
Explore The Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley of the Incas, stretching between Cusco and Machu Picchu, is much more than just a scenic drive-through. This fertile river valley was once the heartland of the Inca Empire, and today it offers some of the region’s most impressive archaeological sites and living culture.
Start in Pisac, about an hour’s drive from Cusco, where one of Peru’s largest handicraft markets spreads across the town’s main square. The market reaches its colorful peak on Sundays, when indigenous Quechua communities descend from the surrounding highlands. But the real draw here is the magnificent Inca ruins perched above the colonial town, where agricultural terraces cling dramatically to the mountainside, offering breathtaking views across the valley.
Further along lies Ollantaytambo, the ‘Living Inca City’, where original stone walls and water channels are still in use today. The main archaeological site is a massive temple-fortress built into the cliffs. Arrive early to avoid both the crowds and the midday sun, and don’t miss the chance to try some adventure sports – the rushing Urubamba River offers excellent rafting, while mountain biking and horseback riding let you explore the valley’s quieter corners.
Visit Sacsayhuamán
A key stop on Peru tours, and looming over Cusco from its strategic hilltop position, Sacsayhuamán is a masterpiece of Inca military architecture. The site’s most impressive feature is its massive outer walls, built in a distinctive zigzag pattern from enormous limestone blocks – some weighing up to 125 tonnes – cut and fitted together with such precision that not even a credit card can slip between them.
What you see today is only about 20% of the original structure, as most of colonial Cusco was built using stones pilfered from Sacsayhuamán. The remaining three parallel walls stretch for nearly 400 meters and rise to a height of 18 meters in places.
Time your visit for June 24th if you can, when the site hosts the spectacular Inti Raymi festival, a recreation of the Inca’s winter solstice celebration featuring thousands of participants in full Inca regalia. Even if you miss the festival, the panoramic views over Cusco’s red-tiled roofs are particularly magical at sunset.
Traditional Textile Experience
At the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC), just a few blocks from Plaza de Armas, you can discover how Andean textiles are far more than just pretty decorations – they’re a complex language of patterns and symbols telling stories of community identity and cultural beliefs. The center works with nine indigenous communities in the Cusco region, helping to preserve their unique textile traditions.
Watch master weavers create intricate designs using traditional backstrap looms, or sign up for hands-on workshops where you’ll learn about the entire process. See how alpaca wool is transformed using natural dyes from local plants, minerals, and even insects – the cochineal beetle produces those characteristic deep reds. The center’s shop offers high-quality textiles direct from the communities, with each piece telling its own story through symbols of local flora, fauna, and cosmology. Yes, they’re pricier than the tourist markets, but you’re paying for museum-quality pieces that directly support the artisans.
Get Daring With Dinner…
Peruvian food has had a huge decade, rising the ranks of popularity is World’s Best lists and cropping up with Michelin star winning restaurants everywhere from London to LA. Any gourmand worth his Pink Himalayan salt is now well versed in ceviche, tiger’s milk, quinoa and causa. Time to dig a little deeper then, to really earn your intrepid dining stripes.
Fortunately, Cusco offers the chance to try some local delicacies not found much outside of Peru. Certainly, these won’t be gracing your Shoreditch ceviche specialist’s menu anytime soon. Start with that ‘cuy’ we mentioned earlier, which is guinea pig, fried, grilled or roasted, and served with corn on the cob and a zingy salsa. It’s a real delicacy here, with cultural significance, and delicious to boot.
Anticuchos are another must try; essentially grilled meat served on a skewer (inspired, perhaps, by yakitori) and found everywhere. By far and away the best version, for us, is the ox heart; as much flavour as you’ll ever find on a stick, we think. And if you’re up for something nourishing, the local dish of Caldo de Gallina (comprising boiled chicken, ginger and noodles) is excellent. Some of the best renditions are found at the San Pedro Market.
…& Dancing
To work off all that food, it would be rude not to get stuck into Cusco’s nightlife. Vibrant and lively every night of the week, it generally revolves around Plaza de Armas, where most of the best bars and nightclubs are found.
Start the evening with a pisco sours, because when in Peru and all that, and if you want to get your dancing shoes on, then Mythology offer free salsa classes from 9pm to 11pm every night. When the doors (and dancefloor) open to the wider public at 11, you’ll be ready to get your groove on. Most end the night at Mama Africa, a heaving club which doesn’t get going until around 2am. Don’t worry, it stays going until the sun comes up.
With over 75 million passengers passing through London Victoria annually, and the station’s main thoroughfare essentially one massive pasty passage, it’s no wonder hungry travellers are constantly bemoaning the lack of dining options within the station complex. Do they really need five Upper Crusts and several Caffè Nero stalls?
An exaggeration perhaps, but to eat well here, it’s best to step out and into the Westminster wilderness for a proper feed. Here are our favourite restaurants, eateries and food halls close by; our round-up of the best places to eat near London Victoria.
A. Wong
Ideal for innovative and thoughtful contemporary Chinese food..
Now with two shiny Michelin stars above the door, A.Wong has come a long way since its opening in 2013. This ‘upmarket Chinese eatery’ (their words) is actually refreshingly welcoming, inclusive and reasonably priced, considering the level of cooking going on here.
The star of the show at lunch is undoubtedly the dim sum menu, where Wong’s technical mastery and creative flair truly shine. Each piece is individually priced and crafted to order, elevating these small bites far beyond their traditional origins. The Shanghai steamed dumplings come with a precise pipette of ginger-infused vinegar, while the ‘Memories of Peking duck’ with foie gras and plum sauce offers a luxurious twist on a classic. Perhaps most impressive is the ‘Three treasure dumpling’ featuring king crab, smoked tofu, and a fragrant lemongrass broth – a dish that exemplifies Wong’s ability to honor tradition while pushing boundaries.
Images via awong.co.uk
For dinner, the restaurant transforms into an altogether more ambitious affair, offering only the ‘Collections of China’ tasting menu – a three-hour culinary voyage through China’s 14 international borders. This £220 experience promises to introduce diners to over 100 ingredients across some 30 dishes, from zhou dynasty cured scallop to Yunnan sweet potato with tamarind and shrimp caramel.
The level of detail is staggering; take the chrysanthemum tofu, where bean curd is precision-cut to resemble a delicate flower, floating in a fragrant broth and finished with coriander purée. It’s this kind of technical mastery combined with deep respect for regional Chinese cuisines that has earned Wong his second Michelin star – and a reputation as one of London’s most exciting chefs.
Wong, who took the helm from his parents in 2012, brings both academic rigour (he’s as much anthropologist as chef) and technical brilliance to ancient recipes and regional specialties. His cooking demonstrates that attention to detail doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour – every dish, whether it’s a simple dim sum or an elaborate tasting menu creation, balances tradition with innovation.
Open Tuesday evenings and Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner (closed Sunday-Monday). While the evening tasting menu is certainly a splurge, the lunch dim sum offers an accessible entry point to Wong’s remarkable cuisine. Advance booking is essential, particularly for dinner service. For the full experience, start with a drink in their downstairs Forbidden City bar, where the cocktail menu plays creatively with Chinese flavors and includes their own Sichuan pepper-infused gin.
Ideal for Mediterranean cooking that makes a virtue of simplicity…
In a former timber yard off Pimlico Road, and just a few months into life here, chef Aaron Potter (previously of Trinity and Elystan Street) and his Wildflowers have already bedded in and, erm, blossomed. The dining room here – all cream linens, exposed brick and candlelight, with an open kitchen that actually adds to the atmosphere rather than the noise levels – is a wonderful place to sink into, striking a neat balance between neighbourhood warmth and West London polish that’s surprisingly hard to pull off in this rather superficial side of town.
The cooking at Wildflowers is broadly, nominally Mediterranean but never gets bogged down in attempts at regional authenticity – we are in Pimlico, not Positano, after all. Instead, Potter seems more interested in getting the most from his ingredients, particularly how they respond to the the charcoal grill. A plate of grilled mackerel on sardine-laden bruschetta shows his knack for allowing good fish to speak for itself, while the cuttlefish fideuà – a sort of pasta paella – is the refined side of deeply comforting, ticking both those boxes with the most effortless of gestures.
Image via wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk
Do start with the gnocco fritto, little fried pasta parcels filled with gorgonzola and topped with speck and honey. They’re pure indulgence but without any unnecessary fuss or frippery, which rather captures the spirit of the place. The upstairs wine bar is worth visiting in its own right. Try the Nearly Dirty Martini, where olive oil-washed gin meets house brine and nocellara olives, or simply settle in with something from their thoughtful wine list.
Address: Newson’s Yard, 57 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE
Ideal for arguably the best Malaysian food south of the river…
Food courts seem to be proliferating in London faster than the city can handle them, with several blockbuster openings occuring in recent years. Though revered restaurant group JKS’ Arcade Food Hall on Tottenham Court Road has received the vast majority of media attention we’re just as enamoured with London’s Victoria’s Market Hall which has several stellar eateries all under one roof, Market Hall represents one of the best places to eat near London Victoria.
The fact it’s only a two minute stroll from the station certainly does no harm, but in reality, the selection of food options is the main draw; Baoziin’s superb dim sum, Pasta Evangelists’ cult ‘carbonara of dreams’, and Fanny’s flame-grilled kebabs have all found a home here.
But it’s at Gopal’s Corner where the finest food is found. The sibling to beloved London restaurant Roti King, here the proposition is similar; Tamil street food featuring freshly slapped roti canai, served in bundles to accompany nourishing curries unafraid of a little oil and salt.
But equally as satisfying are simple but umami-heavy noodle stir-fries, and banana leaf platters laden with curries, crisp papadam, and chutneys positively undulating with the funk of shrimp paste and assertiveness of chilli. Just superb.
Address: Market Halls, 191 Victoria St, London SW1E 5NE
Ideal for the ultimate All-American burger experience…
Many of London’s culinary cognoscenti concur that Bleecker is the city’s best burger, and, though our opinion is more humble, we might just be with them.
An All-American burger which started life in London’s Spitalfields, Bleecker now has a second outpost just moments from London Victoria, as well as two more, in Bloomberg and Westfield; a testament to the brand’s growing presence in a city not exactly short on burger-based options.
It’s easy to see why Bleecker is going from strength to strength. The burger menu is a concise, no-frills affair, with just six options on the menu, five of which deploy 45 aged, grass fed beef from ‘the chef’s butcher’ Aubrey Allen, with the sixth – the ‘symplicity’ burger – a vegetarian offering using chef Neil Rankin’s much hyped fermented vegetable ‘meat’.
Basically, if you’re a carnivore, it’s cheeseburgers, single or double, with or without bacon. The paradox of choice is unlikely to fell you here.
The results are spectacular, tasting both ‘dirty’ (not a term we usually like to deploy) and possessing depth through those superior pattys. All in all, it’s a knockout, and the best burger you’ll find in this part of London, at the very least.
Ideal for a taste of Portugal and possibly the best peri-peri chicken in London…
Though London Victoria’s Nova development is, by most folk’s estimations, the devil’s work, it does house a couple of enjoyable options for dinner. The best has got to be the Victoria iteration of popular peri-peri chicken join Casa do Frango.
The restaurant’s name, which translates to ‘chicken house’, prosaically encapsulates its culinary focus. Casa do Frango Victoria brings the spirit of Southern Portugal to London, serving traditional Algarvian cuisine with a special emphasis on their signature dish – Frango Piri-Piri.
This dish, chicken grilled over wood-charcoal and brushed with an age-old Piri-Piri blend, has a satisfyingly smoky finish and blistered skin, which is what you’re here for, surely?
A word for the supporting cast and sides, which are a fine match to the headlining chuck – the rice with crispy chicken skin, chorizo, and plantain, is especially good.
Ideal for elevated Ottoman cuisine in an atmospheric setting…
Inhabiting a handsome double-fronted space on Wilton Road – in that curious stretch that’s not quite Victoria and not quite Pimlico – Kazan (‘large cauldron’ in Turkish) has been serving some of London’s finest Ottoman cuisine for more than two decades now. While the area has several Turkish options (including the excellent Cyprus Mangal, also on this list), this sophisticated establishment sets itself apart through its commitment to both tradition and refinement.
The restaurant strikes an elegant balance between old and new – ornate wooden screens and teardrop-shaped lights create intimate dining spaces, while the overall feel remains contemporary and polished. It’s the kind of place that works equally well for a relaxed lunch or a more formal dinner.
The menu really shines when embracing classic Ottoman dishes. Start with their mezze – the arnavut cigeri (Albanian-style calf’s liver, £15.95) is a standout, perfectly grilled and lifted with sharp-sweet pomegranate seeds and citrusy sumac. The house hummus is exceptionally good too – silken-smooth and rich with tahini. For the mildly adventurous, the sage-wrapped tempura prawns (£14.50) show the kitchen’s ability to innovate while respecting tradition.
Main courses center around the fire grill, with the Kazan Special (£25.50) offering an excellent introduction to their meat cookery – layers of marinated chicken and lamb with köfte, served on village bread with strained yogurt and spiced tomato sauce. The Hunkar Begendi (£24.00), a traditional Ottoman dish of stewed lamb on smoked aubergine mash, is pure comfort food elevated to new heights.
The drinks list deserves attention too – their cocktail menu plays with Turkish flavors in interesting ways. Try the Pomegranate Mojito (£11.50) or, for something more traditional, explore their selection of Turkish wines. The Yakut, a robust red from Central Anatolia, is particularly good value at £26 a bottle.
End your meal with their orange-tinged baklava – a dessert with royal connections, having once been served to Queen Elizabeth II during a state visit to Turkey. At £8.50, it’s a fittingly regal end to the meal.
For those seeking a more economical entry point, the pre-theatre menu (£22.95 for two courses) offers excellent value, while the Ottoman Feast (£40 per person) provides a comprehensive tour of the menu’s highlights. Just be aware that while prices are reasonable for the area, they’re a touch higher than your typical Turkish restaurant – but then again, Kazan isn’t your typical Turkish restaurant.
Doors here open daily from noon, offering a refined refuge until 10pm (9:30pm on Sundays). Early birds should note their excellent pre-theatre menu is available until 6:30pm – making it an ideal spot for a sophisticated meal before curtain call at the Victoria theatres just minutes away.
Ideal for innovative Sichuan cuisine and theatrical hot pot experiences…
Hidden between Victoria and Pimlico, Dragon Inn Club offers an immersive dining experience that transports you from the unassuming streets of SW1 to the ancient Silk Road. While the area isn’t short on Asian dining options, this ambitious venue distinguishes itself through its commitment to faithful Sichuan preperations and theatrical presentation.
Split across multiple levels, the ground floor hosts a casual open kitchen perfect for quick dim sum fixes and street food-style small plates, while the lower ground harbors more intrigue. Here, you’ll find the atmospheric ‘Dragon Room’, the dedicated hot pot ‘Temple Room’, and – perhaps most intriguingly – eight intimate two-seater ‘Private Caves’ lining what they’ve dubbed the ‘Silk Passage’ (ooh, matron).
The hot pot is undoubtedly the star attraction here, with two distinct offerings that cater to different appetites and occasions. The Classic Hot Pot (£39.80 per person, minimum 2) provides an excellent introduction to this communal style of dining, featuring a choice of broths – including the signature Sichuan spicy, classic chicken and spring onions, or a gentler tomato base. The spread includes a generous selection of premium ingredients like fresh scallops, king prawns, beef and lamb slices, along with an array of mushrooms, vegetables, and noodles.
For those looking to elevate their hot pot experience, the Royal Hot Pot (£89 per person) is nothing short of spectacular. This luxurious spread showcases the finest ingredients: Alaskan king crab, Australian fresh abalone, tiger prawns, and Australian wagyu beef, accompanied by delicacies like sweetbreads and specialty cuts. Each comes with a carefully curated selection of house-made dipping sauces – the garlic and sesame oil, and Sichuan spicy sauce are particular standouts.
Image via @dragoninn_club
The à la carte menu is at its most compelling when embracing its Sichuan heritage. Start with the cold dishes – the signature corn-fed chicken in crimson chili oil delivers that distinctive málà (numbing-spicy) sensation that Sichuan cuisine is famous for. The chilled melon with passion fruit and pomegranate offers welcome respite between spicier dishes.
For mains, the soft shell crab with garlic and Sichuan bell chili (£14.80) shows real finesse, while the sizzling Sichuan-spiced fillet steak (£26) demonstrates the kitchen’s ability to balance heat with technique. The cocktail menu deserves special mention – try the Monk’s Revival, where Absolut vodka meets red fortune tea, or the Innkeeper’s Delight, an intriguing blend of Havana Club 7-year rum with lemongrass, sake and lychee.
While the décor might occasionally edge toward the theatrically kitsch – think dark wood, bamboo screens, and moody red lighting – it somehow works, creating an atmosphere that feels both escapist and genuine. The service can be overzealous at times, but it’s hard to fault their enthusiasm.
True hot pot enthusiasts can even customize their experience further with premium add-ons like Kagoshima Wagyu ribeye (£85) or fresh lobster, though the standard offerings are more than satisfying. For the adventurous, there’s also a selection of specialty hot pots including a fresh coconut corn-fed chicken variation and a sea bass with preserved vegetables option, both offering interesting departures from the traditional format.
Open seven days a week, Dragon Inn Club maintains impressively consistent hours, welcoming diners from noon until 10:30pm (9:30pm Sundays) – perfect for both leisurely weekend lunches and late-night Sichuan cravings after a show at Victoria.
If you’re looking for a three course affair – the menu, in a revolutionary move, is laid out in sections of starters, mains, and desserts – of unpretentious yet utterly flawless French-ish grub, then Lorne will see you right.
It’s a reassuring space to spend time in; with a neighbourhood restaurant atmosphere, service on point – warm, gracious and knowledgeable – and the food generous and soulful. It’s not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for.
A piece of fallow deer was beautifully cooked, with edge to edge pinkness and a good crust coming in at just the right level of bitter, paired with pomme puree and boudin noir. Yep, this is unapologetically traditional in its pairings, but sometimes, that’s exactly what you need, right?
The proposition at Olivomare, an elegant establishment sitting somewhere between London Victoria and Belgravia, is a simple one; Sardinian seafood dishes, cooked with care and precision. The restaurant more than lives up to that enticing billing, with a menu that is deceptively simple in its descriptions but premium in its delivery.
With an adjoining deli championing artisan producers from Sardinia, premium ingredients take centre stage here, with fish spanking, squeaky fresh, and both local and imported vegetables shown equal reverence.
The trofie with clams and grated bottarga is a must order, given piquancy via liberal additions of chilli, both fresh and dried, and some serious salinity with the addition of reduced clam stock and that fantastic cured grey mullet roe, playing the role of parmesan adeptly.
With whole fish coming off the charcoal grill, whether marinated or salt-crusted, and making up the bulk of the main courses, there’s plenty to luxuriate in here, making Olivomare the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch in Victoria.
Ideal for lively fine dining and modern British fare…
Okay, we accept that you might have to hotfoot it 10 minutes north east into Westminster to get to The Pem, but with the eating options around London Victoria not exactly resplendent, you may well be glad that you did.
This luxurious and lively fine dining restaurant, located within the elegant Conrad London St. James Hotel, is the work of renowned, loveable chef Sally Abé, who previously held a Michelin star at the London gastropub, The Harwood Arms.
The Pem’s name pays homage to suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, affectionately known as Pem by her family. The restaurant’s ethos reflects this spirit of celebrating women, with Abé leading a predominantly female team. The interior exudes an art deco charm, adorned in striking pinks and deep reds, with plush seats and banquettes. It’s the perfect place to settle into.
The Pem has been recognised in the National Restaurant Awards, placing 97th, and coming 81st in Square Meal’s Top 100 list for 2023, a testament to its – and Abés – culinary credentials. The menu, dictated by the seasons, showcases high-quality, sustainable British produce. Abé’s signature dishes, such as her take on a classic Black Forest gateau served with English cherry ripple ice cream, truly hit the spot.
Even better, perhaps, is the chef’s sterling meat cookery, a skill honed when working at the Harwood Arms, no doubt. See the glorious Cumbrian sirloin of beef with turnips and mustard, perfect wall-to-wall, blushing pink cuisson. Now game season is in full, swaggering swing, we can’t wait to visit again!
Please note that The Pem is currently ‘in summer recess’, with bookings resuming on October 12th.
Sure, the vast, vast majority of both Turkish and Cypriot restaurants are found in London’s north, but down in depths of Pimlico, an outlier exists doing some truly exceptional Turkish Cypriot fare. That outlier is Cyprus Mangal, just a short stroll from London Victoria, and a damn fine place to spend an evening of eating.
It’s also an eminently reasonable restaurant to feast big; a generous portion of lamb beyti (minced lamb, charcoal grilled), a freshly baked basket of Turkish bread and chopped-to-order tabbouleh won’t set you back much more than £20, which in this part of town, is, quite simply, excellent value.
Open daily from midday ’till midnight, it’s also an inclusive late night spot in an area of London that often feels pretty inhospitable. Bravo, indeed.
Address: 45 Warwick Way, Lillington and Longmoore Gardens, London SW1V 1QS
Is it Belgravia? Is it Victoria? Let’s not get bogged down in the minutiae of geographic semantics here, La Poule Au Pot has been a Westminster institution for almost 60 years, and continues to deliver largely Lyonnaise ‘bouchon’ classics to this day.
Indeed, La Poule Au Pot wouldn’t look out of place on Paris’ Rue des Martyrs or in the middle of Lyon’s Presqu’Île. This charming, old school restaurant is all about Burgundy bistro fare; expect snails with garlic butter, frogs legs, grilled calves liver, terrine of foie gras with Sauternes jelly, rabbit with mustard sauce…you get the picture, and it’s a very pretty one to paint.
With nooks and crannies, trinkets and even, whisper it, tablecloths, this is a spot best enjoyed as the nights draw in and the evening temperature drops (that’s right about now, then), Because when the candles are flickering, the carafes of drinkable are red breathing on the table, and the food is at its most hearty and comforting, there’s fewer better places to spend an evening in London.
Speaking of Belgravia, if you’re moving on there to continue your food tour of London, then check out our guide on where to eat in Belgravia. You may even recognise our previous entry in there!
Later this month, Milan Fashion Week will be in full strut, with Paris following two weeks after, in a veritable feast of mixed textures, clashing fabrics, and loads and loads of waste.
Whilst the green was one of last year’s chief colour trends, this year we’re hoping that the focus falls on a different interpretation of the word green; sustainability.
The fashion industry is responsible for a whopping 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, and is the second largest consumer of the world’s water supplies, according to the World Economic Forum. Only oil is more harmful.
With planet-damaging production practices at the top and unsustainable shopping habits on the high street, something has got to give in the way we go about styling ourselves. Here’s a start; our 7 ways to reduce your fashion footprint in 2025.
Troubling enough, but what’s worse is that it’s predicted that the manufacture of clothes will account for a quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050. That’s shocking, and something has got to give. Indeed, while we’re looking to travel, eat meat and use plastic more mindfully, rarely do we think about our clothes consumption in the same way. The first step to reducing our fashion footprint is by being aware of the scale of the problem. Knowledge is power, and all that.
Forgo Fast Fashion
The news in 2018 that Burberry had burned almost £30 million worth of clothes in an attempt to preserve the brand’s reputation for exclusivity caused outrage. More than anything, it was symptomatic of a wider, worrying trend of recent years; fast fashion, where clothing has become a single-use purchase, destined for landfill after just one wear.
Though the company has since renounced this practice, this so-called ”artificial scarcity” is widespread within the industry. The impact this has on the environment doesn’t need to be spelt out. If you do deem a garment unworthy or unwearable, the bin isn’t the place for it……
Swaps, Second Hand & Repurposing
… Of course, the single most efficient way to reduce your fashion footprint is to simply stop buying new clothes. For some, that may sound like a proposition too radical to bear, but hear us out. There are myriad ways to never have to hit the high street again.
Firstly, suggest to friends a swapping session. We’ve all got those outfits we’ve fallen out of love with, which don’t have anything implicitly wrong with them, they’re just out of favour. Well, snap! So why not gather up the items gathering dust in the back of your wardrobe and see if any friends fancy trying them for size.
Should you have something which still can’t find a body for, donate them to your local charity shop. While you’re in there, have a root around for some new garms; we all know that those vintage finds become your most loved pieces, and it’s money going to charity, so there really is nothing to lose.
Purchasing pre-loved clothing is an excellent way to reduce your fashion footprint. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and online platforms like Depop and Poshmark offer a vast selection of gently used items at a fraction of the cost.
By choosing second-hand, you’re extending the life of a garment and reducing waste, meaning you can enjoy a spot of retail therapy in (relatively) guilt free fashion!
And finally, if you’re handy with the old thread and needle, you could repurpose old items and turn them into something new and groovy. How much more thrifty and rewarding is that?
Similarly, for events that require specific attire, consider renting instead of buying. Rental services like Rent the Runway and The Black Tux offer designer pieces for a fraction of the retail price, reducing the need for single-use garments that contribute to textile waste.
Other websites, platforms and apps that offer a similar service include My Wardrobe HQ, Hurr Collective, Endless Wardrobe, Onloan, Rotaro, By Rotation, Wear the Walk, The Devout, Girl Meets Dress, and The Nu Wardrobe.
Eco-Friendly Fabrics
Not all fabrics were created equal. Nor do they use the same amount of energy in their production. Yep, it’s said that the manufacture of a single polyester t-shirt will generate three times as much CO2 as that of a cotton one. But according to the Pulse of the Fashion report 2018, switching up your polyester for a recyclable substitute will bring about a 60 percent reduction in energy usage and almost half the energy emissions too.
Clearly, it’s time to actively seek out clothes made from eco friendly fabric. By doing so, a change in the production habits of huge fashion companies and manufacturers can be spurred on.
Some eco-friendly fabrics to look out for include:
Organic Cotton: This cotton is grown without the use of harmful chemicals, making it much better for the environment. It’s also typically grown in ways that conserve water and reduce soil erosion. Organic cotton is perfect for everyday staples like basic t-shirts, making it an excellent sustainable choice for wardrobe essentials.
Linen: Linen is made from the flax plant, which requires fewer pesticides and less water than other crops. Plus, the production process for linen is typically more sustainable than that of other fabrics.
Tencel/Lyocell: This fabric is made from wood pulp and is produced in a closed-loop process that reduces waste and water usage. It’s also biodegradable.
Hemp: Hemp is incredibly versatile and can be used to make everything from clothing to paper. It requires very little water and no pesticides to grow, making it a great eco-friendly choice.
Wash With Care
We’re sure that everyone has felt the heartbreak of lifting your favourite t-shirt from the wash, only to realise it’s shrunk or taken on an irredeemable pinky hue. So into the bin it goes, and the disposable fashion cycle keeps spinning. But washing your clothes with care, as per the instructions on the label, will keep them at their peak for longer and negate the need for new items.
Forgo – yep, we like that word today – tumble drying (bad for your clothes and a huge energy guzzler) and of course, use an eco cycle, on a low temperature to lessen the environmental impact of your wash. The green benefits of washing considerately are all-encompassing.
As a conscious shopper, you can make a difference by supporting eco-friendly production methods in the fashion industry. When buying clothes, look out for brands that use sustainable fibres such as organic cotton, hemp, and recycled polyester, rather than fabrics made from synthetic materials, as we mentioned earlier.
Upcycling and recycling of materials are other indicators of eco-friendly production methods. It is also important to choose products that use natural dyes instead of chemical dyes, as these can be dangerous to the environment and human health.
Brands that use renewable energy in their manufacturing facilities and prioritize local sourcing and production will also contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry. Zero-waste production techniques and ethical labour practices are additional factors to consider when choosing eco-friendly clothing.
By supporting companies that engage in these practices, you can contribute to a healthier planet, support sustainable fashion, and encourage the industry to be more responsible with its resources.
Supporting these companies sends a message to the fashion industry that consumers care about the environment and worker’s rights. Look for certifications like Fair Trade, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and B Corp to identify responsible brands.
Looking for the best restaurants in Falmouth? You’ll find them here…
From salt-weathered warehouses turned tasting menu destinations to craft beer bars serving day-boat catches, Falmouth is quietly cultivating Cornwall’s most intriguing food scene.
While this maritime town has long charmed visitors with its deep-water harbour and Georgian townhouses, it’s the new wave of ambitious young chefs and restaurateurs who are transforming those historic spaces into something unexpected: a dining destination that manages to feel both deeply Cornish and distinctly contemporary. Here, you’re as likely to find ancient grain sourdough and natural wines as you are traditional fish and chips – though you’ll find those too, seasoned by the sea breeze and a decent back story.
While Rick Stein’s Padstow and Nathan Outlaw’s Port Isaac (footnote: they don’t actually own these towns – just exert something of an influence) might grab the headlines, this historic maritime town is fast catching up, with national reviews and little red books adding to the town’s culinary stature in recent years.
From harbourside fine dining to hidden neighbourhood gems, here’s our pick of the best restaurants in Falmouth.
Culture, Custom House Quay
Ideal for nature-inspired tasting menus that tell Cornwall’s story through food…
In a transformed quayside warehouse, Culture isn’t just pushing the boundaries of Falmouth’s dining scene – it’s rewriting the rules of sustainable fine dining in Cornwall. Having earned the town’s first Michelin Green Star just last year, Cape Town-born chef Hylton Espey and wife Petronella have created something truly special here: a restaurant where the ingredients quite literally dictate the menu, not the other way around.
The evening’s Journey Menu reads like gently jarring poetry – each of its seven courses named after its inspiration. ‘Footes Farm’ celebrates the restaurant’s connection to exceptional local poultry: pasture-raised chickens that roam freely among field herbs before making way for Dexter cattle. Espey’s zero-waste approach transforms these remarkably well-developed birds (their substantial legs and thighs a testament to their natural upbringing) into a nourishing, nostalgic triumph, paired with locally foraged mushrooms and Pasha’s Patch onions. When this course arrives, the entire dining room fills with the comforting scent of perfectly roasted chicken and the satisfied sighs of the punters.
Similarly, ‘Carrick Roads’ pays homage to the local waters with a dish born from a family beach excursion: Falmouth native oysters from Sailors Creek are elevated with smoked aioli, pickled Alexander, and seaweed scraps. The layered textures and flavors echo Espey’s creative process – inspired by spontaneously foraging Pacific oysters and cooking them over driftwood fires with wild greens. It’s this kind of deeply personal, place-based cooking that sets Culture apart.
The cooking style defies easy categorisation – while Espey’s South African heritage occasionally peeks through, it’s Cornwall’s seasonal rhythms that truly drive the menu. At £80 per person, it’s an investment in an evening of genuine culinary theatre that doesn’t actually feel too painful on the wallet. Those seeking a gentler introduction might prefer lunch service, where a five-course Discovery Menu offers similar philosophy at £52 – something of a steal for cooking at this level.
The commitment to sustainability here goes beyond buzzwords. Vegetables arrive caked in soil without plastic packaging, the furthest farm is just 90 minutes away, and even the beautiful plates are crafted less than a block away by local potter Sam Marks. The kitchen runs solely on electric and induction, while local charcoal feeds the flames that kiss many of the dishes. That’s right, you deduced it, too; they don’t use gas.
The glass-walled wine cellar is worth a detour. Overseen by sommelier Bobby (how could he not oversee? It’s see through), the wine flights are both adventurous and enlightening, drawing from small, ethical producers across the globe. The wine pairing, at £55, feels like good value given the breadth and quality on show. Go further, and begin with a glass of English sparkling rosé from Langham if you’re feeling celebratory – yes, it’s an extra £20, but some moments deserve marking properly.
Dinner is served Wednesday to Saturday from 7pm, with lunch available Friday and Saturday from 1pm. Book well ahead – with only one sitting per service and a growing reputation, tables here are becoming Cornwall’s hottest reservation.
While the price point puts it firmly in special occasion territory, Culture manages to feel both important and intimate – a restaurant that’s simultaneously pushing boundaries and keeping its feet firmly planted in Cornish soil.
Ideal for intimate, ingredient-led dining in characterful surroundings…
It takes a certain confidence to open a restaurant down a cobbled alleyway off Falmouth’s high street, but Mine has turned its tucked-away location into part of its charm. This cosy neighbourhood spot feels like a delicious secret you’ll want to keep to yourself, though its recent addition to the Michelin Guide suggests the cat might already be out of the bag.
The dining room at Mine (not mine, although that’s true too) strikes that perfect balance between casual and considered – midnight blue walls and industrial pendants casting shadows over intimate corners, nurturing a vibe that feels relaxed but also ready for a celebration. But it’s the small, open kitchen where the real magic happens, with the chefs dancing an impressive choreography in a space barely bigger than a ship’s galley.
Images via Mine
The weekly-changing menu is refreshingly straightforward – one meat, one fish, and one vegetarian option per course – but the execution shows chef Angus Bell’s impressive pedigree. Having cut his teeth at the Michelin-starred Star Inn at Harome before training under Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche, Bell brings serious technique to seemingly simple dishes. His crab fritters with bisque mayo at £2.50 each are worth ordering by the half dozen
A recent visit saw a dainty quenelle of Cornish blue fin tartare elevated to main character status with the addition of Falmouth green figs, while pan roasted pigeon breast – blushing pink, naturally – came with a blackcurrant glaze that had us chasing it across the plate. The accompanying celeriac puree alone is worth crossing town for.
For the best experience, grab a table in the cobbled courtyard on balmy summer evenings, or cosy up inside when the maritime weather does its thing. And if you’re feeling adventurous post-dinner, The Chintz Symposium next door offers excellent cocktails in surroundings that feel like falling down a particularly stylish rabbit hole.
The Mulberry, High Street *As of February 2025, now sadly closed*
Ideal for sophisticated small plates with international flair…
Down a narrow passageway off Falmouth’s bustling high street, a set of steep steps leads to one of Cornwall’s most exciting dining destinations. The Mulberry, recently awarded a coveted place in Bib Gourmand by Michelin, is the debut restaurant from an intriguing culinary partnership: Cornwall-native Jay Brady, who honed his craft under the poseidon of Cornish seafood, Nathan Outlaw, and Hampshire-born Harry Cartwright, whose global culinary adventures from Australia to Central America inform his distinctive style.
In this smart basement space, where terracotta floors and thoughtful lighting create an atmosphere both sophisticated and welcoming, the pair craft dishes that speak of Cornwall while looking confidently outward. Their small plates menu reads like a love letter to local producers: Sailor’s Creek oysters arrive with duchy nduja and dill, while Newlyn John Dory is elevated with a rich chicken butter. Vegetables receive equal attention – witness the Falmouth carrots transformed with romesco and pangrattato, or Soul Farm leeks paired with cauliflower and toasted nuts.
Images via The Mulberry
The £70, six-course tasting menu offers the fullest expression of their vision. A recent menu progressed from cured Newlyn brill with gooseberry and Cornish broad beans through to a show-stopping Philip Warren’s confit pork belly with burnt apple puree and sweetheart cabbage, finishing with a brown butter pistachio sponge served with miso caramel ice cream. The thoughtfully curated wine pairings, priced at a reasonable £59, draw from an impressive list that spans from small European producers to emerging English vineyards.
For those preferring to explore at their own pace, the à la carte small plates format encourages sharing and experimentation, making it possible to construct anything from a light meal to a feast. The bar program shows similar attention to detail, with local spirits featuring prominently in classics like their signature Golden Hour Negroni.
Open Wednesday through Saturday evenings, The Mulberry exemplifies Falmouth’s evolving food scene – one that honors its Cornish foundations while embracing influences from far beyond the harbor walls. It’s sophisticated without pretension, ambitious without losing sight of the simple pleasures of good ingredients treated well.
Ideal for ultra-fresh seafood and craft beer in laid-back surroundings…
When one of Cornwall’s most exciting breweries turns its hand to seafood, expectations run high. Verdant’s foray into food delivers spectacularly – a cosy spot where the day’s catch meets some of the county’s finest craft beer, all served with the kind of effortless cool that makes you want to settle in for the afternoon.
The premise is beautifully simple: small plates of impeccably fresh seafood designed to pair with the eight rotating lines of Verdant beer on tap. Their signature crab loaded chips have achieved near-mythical status – a generous heap of fries lavished with brown crab cheese sauce, pico de gallo, and deep-fried capers, crowned with fresh white crab meat and homemade aioli. It’s the kind of dish – often enjoyed in a one-two punch with the signature fish finger butty – that has people making special trips to Falmouth.
The rest of the menu changes with the tides, quite literally – expect whatever’s been landed that morning to appear in quietly creative combinations. You might find gurnard tostadas singing with chilli, lime and coriander, or buttermilk fried sardines from Mount’s Bay lounging on a bright tangle of parsley and shallots. The kitchen shows particular flair with their specials board – recent highlights include cod with Tropea onion and dashi, managing to be simultaneously fresh, bright and deeply savoury.
The drinks selection deserves equal billing. Beyond their own excellent brews – including their signature pale ales and IPAs – the chalkboard reveals an ever-changing selection that reads like a craft beer lover’s wishlist. You might spot anything from their own ‘Some Fifty Summers’ Double IPA at a punchy 8.5%, to guest appearances from pioneering breweries like Belgium’s De La Senne. With eight rotating lines and an extensive selection of sharing bottles from some of the world’s most exciting breweries, alongside a thoughtfully curated wine list and proper spirits, you’re as likely to find people debating hop profiles as discussing the day’s catch. For those steering clear of alcohol, the soft drinks go well beyond the usual suspects.
Don’t expect white tablecloths or reservations – this is a deliberately casual affair where the focus is squarely on what’s on your plate and in your glass. Open Tuesday to Saturday from noon until 11pm (kitchen closes at 9pm), with a no-bookings policy that keeps things spontaneous. Our advice? Get there early, grab a table, and settle in for some of the best seafood and beer matching you’ll find anywhere in Cornwall.
Beach House Falmouth (Formerly Hooked On The Rocks), Swanpool
Ideal for seafood feasts with spectacular coastal views…
*Please note that since this entry was written, Hooked On The Rocks has now been subsumed into the Beach House Group. As per an announcement via their Instagram on January 8th 2025, “Hooked has been such a special place over the years, thanks to an incredible team and a loyal community of customers who’ve made it what it is today. Transforming Hooked On The Rocks into Beach House Falmouth is an exciting new chapter for Katie, Jack, and the whole team. Rest assured, the focus on exceptional local seafood will be at it’s heart, just with a fresh Beach House touch.”*
Perched above Swanpool Beach, Hooked on the Rocks has turned its enviable location into more than just a scenic dining spot. Here, the kitchen delivers plates that live up to those postcard-perfect views, crafting a menu that reads like a love letter to Cornwall’s waters.
The focus is firmly on seafood, with daily deliveries from a close-knit network of local boats and suppliers including Ned Bailey of Falmouth, Mylor Fish Shop and Cornwall Fish Direct of Newlyn. Start with Falmouth Bay scallops (£19 for six), their sweetness enhanced by garlic and herb butter and a clever seaweed pangrattato adding textural intrigue. The shell-on wild prawns with ‘nduja butter sauce, priced the same as those scallops, strike that perfect balance between heat and maritime sweetness.
For mains, the whole grilled Falmouth Bay lobster for £64 is a triumph of simplicity – perfectly cooked and served with garlic herb butter. Even better, £1 from every lobster sold goes to The National Lobster Hatchery’s Buy One, Set One Free initiative. Even, even better, and remarkably good value when you can genuinely see the waters where it was landed, a whole Falmouth bay crab, grilled and presented ready for picking, is just £26.
The drinks focus on family-run vineyards practicing sustainable viticulture. The cocktail menu leans heavily on local spirits – try the Cornish Negroni (£11) made with Knightor Winery vermouths and Falmouth’s own Loveday gin. The beer selection, from Atlantic Pale Ale to Cold River Cider, keeps things proudly local.
The all-weather terrace is the spot to aim for, where heaters ensure you can enjoy those sweeping sea views even when Cornwall’s weather is doing its thing. Dogs are welcome here and in the heated awning area, though not in the main restaurant.
Ideal for all-day dining with unbeatable harbour views…
Taking pride of place on Falmouth’s Grade II listed harbour wall, Indidog masters that rare trick of being both a destination restaurant and a reliable local haunt. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame spectacular views across Carrick Roads towards Flushing, Mylor and St Mawes, while the kitchen serves accomplished plates from breakfast through to dinner.
Mornings here are particularly special. The breakfast menu dares to be different – think perfectly cooked steak and eggs paired with a Grey Goose Bloody Mary, or indulgent stacks of pancakes alongside their house Breakfast Mocktini. Best of all is the Cornish crab benedict, which is light, indulgent as simply the best breakfast dish in Falmouth, bar none.
Come evening, the menu shifts to showcase the finest Cornish produce, with day boat fish and local farm meats taking centre stage. A starter of crispy squid with sriracha mayo and lime sets the tone, while mains might include a beautifully simple day boat fish with seaweed butter and potato hay. There’s always one thoughtfully crafted vegan option per course – the roasted cauliflower steak with romesco sauce has won over even dedicated carnivores.
Whilst we realise that there’s something of a theme developing here, Indidog’s classic cocktails lean heavily on premium spirits and local distilleries – the Cornish Martini makes a perfect aperitif (or, brunch pick-me-up, quite frankly). The wine list balances familiar names with organic and vegan options, plus a secret cellar stashing small-batch wines from Cornish and English vineyards for those in the know.
Hidden just off the high street (look for the steps under Specsavers), Indidog keeps impressive hours. Open daily from 10am to 10:30pm, with brunch served until 3pm and dinner from 6pm to 9pm. There’s also lunch but we’re just listing shit now and it’s getting a little boring. There’s even a daily happy hour from 2pm to 6pm. Best of all? Those harbour views come at no extra charge.
Ideal for laid-back Italian small plates in a true neighbourhood setting…
Hidden in Falmouth’s terraces high above the harbour, Provedore feels like stumbling upon a slice of rustic Italy. Since 2007, this charming wooden haven with its courtyard and olive tree has evolved from a neighbourhood deli into something quite special – Falmouth’s answer to a Venetian bacaro, where the food is as warm and colorful as the welcome.
Images via Provedore
Now in its fifth incarnation, the kitchen serves up ever-changing cicchetti (Italian small plates) that showcase whatever’s inspiring the chefs that day. Of course, there’s salami and cheeses, but you might find also plump ravioli stuffed with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and basil, swimming in house-made confit tomato sauce, or a hearty Tuscan braise of fennel sausage and white beans lifted with lemon. Their grilled dishes (Provedore have a dedicated barbie out back) are particularly good – half a blistered, tender poussin cooked with orange and Portuguese oregano has regulars planning their week around its appearance on the menu.
There’s also the occasional appearance of a dedicated pizza menu, courtesy of the guys at Lucky Rod. These are beautifully puffy, sloppy Neapolitan numbers pitched at Naples prices. Our go-to is pepperoni, which is ace, and only £9. An eclectic selection of wines and beers chosen to complement the rustic Italian fare seals the deal. This is the kind of place where you’ll want to linger over a glass of Chianti while debating whether to order another plate of those slow-braised chickpeas with pancetta and fresh thyme.
Open Thursday through Saturday evenings from 5pm until 8pm for drinks and cicchetti, Provedore operates a strictly walk-ins only policy. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like a regular on your first visit, and has you planning your return before you’ve even finished paying the bill.
Get there early – tables in their charming courtyard are particularly sought after when the weather plays along.
Ideal for elevated fish and chips with harbour views…
When only proper fish and chips will do, Harbour Lights delivers in style. This award-winning chippy (placed in the UK’s top 10 at the 2019 National Fish & Chip Awards) isn’t trying to elevate the humble fish supper or anything irritating like that; they’re just serving the freshest catch with the care and respect it deserves, while keeping prices remarkably reasonable for the quality on offer. What’s not to love?
The menu celebrates Cornish seafood with pride. Their line-caught haddock comes perfectly flaky, encased in their signature ‘ansome’ batter that shatters satisfyingly at first bite. The local hake is worth the slight premium of £19 for a large portion – it’s a Cornish treasure that shows why this stretch of coast is so renowned for its seafood. Or, for an all-encompassing spread, order the ‘Famous 5’ – prime fillet of line-caught haddock, chips, mushy peas, bread and butter, plus unlimited tea, for £21.
Images via @harbourlightsfalmouth
Plant-based diners aren’t an afterthought here – their vegan ‘fish’ (brine-marinated tofu wrapped in nori and deep-fried) has developed such a following that some claim it tastes even fishier than fish. That would be a claim too far, but it is good. For something different, try their ‘Hooked on the Harbour’ burger – crispy battered cod in a Baker Tom brioche bun with homemade tartare sauce. Magic.
The drinks list goes beyond what you might expect from a chippy, with local beers like Rattler cider and Tribute ale sitting alongside a carefully chosen wine selection. Their Fizz & Chips special at £20 pairs line-caught haddock and chips with a glass of prosecco – a combination that somehow makes perfect sense.
Open daily from noon (until 8:30pm Friday and Saturday, 8pm other days), and they offer a click-and-collect option for those wanting to enjoy their award-winning fish and chips at home. A quid from every bill goes to support the Fishermen’s Mission – though this is optional, it’s a thoughtful touch that connects your dinner to the folks who made it possible. Much like all of the very places to eat in Falmouth, come to think of it…
There’s an old Yorkshire saying: “Hear all, see all, say nowt; eat all, sup all, pay nowt”, and while Yorkshire folk may be famously careful with their money, the dining scene in York proves that some things are worth loosening the purse strings for.
Behind the medieval walls and Gothic spires, this historic city has quietly transformed into one of Britain’s most exciting food destinations, where talented chefs are writing new chapters in York’s two-thousand-year story through their menus.
The city’s culinary landscape stretches far beyond the traditional tearoom offerings that once defined it. Today, you’ll find everything from refined tasting menus showcasing Yorkshire’s exceptional produce to bustling wine bars, neighbourhood bistros pushing creative boundaries, and even AVPN-certified Neapolitan pizzerias.
In the narrow Snickelways and along the cobbled streets, ancient timber-framed buildings now house restaurants that wouldn’t look out of place in London or Copenhagen. Yet there’s something distinctly Yorkshire about it all – a refreshing lack of pretence that keeps the focus squarely on what matters: the food.
But in a city where every alleyway seems to hide another promising restaurant, and where new openings appear as regularly as tourists at the Minster, the challenge isn’t finding somewhere good to eat – it’s choosing between them. We’re here to help with that; here are the best restaurants in York.
Roots
Ideal for farm-to-fork fine dining that doesn’t take itself too seriously…
The second act of chef Tommy Banks, this Michelin-starred venture doesn’t just serve food – it serves a sense of time and place. Housed in a Victorian pub where patterned rugs soften wooden floors and natural light pours through tall windows, Roots presents the Banks family farm (over in Oldstead, where the mothership Black Swan sits) in edible form.
It all reads a bit pretentious when we write it down, but what a pleasure it is to eat this expression of Northern British seasonality. Head Chef Will Lockwood and team work with ingredients that tell stories: vegetables that spent months in the ground at Oldstead, wild foods foraged from hedgerows, preserves that capture seasons past and gluts enjoyed in jars and bottles.
The Core Menu (£95) serves as your introduction to this philosophy, while the Signature Menu (£145-165) goes deeper and longer, both featuring ingredients that have been coaxed into new forms through months of preservation. A palm-sized scallop is served halved and anointed with brown butter sabayon. It sits on a tamari sauce made, not from soybeans but rather, fermented black squash.
The headlining hogget is the star of the show, a study in whole-animal cookery, featuring both roasted saddle and belly. The saddle, bathed in garlic butter and thyme, shares the plate with its transformed belly counterpart – a testament to time and fire, braised and barbecued before being glazed with a compelling black garlic vinegar caramel. Morels, butter-roasted and cleverly stuffed with lamb faggot mix, bring an earthen depth alongside twin purees of sheep’s yogurt and green onions that have been kissed by fermented onion juice. The dish speaks to both tradition and innovation, crowned with a rich hogget sauce that makes the most of every part of the animal, from bones to trim, all enriched with herbs and lamb fat. Christ it’s good.
Desserts are particularly intriguing, a marriage of both savoury and sweet, and last year and this. A recent sweet course of roasted chicory root turned crumble and ice cream, was paired with Charlotte potato custard foam and sea salt caramel. It was as intoxicating as it sounds.
The drink pairings show similar thoughtfulness. The Experimental & Adventurous might pair your course with a Polish Solaris or South African Cabernet Franc, while Grand & Classic stays closer to fine dining traditions. The non-alcoholic Soft & Inventive pairings prove zero-proof can be just as compelling as their spirited counterparts. At Roots, it’s the most enjoyable drinks pairing we’ve had – nuanced and complex, drawing on the restaurant’s library of preserved ingredients.
The yacht rock soundtrack reminds you that even Michelin-starred food doesn’t require hushed tones. Was that Steely Dan we heard meandering across the dining room? We like this place even more…
The kitchen hums Wednesday through Saturday, with dinner service nightly and lunch adding another layer of possibility on Fridays and Saturdays. Getting a table here requires the same patience needed for their slow-food philosophy – but like their aged beef and preserved vegetables, good things come to those who wait.
Ideal for sustainable seafood that tastes like it was caught just moments ago…
It takes confidence to open a sitdown seafood restaurant 40 miles inland. After nomadic stints at Spark: York and the Gillygate pub, chef Stephen Andrews has found Grape Lane’s brick and timber the perfect backdrop for his ambitious vision. The Michelin Guide’s nod for sustainable gastronomy suggests that geography is no barrier to exceptional fish cookery. And let’s be honest; 40 miles isn’t really that far. We just needed something to say…
The weekly-changing chalkboard menu isn’t just practical – it’s a manifesto for the freedom of flexibility. One week might bring rich pulled mallard ragu with a tangy Yorkshire relish, the next could feature bream kissed by a Japanese Konro grill, accompanied by pickled mussels and samphire. Classical technique meets contemporary thinking, sure, but it’s in the latter where the kitchen really shines – witness their pan fried king scallops, with XO sauce made from dehydrated scallop roe, which packed an umami wallop and is the best thing we’ve eaten here by some margin.
While seafood and game lead the menu, vegetable dishes receive equal attention, proving that the restaurant’s sustainability chops extend beyond just fish. Earthy and humble, a recent carrot dish saw this root vegetable used in multiple ways, from smoky purée to crunch offcut crips, all centred around a perfectly roasted carrot, and crunchy crisps made from the offcuts. It was paired with mallard breast, vibrant carrot top salsa verde, and a rich mallard jus gras – a plate that was as delicious as it was sustainable, and the most carrot-y dish you’ll ever taste, even with a load of blushing wild duck on the plate.
They nail the sweet stuff, too. To finish, you might find a rich chocolate delice served with coffee cream, white chocolate mousse, and a crunchy salted almond brittle – layers of texture and flavour in every bite.
Front of house manager Yohan Barthelemy brings genuine enthusiasm rather than rehearsed service, matching dishes to wines from a list that prizes character over predictability. This is the type of bistro every neighbourhood should have.
Wednesday through Saturday service (noon to 9pm). Friday and Saturday evenings require forward planning. With a reputation as one of the best restaurants in York, tables here are increasingly coveted.
Ideal for creative small plates that will surprise and delight…
Watching Neil Bentinck’s kitchen at work feels like witnessing culinary jazz – precise yet improvisational, technical yet soulful. Skosh really is something.
The recent expansion of this Grade II listed space beyond Micklegate Bar has added a proper bar, private dining room, and more counter seats, but hasn’t diluted the electric atmosphere that made the original so magnetic.
The name Skosh – Japanese for ‘a small amount’ – understates what’s happening here. Each plate may be small, but the ideas are expansive. Take their hen’s egg – a £4.50 masterpiece where Dale End cheddar, PX sherry and mushroom create something that lingers on diners’ palates all evening, such is the hit of umami at its core.
The kitchen moves effortlessly between culinary cultures without breaking stride: Whitby crab finds itself on tostadas brightened with clementine, while luscious, wobbly pork belly transforms into a vindaloo that would make both Yorkshire and Indian grandmothers proud. Their apple crumble soft serve – a playful collision of salted caramel and blackcurrant – proves that kitchens of real poise and focus can still have a sense of fun.
The staff navigate the menu’s global wanderings with the confidence of seasoned travellers (or, you know, experienced hospitality workers), helping you plot a course through both dishes and a wine list that favours character over convention.
Grab a counter seat to watch the kitchen’s choreography, or settle into the dining room for a more languid experience. They serve Wednesday through Saturday, both lunch and dinner. Even with the expansion, reservations remain as sought-after as summer sunshine in Yorkshire, and booking a week or two ahead is pretty much essential.
Ideal for North African flavours that will transport you straight to the Yorkshire souks…
What began as Tarik Abdeladim’s market stall in 2015 has grown into something that defies easy categorisation. Still, we’ll do our best…
Behind the warm yellow walls on Grape Lane, traditional North African and Levantine dishes aren’t just reproduced – they’re reimagined through a Yorkshire lens that proves authenticity and evolution aren’t mutually exclusive.
The kitchen’s dedication reveals itself in quiet details: lemons preserved in-house, merguez sausages made daily (served with minty cacik and urfa pepper flakes, and keenly priced at £9), local ingredients transformed through ancient techniques.
The Algerian cassoulet is the headliner, and exemplifies this approach – giant butter beans and house-made merguez create a foundation for Thirkleby duck leg confit, while urfa-spiced whipped feta adds unexpected depth. Whilst £26 is a premium price in this part of town (or rather, in this part of the UK), it’s a massive, bottomless piece of work – Northern portions, indeed.
This commitment to locality runs deep – meat from the Yorkshire Dales, halloumi from Huddersfield, even their house beer comes from Brew York. Whether it’s dry-aged local lamb rump singing with ras el hanout and celeriac, or baked hake, landed off the coast in Whitby, finding harmony with coconut dahl, each dish reflects both its origins and its current home. The wine list travels further, sure, but still has a keen sense of place, featuring Lebanese bottles alongside European classics.
For those seeking Los Moros’ roots, their original street food stall still trades in Shambles Market, serving some of York’s most compelling lunch options. Open Tuesday through Saturday (12-2pm lunch, from 6pm dinner – earlier on Fridays). The restaurant’s popularity makes booking ahead wise.
Ideal for special occasion dining that’s stood the test of time…
Some restaurants survive for thirty years. Melton’s, open since 1990, has done something rarer – it’s evolved. In this intimate Scarcroft Road space, Michael and Lucy Hjort created more than just a restaurant; they arguably laid the foundations for York’s current dining renaissance. Now, with Head Chef Calvin Miller at the helm after 12 years alongside Michael, Melton’s proves that longevity and a forward-thinking mentality aren’t mutually exclusive.
The kitchen marries classical technique with contemporary vision. A cep and kombu custard arrives with barbecued maitake and beer vinegar, honouring the fundamentals of classical cookery whilst introducing more global elements. Even familiar dishes reveal new depths – halibut gains complexity from a truffle and hazelnut crust, while a recent, hugely satisfying blackberry and meadowsweet dessert shows a kitchen willing to play with de rigueur ingredients without detriment to pure pleasure.
Lucy’s presence in the dining room turns first-time visitors into regulars through genuine warmth rather than rehearsed hospitality. Her wine list (all personally chosen) deserves particular attention – not just for its depth, but for markups that suggest they’d rather you explore than play it safe. There’s even a wine from Yorkshire in there- a white from Lauren Vines in Driffield, priced at an eminently reasonable £26.60.
Choose between the tasting menu (£96) or à la carte, both equally accomplished. The dining room itself, with its distinctive murals and considered lighting, feels both special and comfortable – much like the restaurant as a whole. Tuesday through Saturday service (dinner only Tuesdays, lunch and dinner otherwise) still draws crowds after three decades.
Ideal for special occasion dining in spectacular settings…
Andrew Pern has mastered the art of creating restaurants that feel inevitable – as if they’ve always been part of Yorkshire’s fabric. His Star Inn The City – sibling to the Michelin-starred Star Inn 20 miles north in Harome – transforms a former engine house into all-day riverside dining that makes you wonder how the building was ever used for anything else.
The Star Inn’s terrace captures that rare alchemy of setting and sustenance. Inside, red velvet banquettes and white tablecloths create an atmosphere that welcomes both special occasions and impromptu, booze-fuelled lunches.
The kitchen celebrates Yorkshire with honest confidence – a baked Tunworth arrives generous with salted hazelnuts and onion chutney (£12), while the Sunday roast sirloin (£24) delivers everything you hope for, including duck fat roasties that could start arguments over who gets the last one in lesser establishments. A proudly Yorkshire establishment of course delivers on a particularly proud Yorkshire pudding; this one is fucking massive!
Or, go in a different direction with their eight-hour braised ox cheek with winter truffle potato purée, which shows similar dedication to getting the basics exactly right whilst sprinkling a little stardust (or simply grating a shed load of truffle) along the way.
The wine list spans from accessible to ambitious (yes, that Ornellaia 2008 really is £815), while the cocktail programme adds theatrical touches – their smoked Old Fashioned arrives wreathed in woodchip smoke and tasting of it, too. You can, of course, just have a pint – the Star Inn The City is one of the only Pilsner Urquell Tankovna tank beer sites in the North of England.
Open from 11am weekdays (9:30am weekends), it’s equally suited to morning coffee or midnight digestifs. The dress code stays relaxed, but the cooking never does.
Ideal for authentic Neapolitan pizza that makes you forget you’re in Yorkshire…
Pizza certifications might seem like bureaucratic overkill, but the AVPN (Association Verace Pizza Napoletana) badge that Cresci earned isn’t just paperwork – it’s proof of Armando Imparato and Berardo Caggiano’s obsession with getting things right – nothing more, nothing less. Since 2020, their Piccadilly restaurant has been quietly showing York that Neapolitan pizza is both science and poetry.
The bare bones space tells you everything about their priorities: wooden tables, walls lined with Italian products, and an open kitchen where the wood-fired oven commands attention like a theatre’s main stage. Each pizza base emerges with that distinctive Neapolitan character – a crust that’s both chewy and tender, soft centre maintaining its integrity. Their Margherita (judiciously priced at £9.50) demonstrates why simplicity requires perfection: San Marzano DOP tomatoes, fior di latte mozzarella, basil, and olive oil, each element given space to be heard. The Calabrese (a little more at £13, but still not that much) adds ‘nduja and sautéed red onions without losing that essential balance.
Even the starters show this attention to detail – their frittatina di pasta comes in both classic and cacio e pepe variations, while the Sicilian cannolo filled with goat’s ricotta and 70% Callebaut chocolate makes a compelling argument for saving room for something sweet.
Open daily from noon until 10pm without reservations – though the queue at peak times suggests that sometimes the best things are worth waiting for.
Ideal for relaxed evenings where the wine list is as compelling as the food…
Cricket and fine dining rarely intersect, but 22 Yards – named for both a cricket pitch’s length and their dining room’s dimensions – proves that unexpected combinations often yield the most interesting results. Housed in a Georgian building facing York Minster, it’s created something increasingly omnipresent down in that there London but less so up north: a wine bar that takes its food as seriously as its cellar.
The menu walks a delicate line between sophistication and comfort. Orkney scallops with brown butter and truffle showcase the kind of technical precision that premium ingredients demand, while their slow-braised ox cheek with pecorino and herb polenta satisfies more base, carnal cravings.
The kitchen shows particular flair with game – their venison goulash with sauerkraut and crispy onions is a winner – a bowl you can get truly lost in until your partner actively becomes concerned. But it’s their charcuterie and cheese programme that truly puts the 22 flag in the ground. The 22 Yards Deli Board (£32) reads like a roll call of Yorkshire’s finest artisans: Wildman’s cured meats, Courtyard Dairy cheeses, house-made focaccia… Gorgeous stuff.
Their wine programme – over 150 bottles for retail and 70+ by the glass – reflects the same thoughtful curation as the food. The sommeliers bring knowledge without pretence, whether you’re exploring house wines priced in their mid-twenties or serious Burgundies that reach triple digits. Their pre-theatre offer (deli board and two glasses of English sparkling for £48) might be York’s smartest value supper.
Open from noon (5pm Mondays and Tuesdays), though weekend evenings require advance planning – word has spread.
Ideal for brunch that’s worth getting out of bed for…
Some spaces defy easy categorisation. In a neo-Victorian building on Micklegate, Partisan blends café, gallery, and restaurant into something uniquely York. Owner Florencia Clifford, who refined her approach as a cook in Buddhist retreats, brings mindful attention to everything from their North Yorkshire farm’s herbs to the curated artwork on the walls.
The globally-influenced menu peaks at brunch. Huevos Vaqueros reimagines eggs in chipotle-spiced tomato sauce with black beans, while Persian Eggs marry slow scrambling with Medjoul dates and almond dukkha. Their Full English comes in three thoughtful variations (all £16), each built around house-made smokey beans and M+K herb sausages. The signature dish, though, is the scallop and bacon bun, which has earned (deserved) legendary status in York.
There’s a counter of delicious bakes, too, including ever-present sweet and savoury scones that change change daily according to the seasons. Elsewhere on the counter, you’ll find inventive bakes like crème brûlèe apple and cardamom cruffins, and sticky baklava buns. It’s all very nourishing indeed, if not for the waistline then definitely for the soul.
Beyond perfectly executed Monmouth coffee, their drink selection shows similar care – from creative spritzes to single-origin hot chocolates featuring bars from Venezuela to Madagascar (£3.50). The recent addition of their evening concept Brancusi suggests an operation still evolving.
Open daily 9am to 3pm, the consistent queue of locals and visitors suggests they’ve found a winning formula. Every piece of art and furniture tells its own story – and yes, it’s all for sale.
Ideal for imaginative British cooking that celebrates Yorkshire’s larder…
Some homecomings take the scenic route. After 15 years of refining their modern British cuisine in Sydney, Adam and Lovaine chose York’s Old Coach House on Peasholme Green to continue their story. The result is a restaurant that combines technical precision with the kind of warm hospitality that can’t be taught.
Their kitchen menu (from £85) reveals ambition tempered by experience. Venison tartare finds unexpected but totally right companions in smoked eel cream and beetroot, while a mushroom dumpling with garlic purée and confit carrot shows similar imagination anchored in an understanding of what works together.
But it’s their cheese trolley – a tradition carried from their Sydney days – that’s become legendary. Working with Yorkshire’s Andy Swinscoe, each morning begins with a debate about perfect ripeness and ideal combinations, turning cheese service into performance art. Or, if you’re after something sweeter, the ‘A Little Bit of Yorkshire’ dessert, featuring local strawberries and Yorkshire Tea marshmallows, captures the kitchen’s ethos: serious cooking that remembers to smile.
The wine list (200+ bins) mirrors this attention to detail, ranging from accessible to esoteric. Their Little Arras bakery nearby suggests an operation unwilling to compromise – the sourdough alone justifies the detour.
Open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, with their kitchen menu showing the team at their most expressive.
The city of Winchester wears its history like a well-tailored suit – all elegant architecture and regal bearing befitting England’s ancient capital. But while the cathedral’s soaring spires and college’s hallowed halls might dominate the tourist literature, it’s the city’s burgeoning food scene that’s really worthy of coronation these days.
Just an hour from London by train, Winchester has quietly evolved into Hampshire’s gastronomic capital, with a dining landscape that spans the globe, all whilst being anchored in the county’s keen agriculture. The twice-monthly farmers’ market (the largest in the UK) hints at the city’s commitment to exceptional produce, while the winding streets harbour everything from natural wine bars to artisanal coffee shops.
So whether you’re here for a weekend break or making a dedicated pilgrimage to one of the city’s acclaimed kitchens, here’s our pick of where to eat in Winchester right now. These are the best restaurants in Winchester.
Lucky Lychee at The Green Man, Southgate Street
Ideal for creative Malaysian fusion dishes in a characterful historic pub setting…
Breathing new life into a historic Winchester pub that’s stood for over 500 years, Lucky Lychee represents an exciting evolution in the city’s dining scene and is, to our mind, the best place to eat in Winchester. Under the guidance of chef Nicole Yeoh and partner James Harris, this permanent residency marries Malaysian culinary traditions with Hampshire’s stellar produce and the odd ‘Western’ flourish (see: the bloody delicious brie and cranberry roti), creating something genuinely unique in the process.
The space itself retains the vibe of an old fashioned pub – the front room maintains its proper boozer credentials with high tables and leather-topped benches, while further back, comfortable booths and tastefully-upholstered sofas create more intimate dining spaces. Dark muted tones and wood paneling throughout maintain the building’s historic character while creating a sophisticated modern dining environment.
The menu is a testament to Yeoh’s Nyonya heritage – a fusion of Chinese and Malay culinary traditions characterised by vibrant flavours and intricate preparation. Start with their signature sesame prawn toast, elevated beyond the takeaway classic with fragrant lime leaf and coriander. The Penang crispy pork roll is another standout, wrapping free-range Hampshire pork marinated in 10 different spices in a crispy beancurd sheet – a perfect example of the kitchen’s ability to marry local ingredients with Malaysian techniques. Both clock it at under a tenner.
Main courses showcase similar thoughtfulness. The honey Marmite chicken (£14.50) might raise eyebrows on paper, but delivers an intensely satisfying combination of savory depth and subtle sweetness. Their 8-hour beef rendang demonstrates exceptional spice-handling, while the Nyonya pineapple king prawn curry (£16.50) balances Kashmiri chillies and coconut milk with brightness from tamarind and charred pineapple.
The restaurant’s commitment to quality extends to their weekend brunch offering, where traditional roti canai – Malaysian flaky flatbreads made fresh to order – come filled with everything from curry-spiced Hampshire pork sausages to eggs and cream cheese. Their innovative fusion approach is perhaps best exemplified in the full breakfast (£15.50), which pairs Upton’s smoked fennel and black pepper bacon with spiced beans and their signature roti. God it’s good.
A thoughtfully curated wine list leans towards low-intervention producers, with whites selected for freshness and aromatics to complement the spice-forward food. The cocktail list shows similar consideration – their signature Lychee Collins (£10) provides a refreshing counterpoint to the kitchen’s bolder flavours, while the Tom Yum Margarita pulls together the hot and sour elements of that beloved Thai classic to glorious effect.
Open Wednesday through Sunday (from 3pm weekdays, 11am weekends), with brunch served weekends 11am-3pm. Evening service runs until 11pm (9pm Sundays). Booking is recommended, particularly for weekend services, though they always keep some tables free for walk-ins and drinkers. Dogs are welcome in certain areas – just mention when booking.
Ideal for exemplary Japanese cuisine that champions local ingredients…
Recently relocated from Paramount to Bridge Street but losing none of its charm in the move, Kyoto Kitchen has long been Winchester’s go-to for pinpoint Japanese cuisine. Under the guidance of Kansai-born chef Hiroyuki Yoshida, the kitchen turns out an eclectic menu that spans from pristine sashimi to innovative fusion creations.
The restaurant’s signature Winchester Roll perfectly encapsulates the kitchen’s philosophy of marrying Japanese technique with Hampshire produce. At just under £19, this ‘world-first’ (their words, not ours) creation swaps traditional nori for locally-grown wasabi leaves, arriving at the table garnished with edible flowers and goji berries, with fresh wasabi available to grate yourself. Nothing like a bit of interaction with your lunch, hey?
The sushi menu features other standouts like the Rainbow Roll – a technicolor display of seared fish wrapping crispy tempura and cucumber – and the indulgent Lobster Roll, where sweet meat meets wasabi tobiko and lobster aioli, the latter commanding a thoroughly deserved £20 price tag. Rock and roll, indeed.
For those looking to explore a world beyond sushi, the kitchen offers three excellent tasting menus starting at £55: the classic Taste of Japan, a thoughtfully crafted Vegan Taste of Japan, and the more elaborate Gourmet Taste of Japan, at £80. Each can be bolstered with carefully chosen sake pairings for an additional £25. The sake selection itself is impressive, with everything from sparkling varieties to aged specialty brews.
The a la carte menu shines with dishes like the Black Cod Gyozas – delicate dumplings filled with black cod and yuzu – and the showstopping Gin Dara, a melt-in-the-mouth black cod that’s actually sablefish, available with either sweet or spicy miso glaze. The latter might seem steep at £50 (not ‘seem’; it is steep), but the butter-soft flesh and complex marinade go some way to justifying the price tag.
Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch (12-1:45pm) and dinner (5:30-9:45pm), with an additional afternoon service Friday through Sunday. Book ahead – this place fills up fast, and the kitchen is strict about last orders.
Ideal for refined British cooking in Winchester’s most historic dining room…
If walls could talk, The Chesil Rectory’s would have quite the tale to tell. Dating back to the early 15th century, this timber-framed marvel – now Winchester’s oldest commercial building – has played host to everyone from Henry VIII (who once owned it) to Mary Tudor (who received it as a gift from her father). The building even helped pay for Mary’s lavish wedding to Philip of Spain at Winchester Cathedral in 1554, when she bequeathed it to the city to help cover the costs.
Today, the medieval character remains gloriously intact. The dining rooms unfold beneath heavy wooden beams, with an impressive inglenook fireplace warming the space. Vintage chandeliers cast a gentle glow across botanical prints and sage green banquettes, creating intimate nooks perfect for both special occasions and leisurely lunches. The two are not mutually exclusive, of course…
The kitchen maintains the building’s heritage of hospitality with a menu that celebrates Hampshire’s natural larder. Start with the tartar of chalk stream trout with kohlrabi slaw and wasabi mayonnaise, before moving on to the 12-hour braised feather blade of beef with potato purée and port jus. The duck breast, served with its crispy confit leg and a boozy cherry sauce, is another standout on a current menu full of them.
As is befitting of any university town, the Sunday lunch here has achieved near-legendary status, with a choice of roast sirloin of beef or pork belly coming with all the trimmings – think crisp, faithfully done roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, seasonal greens and plenty of homemade gravy. The two-course option comes in at £35, with three courses just a fiver more.
Even the cheese course tells a proudly British story, featuring a selection of award-winning local varieties served with seasonal chutney and cranberry and hazelnut biscuits. Finish with their innovative dark chocolate cremeaux, cleverly paired with the now ubiquitous dessert-interloper white miso, as well as a gorgeous coffee caramel.
Open daily for lunch and dinner (though do note they close between services), with especially atmospheric evening sittings in the medieval dining rooms. Book well ahead – while the building may have survived six centuries, free tables here rarely last six hours. It’s not surprising; this is one the best restaurants in Winchester, make no mistake.
Ideal for imaginative brunch and artisanal coffee in characterful surroundings…
Speaking of croissants, tucked away just off the High Street, this charming multi-level café has crafted a reputation for standout breakfasts and brunches that wear their ‘best in class’ tag proudly. The airy upstairs dining room buzzes from 9am daily, filling with the aroma of Dorset-roasted coffee.
Breakfast here is a serious affair, befitting of the many lingering hangovers that this city always seems to suffer from. The Full English can barely be contained on its plate, with local sausage, bacon, eggs and all the trimmings, with black pudding available for the purists at a £2 supplement. Forte’s North African eggs are equally good, layering garlic yogurt and harissa-spiced tomatoes over flatbread, while the vegan breakfast proves plant-based fare can be just as satisfying with its combination of spinach, mushrooms, avocado and homemade rosti. All clock in at around the £15 mark.
For something lighter, the brioche breakfast rolls start at £7 with your choice of fillings – locals swear by the combination of smoked trout, watercress and avocado. The chalk stream trout makes another appearance at lunch atop sourdough toast, accompanied by spinach and slow-cooked tomatoes. Why wouldn’t it keep repeating on menus, though? It’s one of Hampshire’s most elite ingredients. It will keep repeating in other ways throughout the day, too…
The lunch menu brings a selection of generously filled sandwiches. Their crispy chicken with katsu mayo is a standout, while the harissa hummus with rocket once again shows the kitchen’s skill with vegetarian options.
Between meals, the homemade kombucha (£4.50) provides a refreshing pick-me-up, while those seeking something stronger might opt for a local craft beer.
For those on the move, Forte’s downstairs Hatch offers a simplified takeaway menu, but the main café, open daily from 9am to 4pm, rewards those with time to linger. Booking is advised for weekend brunch – this hidden gem isn’t so hidden anymore.
Ideal for elevated pub dining in a storied Winchester setting…
Sandwiched between Winchester Cathedral and the 14th-century college, The Wykeham Arms wears its heritage proudly. This Fuller’s pub has held court on Kingsgate Street for generations, earning two AA Rosettes for thirteen consecutive years. Under head chef Luke Emmess, the kitchen maintains that high standard while keeping one foot firmly in pub tradition.
Begin with their house-made sourdough and a divine, golden-hued chicken butter, or dive straight into starters like the chalk stream trout (there it is again) and n’duja fishcake, served with a lobster sauce that speaks to the kitchen’s fine dining ambitions. The Grassroots beef short rib crumpet with marmite glaze is as good as it sounds.
You could luxuriate in those starters for the entirety of your meal here, but to do so would be to miss out on the more homely main courses, which strike a careful balance between pub classics and more ambitious fare. Their signature lamb pie, topped with creamy mash and served with a rich port jus, sits comfortably alongside pan-roasted trout with Cornish mussels. Both are priced in the mid-twentines. For committed meat-eaters, the 8oz fillet steak (£45) with café de Paris butter makes a strong case for the ol’ carnivore diet, while the 800g côte de boeuf (£82) is perfect for sharing.
The wine list is particularly strong on European classics, from affordable house options to special occasion bottles, with their own Wykeham-branded wines showing surprising quality. The pub remains an actual drinking establishment too – you’ll find Fuller’s ales alongside guest craft beers.
Open daily from 11am (food served 12-9pm, later on Fridays and Saturdays), with a shorter Sunday service focusing on roasts. The dining rooms fill up quickly, especially for Sunday lunch, so booking ahead is essential.
While the main menu offers refined comfort, the bar snacks menu provides perfect sustenance for a quick pint between cathedral and college.
A vinyl-soundtracked taco joint might not be the most obvious addition to Winchester’s faithfully MOR dining scene, but Overdraft has made itself indispensable with its commitment to authenticity – everything here, from the soft corn tortillas to the seitan chorizo, is made in-house daily.
The taco menu (£4.50 each, three of the same for £12) reads like a greatest hits of Mexican street food. The Baja fish taco, featuring tempura-battered catch of the day with lime slaw and mango chilli sauce, is a standout, while the 12-hour braised machaca brisket with habanero mayo shows their skill with slow-cooked meats. Vegans are particularly well served – their crispy seitan ‘chicken’ boasts a pleasing mouthfeel and plenty of vivacity.
For something more substantial, Overdraft’s burritos come packed with red rice, refried beans and all the trimmings, while the birria tacos – three crispy shells stuffed with brisket and melted cheese, served with a rich dipping sauce – have achieved cult status for good reason.
Though the name Overdraft might give students PTSD at first glance, their Taco Tuesday deal (three of the same taco for £8) packs out the industrial-chic space weekly with bargain hunters. Whichever way you play it, don’t skip the sides – the lime salt fries channeling the flavours of a margarita somewhat, are addictive, especially with a dash of their house-made hot sauce.
Open daily from noon until 11pm (midnight on weekends), with food served until 9:30pm. They don’t take bookings, but the turnover is quick, and the bar makes waiting for a table a pleasure rather than a chore.
Ideal for sophisticated Spanish tapas in a charming market town setting…
Just a short drive from Winchester in the picturesque town of Alresford, Pulpo Negro has held its Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2014 – a testament to founders Marie-Lou and Andres Alemany’s vision of bringing authentic Spanish cuisine to Hampshire’s watercress capital.
The menu reads like a love letter to Spanish gastronomy, starting with impeccable jamón ibérico from Castro y González (£12 for 25g, £24 for 50g). Their namesake Galician octopus adobado (£20) is a masterclass in cooking the tentacled one until tender, and the gambas al ajillo arrive sizzling boisterously in garlic-infused oil. For something more substantial, the BBQ seabass on the bone comes barmarked and handsome, adorned with smoked harissa and preserved lemon for a little extra energy.
The classics are done right here – start with pan con tomate and plate of pert boquerones before moving onto heartier, more leftfield dishes like corn-fed chicken thighs with Navarra chickpeas and dukkah. The kitchen’s commitment to premium ingredients stretches beyond their jamon selection, and shines in dishes like their large Scottish langoustines with sobrasada negra and oloroso butter; a superb dish if ever there was one.
Spanish gin takes centre stage in their cocktail program (try the Gin Mare with rosemary, thyme and lemon), and the wine list leans heavily on Spanish regions, naturally, from crisp Albariños to robust Riojas, with many available by the glass. Whatever you’re drinking and however full you are, end with their churros con chocolate. It would be criminal not to.
Open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch (12-3pm) and dinner (5:30-11pm, 5-11pm Friday and Saturday). The intimate dining room fills up quickly, so booking ahead is essential, particularly for weekend services.
Though it’s not exactly in the city, it’s certainly one of the best restaurants in the wider Winchester area. Christ, that’s a clumsy sounding phrase.
Ideal for elevated fish and chips that transcend the genre…
Sometimes you just want really good fish and chips, and Shoal delivers exactly that. Located on the ground floor of Winchester’s handsome Guildhall building, this chippy doesn’t lose sight of what makes fish and chips great in the first place, despite its illustrious location.
The fish is consistent, fresh and perfectly cooked, and encased in light, crisp batter that somehow manages to stay crunchy until the last bite. The chips are, you know, chips as they should be – none of your frozen nonsense here – and the homemade sauces are a cut above.
You can sit down if you so wish, and you might want to; the restaurant proper offers unlimited chips with its main courses, though you might struggle to finish your first portion – they’re bloody massive! And don’t skip dessert – the ice cream is made onsite with flavours changing daily, and comes with a lovely little branded wafer that adds a touch of old-school charm. What more could you want in such a proudly old school place?
Ideal for fresh seafood dishes that bring Cornwall to Hampshire…
When Rick Stein chose Winchester as the first location to venture beyond Cornwall in 2014, he brought more than just his name – he imported that distinctly Cornish reverence for fresh seafood. Today, with daily deliveries from the southwest coast, head chef Chris Baker and his team maintain the exacting standards that made Stein’s Padstow joint famous.
The menu opens strong with tempura oysters at £5.50 apiece, their crisp coating giving way to briny sweetness, while the piri piri sardines at under a tenner pack serious heat. Prices go north fast thereafter; the shellfish ragoût – a medley of crab, cockles, clams, mussels and prawns in a rich sauce with linguine – is a whopping £34. Fortunately, the dish itself speaks to the kitchen’s ability to let quality ingredients sing without overwhelming them, and is admittedly delicious.
For the true Stein experience, the Fruits de Mer at £70 is hard to beat – a properly lavish spread of shellfish served on ice in the French style, featuring half a Cornish crab alongside prawns, oysters, scallops, mussels, cockles and clams. Perhaps steer clear of the Indonesian seafood curry, though – it’s priced at an almost unforgivable £32 for not a lot of fish, quite frankly.
The bar program deserves mention – their house champagne (£17.50 a glass, £71 a bottle) comes from a tiny winery east of Reims that’s been supplying the Steins for three decades. A thoughtfully curated wine list leans heavily on coastal regions, with several excellent by-the-glass options starting around £8.
Open daily from noon until 9pm (10pm Friday and Saturday), the restaurant hits its sweet spot with their set lunch and early dinner menu – two courses for £22 or three for £27 represents genuine value in this part of town, especially when held up against the a la carte pricing. They’ll even serve you a coffee and pastry if that’s all your day requires – though why you’ve pitched up at Rick Stein’s seeking only a damn croissant is a question for another day.
National Pizza Day is upon us. National British and American Pizza Day, 9th February, 2025, that is. And while we doubt that those in Campania will be cracking out the commemorative pineapple stuffed crusts to mark the occasion, we’ll take any damn reason we can for even a sliver of the good stuff.
To pre-empt the pedants, here at IDEAL we’re just as in thrall to a traditional Neapolitan as we are to a single slice of something New Yorker. As long as it’s made with love, respect and good ingredients, we’re in.
With that in mind, here is our rundown of the best 22 pizzas in London, IDEAL for celebrating National Pizza Day in style.
L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, Baker Street
Ideal for a taste of the so-called ‘Best Pizza in the World’…
We had to start here, seeing as it’s been dubbed ‘The Best Pizza in the World’ and iconised in the film Eat, Pray, Love. Ignoring the fact that the inaugural London site in Stoke Newington fractured in bitter legal dispute, the second branch in Baker Street is still slinging out top, top pizzas, loyally in line with the Neapolitan diktat.
If you’re after an excess of toppings, this one isn’t for you. Though the choice isn’t quite as clear cut as the mothership in Forcella, Naples (simply between margherita and marinara), this is still a minimalist affair in the most traditional – and best possible – way. Go for a half and half of the aforementioned margherita and marinara, or go totally wild and order a capricciosa, the artichoke hearts of Michele’s version plump and not mired in pizza-ruining, vinegary run-off. All in all, this is still one of the very best pizzas in London, regardless of fall-outs and expansion ambitions. Long may it continue.
There are now outposts in Soho, Manchester and Amsterdam, too, as well as the OG in Naples itself, still the peak of pizza-making worldwide, in our humble opinion.
Idealfor a taste of one of the pizza game’s rising stars…
We come back down to earth, letting the fertile Vesuvius soil fall between our fingers, at Chiswick’s Napoli On The Road, where authenticity is again on the menu, with just little contemporary flair thrown on the paddle for good measure.
Named as the 5th best pizzeria in the world by the staunchly Italo-centric (and increasingly influential) 50 Top Pizza list, Napoli On The Road is the brainchild of Michele Pascarella, a celebrated pizzaiolo who began his London journey with a mobile Ape Piaggio, delighting the city with wood-fired pizzas in pub car parks before laying down roots with his first brick-and-mortar establishment on Devonshire Road (the second outpost in Richmond is just as good, by the way).
Testament to a continuing rise even more pronounced than his carnotto, Pascarella has also earned the prestigious accolade of Global Pizza Maker of the Year in 2023, a testament to his mastery of correct form and structure.
That’s not to say that this Chiswick pizzeria isn’t home to some gentle, respectful innovation on the pizza front. Arguably our favourite order here is the Tonno & Cipolla, a blend of tuna fillet and sweet caramelised red onion jam, all atop their ridiculously digestible dough.
Even better, though, is the We’re On Fire. Here, the sauce sees nduja mixed seamlessly and subtly in with its usual covering of tomato until emulsified – an inspired touch as, all too often, nduja can make a pizza incredibly greasy. Then, dotted across the surface of the pizza, ice cold buffalo stracciatella soothes the rough edges of the nduja, rounding off the tomato’s acidity for good measure. It’s smart, judicious, and just oh-so delicious.
The house red, the Greco Di Tufo Oltre DOCG Bellaria from Campania, drinkable and light, is the perfect foil to these fine pizzas.
They say that at the best neighbourhood restaurants, you feel just as comfortable dropping in for a convivial ciao as you do a four-course meal. And so it is at 081 Pizzeria, Peckham’s proudest purveyors of pizza and street food straight from the Città del Sole.
Having opened in the turbulent times of May 2021, 081 (named after the telephone code of Naples) has quickly established itself at the heart of the hospitality community on this stretch of Peckham Rye, with local chefs, bartenders and wait staff coming here to congregate around the 480C° heat of the ANVP-approved Izzo Forni as though it were a campfire.
Yep, this is a place that wants you to linger, a position at odds with the usual bam-bam-grazia-signoria nature of traditional Neapolitan pizzerias in the capital. There are arancini generously filled with ragu bolognese to enjoy as you wait for the main event, alongside a whole host of other deep-fried treats, here billed as tapas. The cocktails are ace, too, the negroni properly assertive. A graffiti-inspired sketch of ASAP Rocky weeping cheese looks down on the dining room, for some reason.
Of course, the pizzas have to hit the mark to keep the punters returning in a place like this, and, fortunately, 081 has some serious pedigree in that department; the head pizzaiola here is previously of Bravi Ragazzi (also on our list), and the pizzas are on a level with those being slung down the Circular Road to Streatham. If you’ve eaten at Bravi, that’s all you need to know.
Ideal for our very favourite pizza south of the river…
It felt right – poetic, even – to head south to Bravi Ragazzi next, foreplay dispensed with and appetite whet.
Streatham’s revered Neapolitan pizzeria prides itself on tradition and authenticity, and in our humble opinion, this right here is the best Neapolitan pizza in South London.
Several boxes have to be ticked for a pizza to qualify as a traditional Neapolitan in the eyes of the connoisseurs. 00 flour, water and salt form the dough, and it must be hand kneaded and given ample time to rise before being shaped by hand rather than rolling pin. After that, it’s topped with San Marzano or Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio tomatoes and Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, and cooked quickly at incredibly high heat in a wood fired pizza oven. The result should be pillowy, soft and elastic, with toppings light rather than overwhelming.
Anyway, the good guys at Bravi Ragazzi know all that, and their respect for tradition has made their pizzas the toast of Streatham and beyond. This is, quite simply, one of London’s best pizzas (must add it to that list, actually). They also do a superb tiramisu, for those with a sweet tooth.
Though the dining room is compact, unassuming, and walk-ins only, locals will be pleased to hear that Bravi Ragazzi is on Deliveroo… As if they didn’t know already!
Before we go, it would be remiss of us not to give a shout-out to another local favourite famous for slinging fantastic wood fired pizzas in the Neapolitan style, who have now sadly closed. Addome, how we miss you!
Ideal for getting close to a pizzaiolo consistently voted among the world’s best…
Excuse the heavy mouthful of a name, but the pizzas at 50 Kalo are anything but. Regularly named as one of the best pizzas in Europe outside of Italy, and with a world class pizzeria in Naples that’s even made it into the Michelin Guide, 50 Kalo and its superstar pizzaiolo Ciro Salvo boast some serious credibility.
The restaurant, whose name means ‘good dough’ in a Neapolitan dialect, stays true to its name with the lightest, airiest bases and premium ingredients used to dress that very good dough. Though we’re big fans of the headlining margherita here, the pizza fritta is perhaps even better, its base light and without a hint of grease, its texture verging on a doughnut. Topped with a pleasingly acidic marinara sauce and gratings of pecorino, it is absolutely superb. Could this be London’s best pizza? We certainly think so.
Ideal for pizza tonda romana at wallet-friendly prices…
From their first opening in Spitalfields in 2014, Pizza Union has grown to five buzzing locations across London – adding Aldgate, Dalston, King’s Cross and Hoxton to their roving roster.
Their Spitalfields original remains a benchmark for the group, perfectly positioned to serve both City workers and East Enders with its swift service and consistent quality. Here, pizza tonda romana (round Roman-style pizzas) emerge from the blazing hot oven in mere minutes, their bases characteristically thin and satisfyingly crisp. The Roma, pitched at a remarkably reasonable £4.95 and topped with tomato, rocket and drifts of parmesan, represents some of the best value in the capital. No pizza here tops £8.95.
What were we saying about pizza being the most inclusive foods on the planet? We were saying that, right? Perhaps we were just thinking it. Anyway, it’s true…
Images via PizzaUnion
The industrial-chic aesthetic and counter service keep things casual and the pricepoint down, but the quality of those crispy bases – achieved through a carefully controlled proving process that creates that distinctive Roman crackle – means Pizza Union punches well above its weight. With bottles (yes, bottles) of decent house wine clocking in at £16.95, this place is perfect for a quick lunch (glasses are the same price as that Roma, incidentally) or casual dinner that won’t break the bank.
The house-made garlic butter for crust-dipping is a must, but it’s certainly not a dessert. Finish instead with and espresso and a Sicilian cannoli – they look beautiful and taste even better.
Ideal for planet-conscious pizza that doesn’t compromise on flavour…
What began as a lockdown pop-up operating out of various East London kitchens has blossomed into one of the city’s most exciting vegetarian ventures. After gaining a devoted following through a celebrated residency at The Hive in Cambridge Heath, Flat Earth finally put down roots in their own permanent space in 2022.
Here, in Hackney, sustainability is very much the watchword – from their heritage grain bases to their reusable wine bottle scheme, even down to lampshades crafted from old orange peel (cor, I bet they smell good when the bulbs are hotting up). The restaurant’s commitment to ethical suppliers and local producers would all read a bit ‘marketing gimmick’ if the pizzas didn’t deliver on flavour, but those grains don’t half make for a digestible base, it has to be said.
The Hackney Hot is the hero dish here, make no mistake (basically every table seems to be ordering it), and features a deft balance of sweet pickled beetroot, a trio of Somerset cheeses, jalapeños, and fermented hot salsa. And if that wasn’t unique enough, try the Kimchi Fiorentina, which reimagines a classic pizza (not sure we’ve ever actually seen one outside of Pizza Express) with house kimchi and a perfectly cooked egg. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it; it’s ace.
There is, unsurprisingly, a strong organic wine list, with the restaurant working with Sustainable Wine Solutions to receive their wines in three formats: on tap, in recycled bottles, and refillable wine bottles. Cheers to that!
Ideal for artisanal pizzette from London’s increasingly omnipresent baking group…
Big Jo might be (not ‘might be’; is) less a pizzeria than a bakery, but as part of the celebrated Jolene group (which includes Primeur, Westerns Laundry, and their namesake Jolene, as well as a handful of bakeries), the pizzette offerings here deserve their place among London’s finest.
The group’s commitment to regenerative agriculture and heritage grains shines through in every bite, with the team working directly with farmers to mill their own flour – a dedication to quality that’s evident in their perfectly fermented, supremely digestible (gotta stop saying that) bases.
Their ever-changing menu showcases the best of seasonal British produce, with pizette a regular feature; a recent fennel sausage and cavolo nero pizzette bianca was mega, their much-loved four cheese version even better. The occasional pizza fritta makes a special appearance too, topped with treats like black olives and salted ricotta. Phwoar.
The industrial-chic space, with its communal tables and open kitchen, creates an unrivalled buzz (really, it does; the acoustics are questionable) in this part of town.
Ideal for a truly authentic slice of Naples in North London…
Listen: the backstory between L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele and the guys at Vicoli di Napoli is a little unclear. It’s certainly acrimonious, though it’s been largely scrubbed from the records so we can’t spill the tea. What we can do is confirm that the pizzas here are right up there (up there, at the top of this article) with some of the best properly faithful Neapolitan ‘cart wheel’ pizzas in London.
With its bright blue interior and open-armed, limoncello-wielding welcome, this Stokey institution lives up to its name (which translates to ‘alleys of Naples’) in terms of that much sought after ‘authenticity’. Run by sisters who are keeping their Neapolitan heritage alive and kicking, Vicoli di Napoli serves up sprawling, soupy pizzas that no normal size plate can contain.
Images via @vicolidinapolipizzeria
While the marinara and margherita are house specialties that showcase the pizzeria’s dedication to humble tradition, venture into their calzone and prosciutto e funghi offerings for equally rewarding experiences. Though do be careful venturing in there; it’s fucking burning piping hot, and your inner oral mucosa right off the sides of your inner cheeks. And that is a phrase we never want to see again in an article about food.
The pizza bases are exactly as they should be – light, airy and with that perfect Neapolitan chew. For dessert, their exceptional house-made tiramisu is, erm, just that; exceptional.
Ideal for trying the iconic, Netflix-famous Mistaken Margherita (for a limited time only)…
We’ve been fans of Fatto a Mano’s just-the-right-side-sloppy Neapolitan pizzas since their (and our) days in Brighton, first as a single site on the city’s London Road back in 2015, then to their expansion into Hove, all the way to their second pizzeria opening in the Big wood-fired Smoke at the crust end of last year.
That second pizzeria is found in Covent Garden (with a third now doing their business in Bethnal Green), but our favourite of Fatto’s London lot is found ten minutes up the Piccadilly Line in Kings Cross.
Here, as with all five restaurants, the dough is pillowy and easy to manage, the ingredients top notch and light-as-you-like, and the pizza oven cranked up to the requisite 450°C, only needing around 90 seconds before it’s ready. Nope, you won’t see any caramelised cheese here; the buffalo mozzarella on the margherita buffalo is as fresh and milky as it comes, and the marinara sauce fresh and sharp rather than reduced to a metallic rust. It’s a gorgeous pizza, and once the sun has finally got its hat on, Fatto’s terrace certainly looks an inviting place to eat one.
There’s even a lasagna pizza, which sees beef ragu, creamy bechamel and smoked Provola on a classic Neapolitan base, for those who loved to be laid low by their lunch.
Of real note to all the pizza nerds out there, last May Fatto a Mano played host to one of the world’s most famous pizzas, Franco Pepe’s Margherita Sbagliata, as seen on Netflix’s Chef’s Table. The esteemed pizza chef blessed the restaurant with the secret recipe for his ‘Mistaken Margherita’, with £1.50 from every pizza going to the incredible La Scugnizzeria, a charity who offer underprivileged young people from Scampia a path into employment. Pizza and a good cause… Could there be anything better?
Ideal for once ephemeral, now enduring New York-adjacent slices…
We’ve been chasing the ephemeral, enigmatic Dough Hands from pizza pop-up to pizza pop-up in recent years, enjoying their crisp New York-style slices in Brixton Market, Bethnal Green and Homerton, and it’s been a pilgrimage we’ve never regretted, the signature ‘Jode’ (featuring nduja, hot honey and stracciatella) worth just about any hour spent with TfL, even if just for a slice.
Well colour us tricolore, because Dough Hands have now well and truly settled into their residency at the Spurstowe Arms, just seconds from Hackney Central station. With a less transient timescale billed simply as ‘for the foreseeable’, we’re so happy to have these awesome pizza slingers so close to (floury, marinara-marked) hand.
And hot off the pizza stone, Dough Hands is expanding, now with a second permanent kitchen location at The Old Nun’s Head pub in Nunhead, south of the river.
Ideal for supremely digestible, seawater spiked pizzas…
Classic Caputo 00 flour and, erm, pure seawater… It’s not quite got that ‘match made in heaven’ status that, say, San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil boast. But hey, we’re up for anything, and so it is to ‘O Ver, whose use of the salty stuff, drawn from the purest areas of the Mediterranean, is very much their USP.
The first restaurant in the UK to – vocally – do so, the seawater is said to lighten the dough and make it easier to digest. We honestly can’t argue with the claim; ‘O Ver’s pizzas are incredibly easy-eating, and it’s eminently possible to take two down in a single sitting, even after you’ve had a good crack at the restaurant’s rundown of classic Neapolitan deep-fried bites. The crocche (essentially deep-fried mashed potato), in particular, is expertly conceived.
Back to those pizzas, and they hit the table puffed up and airy, the dinghy bouncing back at you when prodded and only deflating when pierced. Elegantly dressed, we huge fans to the tropea; a sophisticated affair with fior di latte, flakes of tuna fillet, the namesake onions, sun dried tomatoes and olives. It sings of summer, its sweet-salty interplay softened by a silky, ornate mouthfeel. Truly, a must-order, even if the £19.50 price tag is a clear premium, it’s easy to see why ‘O Ver is so highly regarded.
Pizzeria Mozza, located adjacent to the Treehouse Hotel London on historic Regent Street in Marylebone, is the work of internationally recognised chef Nancy Silverton, who has won a Michelin star at Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles amongst several other accolades.
Known for its focus on locally sourced, premium, seasonal ingredients, Pizzeria Mozza offers a menu that celebrates the plentitude of great produce available in the UK, celebrated not only in pizza form but also in a really enjoyable range of salads and sarnies.
But you’re here for the pizza, right? At Mozza, they’re neither Neopolitan nor New Yorker (nor Londoner, a style yet to fully settle on its definition), but rather, a crisp, golden, semolina-dusted, ‘personal’ sized affair, its crust calling to mind a burnished Pizza Express dough ball. In the best possible way, of course…
Purists look away, now. Actually, forget that; the whole ‘pineapple shouldn’t belong on pizza’ debate is trite and tedious. So, we’ll just say this; the pizza alla benno (named for Silverton’s son Ben) is the move here, a genuinely refreshing pizza with gossamer thin slices of both speck and pineapple, scattered like petals across a base of passata di pomodoro that packs a little more heft than your usual hand-wrung San Marzano. Milky sweet fior di latte lightens the load.
Yours for £18, pair it with a glass of the 2022 Tramin Gewurztraminer, its gentle sweetness balancing out the salty af speck (both from South Tyrol, incidentally), and its pronounced notes of lychee an interesting match for the pineapple. Yep, pineapple on a pizza. Pineapple pineapple pineapple, pizza.
Arguably even better, and on special during during the warmer months, the Amalfi lemon pizza is a slice of summer. We can’t wait for it to return to Mozza’s menu when the weather gets it act together.
The lush interior, designed to mimic a wild Mediterranean garden (not sure it quite succeeds in this aim, frankly) and provide a serene escape in the heart of London (kinda succeeds this), is a relaxing place to enjoy this taste of Hawaii via LA via London.
Ideal for sourdough pizzas all the way from Bologna…
We’ve been big fans of Bologna’s Berberè for years, always stealing a slice when we’re in La Rossa™. So, when these celebrated pizza purveyors touched down closer to home back in 2020, we immediately made our way south of the river and to Clapham Common in search of some action (observing all social distancing rules of course and not sharing our pizza, however much Beberè implores you to do so with their ‘sliced in 8 to stimulate conviviality’ dispatch).
Founded by Matteo and Salvatore Aloe in Bologna in 2010, the Clapham iteration of Berberè stands on the former site of Radio Alice, a pizzeria that the Aloe brothers also had a hand in. We think Berberè is even better, and not far from the dizzy heights that this pizzeria has ascended back in Bel Paese.
It’s all about the sourdough base here, whose mother has been nurtured for more than a decade since its birth in Castel Maggiore, an attentiveness that results in a super light base that’s cooked to a pleasingly crisp finish. Perfect, then, for the restaurant’s crust dippers, here a choice between spicy ‘nduja & honey, aioli, garlic butter or basil & walnut pesto. Get all four.
The pizza selection itself feels more traditional and, dare we say, demure, with a roll call of just eleven elegantly adorned affairs. The Napoli is especially good, with the imported Amalfi anchovies aggressively salty and the black olives aggressively briny, but all somehow soothed by a super sweet organic tomato sauce. To enjoy this particular pizza on a crisp base that doesn’t buckle feels perverse. Illicit, even. And we love it…
Even more illicit feeling is Berberè’s falafel pizza which should, in all honesty, be against the law. We think we might just order another Napoli… but not before one of their gorgeous montaranina (a pizza fritta of sorts).
Authenticity is the name of the game – on the first half at least – of the Battersea favourite Pizzeria Pellone’s menu; Neapolitan classics using Gustarosso tomato sauce, Caputo flour, and Buffalo Mozzarella straight from Campania. This respectful adherence to stricture has its backbone in the Pellone family’s popular pizzerias back in Naples, and you can taste tradition in every slice..
That said, it’s in that second half of the menu, the Pizze Le Pizze Gourmet, where the intrigue lies; the white pizzas here are superb, particularly the pistachio pesto and mortadella number. The Calzone Fritto, generous with black pepper and mottled with housemade salami, is a cult classic.
For those not keen to head south, there’s now a second branch of Pellone in East Finchely.
Ideal for creative late night slices and some top tunes to boot…
We’ve come this far without mentioning any by-the-slice joints, which is a little remiss of us – London does boast a commendably varied pizza scene, and we can’t fixate on Neapolitan versions forever, as much as we’d like to.
Perhaps the best slice shop in the city is late night hipster hangout Voodoo Ray’s in Dalston. Here you can enjoy a cold can of Neck Oil and a New Yorker style pizza until the early hours (this place closes at 3 AM at the weekend) and ride off on your unicycle into the night, satiated and happy.
Boasting a crust that won’t bust under the weight of its deceptively simple toppings, a good covering of Roni Cup pepperoni and wefts of grated parmesan are all you need to let you know you’re eating a New York adjacent pie over at Crisp Pizza.
Quite possibly London’s most coveted slice right now, the snaking lines around this corner of W6 tell their own narrative; of Londoners keen to delve deeper than the Neopotlian culinary diktat, of discerning diners seeking a slice that won’t fold so dramatically that their starched white shirts get splattered in marinara sauce. We’ll see you in the queue?
About that queue; we’ve found most joy on Friday lunchtimes, when walk-ins are received most smoothly. Though doors open at midday, it’s best to pitch up at around 11:30am if you’re keen for the quickest possible delivery time. Form an orderly line at the A-board outside the pub door and you’ll be noted by staff. At midday, place your order, get a pint in, and by 12:30pm you’ll be feasting.
All that said, the ordering, queuing and booking system is permanently in a state of some flux, so that advice above may no longer be true by the same we’ve both finished this sentence.
Ideal for arguably the most Neapolitan of Neapolitan pizza experiences in the capital…
Back to where it all began, with another fine Neapolitan showstopper. Everything about Santa Maria in Ealing is about tradition and simplicity; the bare, whitewashed walls, the lightly adorned pizzas, the premium ingredients imported from the motherland. It’s all sourced and cooked with a pride in the product as guiding principle, which is no bad thing in a pizza.
Next up, we’re heading to Crust Bros. Thankfully not actually bro food (does anyone genuinely want ‘grimy fries’ or ‘sordid nachos’?), these fratms do a fine trade in elegant, Neapolitan-adjacent pizzas, complete with puffy, dinghy-style crusts, proper leopard pock-marks, and pleasingly sloppy centres.
Just a few minutes walk from Waterloo and with a pizza that hits the table steaming within a minute or two of ordering, Crust Bros is the perfect place for a pitstop before catching your onward train. The place was positively heaving on a recent Friday lunchtime visit, full of suits, citybreakers and strays, a demonstration of the enduringly democratic nature of pizza.
Despite the eponymous name, it’s not the crusts that help this pizzeria stand out in a city that’s close to drowning in latticello; it’s the dippers for those crusts that are the point of difference. The lemon garlic mayo is particularly good – piquant and bracing, and bringing a perfect counterpoint to those light-as-you like crusts which seem to exhale happily as you pierce them.
Personalise your pizza or choose from a choice of around ten of their own suggestions (skirting around the fact that you might have to say “could I have the Meat Sweatz?” outloud), finish with the excellent homemade limoncello, and you’ve got yourself a speedy, satisfying lunch to propel you forward into your afternoon. Saluti!
Ideal for lush yet light New York bar style pizzas…
If you’re prowling (sorry) the streets of Marylebone for a slice of New York, then look no further than Alley Cats Pizza. Open only a year or so, this homage to the red sauce-splattered, gingham-tableclothed pizza joints of the Big Apple has already become a sensation online and, you know, physically; you may well have seen the thin, crisp pies on TikTok or the queues snaking down Paddington Street in person in the last twelve months.
On the paddle is Sicilian chef Francesco Macri, who has worked at two other places on our list, Pizza Pilgrims and Santa Maria, and brings that experience to Alley Cats, though the pizza propositionhere is a little different – something close to a New York ‘bar style’, characterised by an electric oven that fires out 14 inches in under six minutes, all stable crusts and well-balanced, reserved toppings.
The prosaically named ‘Vodka’ is the highlight here, a riff on penne alla vodka with its splash of cream enrichening the tomato sauce and its two mozzarellas – both buffalo and aged – furthering that sense of something truly sumptuous. Fortunately, that sturdy base is more than capable of a bit of heavy lifting.
There is now a second brand on Chelsea’s King’s Road. Perhaps it might be a little easier to actually nab a table now there’s two cats in town.
Idealfor arguably London’s most popular homegrown pizza…
A synthesis style of New York and ‘London’ Neapolitan pizzas, Yard Sale is one of the city’s most ubiquitous pizza brands. TopJaw approved to point that it feels like something fishy is afoot, Yard Sale’s omnipresence, in all fairness, hasn’t dampened the quality of their pizzas, with the restaurant group winning a slew of awards in recent years, including Best Value Eats in 2022’s OFM Awards London’s most-loved restaurant in Time Out’s 2016 Love London Awards.
Yard Sale Pizza started from humble beginnings with a single oven in a backyard, and has since expanded across North, East, and South London, with 10 sites now in total, plus an extensive, expansive delivery offering. Their 12″ and 18″ pizzas are perfect for solo diners or sharing between friends, with toppings sometimes eccentric and always, proudly multicultural London in their makeup. Their recent collaboration with Roti King (such London royalty they should soon be ‘Roti Emperor’, amirite?) on a rendang topped pizza exemplifies both those statements, and ends up being predictably, properly delicious.
As with quite a few London pizzerias that get a bit frivolous with their menu descriptors, you might feel like a bit of a dick ordering here – “Mr Lava Lava”, anyone?
Locations: Hither Green, Tottenham, Crofton Park, Crystal Palace, Balham, East Dulwich, Hackney Road, Leytonstone, Walthamstow, Finsbury Park, Clapton.
Detroit Pizza, Spitalfields
Ideal for a square slice of caramelised cheese perfection…
Neapolitan this, New Yorker that… Well, over in Spitalfields, Detroit Pizza aims instead to bring a square of Motor City pizza culture to London. We’re so glad they did, as the pies here, characterised by a thick, square-cut base with a crunchy, fried base overflowing with delicious melted cheese are one mighty indulgence. The best bit? The frilly, caramelised cheese collar that the Detroit pizzas here wear so proudly, its frico the result of the thick, cast-iron-like steel pans that the restaurant uses.
A walk-in only restaurant, slices/squares/whatever are £4.99 while whole pies come in two sizes, regular or large, priced at around £15 or £25 respectively, depending on toppings. The latter is enough to feed four.
In these challenging times it can be difficult to find even a minute to be mindful and take a moment to care for yourself. But what if we told you that you could be giving your wellbeing a lift 24/7 (yep, even when you’re nude), simply via the clothes you wear.
Indeed, the growth of the wellness market is set to become a leading fashion trend in its own right over the coming years, and will influence our styles in many, myriad ways.
It’s certainly true that, today, we’re fast becoming obsessed with exploring new ways to improve our fitness, nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, appearance, and general health, and the rise of wellness-focused fashion is paving the way to turn these desires into the year’s most sought-after trends.
With that in mind, here are 10 fashion trends that marry style (yep, we saw Harry Styles, too) and wellness seamlessly.
Athleisure: The Perfect Blend Of Comfort & Chic
Athleisure has taken the fashion world by storm, and for good reason. Who doesn’t love the idea of rocking yoga pants or joggers all day long without compromising on style? This trend is all about mixing activewear with everyday fashion, resulting in outfits that are equal parts comfy and chic.
Plus, it encourages you to stay active and incorporate exercise into your daily routine, all without having to change clothes (actually, you might want to change them sometimes, you know).
Look for high-quality, moisture-wicking fabrics that provide support and breathability, and don’t be afraid to experiment with bold prints and colours to make a statement.
The future of athleisure appears to be moving in a more diverse direction for 2025 and we’re very much here for it, and smaller labels are actively seeking to cater to more niche markets while larger brands are attempting to complement these new active lifestyles of customers.
These notions have combined in delivering a body-positive and inclusive movement to providing the right apparel for wearers of all clothing sizes. For brands seeking to open the doors to new markets, this has become an excellent opportunity to show their openness and inclusive nature.
Smart Wearables: The Ultimate Fitness Accessories
Gone are the days when fitness trackers were bulky and unsightly. Today, smart wearables have evolved into sleek and stylish accessories that complement any outfit. From Fitbits to Apple Watches, these devices not only track your steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns but also make a bold fashion statement. You can even customise them with interchangeable bands and watch faces to match your style. The Fitbit Charge 5 strap, for instance, comes in a range of fashionable colours and materials that can transform your fitness tracker from a mere health device into a genuine fashion accessory.
While devices like the Apple Watch aren’t new to the fashion landscape, their power of wellness insights are ever-growing. For instance, the seventh generation of the Apple Watch introduced a blood oxygen sensor which is a groundbreaking advancement in terms of providing wearers with real-time health insights.
UV-Protective Clothing: Sun Safety Meets Style
We all know how crucial it is to protect our skin from harmful UV rays, but slathering on sunscreen isn’t the only solution. Enter UV-protective clothing – garments made from specially treated fabrics that block out the sun’s damaging rays.
Brands like Coolibar and Mott50 specialise in stylish garments with built-in UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) that blocks up to 98% of UVA and UVB radiation. From swimwear to casual wear, sunhats and chic cover-ups, these pieces allow you to enjoy outdoor activities without compromising your skin’s health.
Smart Clothes: High-Tech Threads For A Healthier You
Imagine a world where your clothes can monitor your vital signs, analyse your posture, or even help you stay hydrated. Well, that world is here, thanks to smart clothing! These high-tech garments come equipped with sensors and other advanced features designed to keep you healthy and informed.
There are, for instance, shirts that track your heart rate, leggings that correct your alignment during workouts, and even bras that remind you to drink water. With smart clothes, looking good and feeling good go hand in hand.
Examples include Google’s Project Jacquard, which weaves touch-sensitive fibres into garments, and Ralph Lauren’s PoloTech Shirt, which monitors biometric data through silver fibres embedded in the fabric. These innovations are paving the way for a future where our clothes do more than just make us look good.
In the future, active wellness clothing will be connected, intelligent, and capable of helping your body to heal, moisturise your body, and alter appearance to reflect your mood.
One case of smart clothing has seen MIT engineers develop a wirelessly-charged jacket that can automatically adjust temperature based on factors like the weather, the wearer’s body temperature, and how much they are moving. The clothing is controlled by a smartphone app or smart assistant and is just one of a number of examples of interconnected clothing helping to promote wellness.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses: Eye Spy Style
With the increased use of digital devices, our eyes are constantly exposed to blue light, which can lead to eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep patterns. Blue light blocking glasses have emerged as a fashionable solution to this issue, featuring lenses that filter out harmful wavelengths emitted by screens.
Brands like Felix Gray and Warby Parker offer chic eyewear options that protect your eyes without sacrificing style, whilst there are also blue light blocking lens replacements now available, meaning you could update your most fashionable Tom Fords or Vera Wangs with the latest tech, all without having to sacrifice eye health for style.
Eco-Friendly Fashion: Saving The Planet, One Outfit At A Time
Sustainable fashion is a growing trend that focuses on eco-friendly materials and ethical production methods. By choosing garments made from organic, recycled, or biodegradable materials, you can create stylish and planet-friendly pieces.
Of course, you’re not only making a statement about your personal style but also contributing to the well-being of the planet – and what could be more stylish than that? Leading the way are brands like Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, and Reformation, who offer beautiful pieces that prioritise both aesthetics and environmental responsibility. Because who said the two were mutually exclusive?
Custom-Fit, Ultra-Comfortable Clothing: Comfy Is The New Cool
Finding clothes that fit perfectly can be a challenge, but custom-fit clothing is changing the game by offering personalised garments tailored to your unique measurements. Companies like eShakti, Indochino, and Sumissura use cutting-edge technology to create bespoke pieces that flatter your body shape and cater to your individual style preferences. This trend not only promotes self-confidence but also encourages mindful consumption by investing in quality pieces that will stand the test of time.
In no brand is this better exemplified than Crocs, which are continuing to win favour among younger wearers.
For many years, Crocs have been a leading example of functional clothing that many consumers loved to hate. But in a wellness-focused landscape, we’re seeing more examples of Crocs becoming a style icon in their own right.
So resounding is the Crocs fashion revival that the hashtag #crocs have earned more than 7.5 billion views on TikTok. This isn’t an isolated case, either. Comfortable clothing is winning new fans as wellness takes centre stage, and this can only be a good thing for our overall happiness levels.
Posture-Correcting Apparel: Stand Tall & Look Good Doing It
Slouching is so last season! With posture-correcting apparel, you can improve your alignment while looking fabulous. These innovative garments are designed with built-in support systems that encourage proper posture, helping to alleviate back pain and prevent long-term issues. From discrete undershirts to fashionable activewear, there’s no shortage of options to help you stand tall and confident. After all, nothing says “I’ve got this” quite like a strong, upright stance.
Several brands have developed clothing lines that promote good posture through built-in support structures and strategically placed tension panels. For example, UpCouture offers a range of stylish tops and dresses designed to encourage proper alignment, while IntelliSkin provides athletic wear that supports optimal posture during workouts.
Aromatherapy Jewellery: Breathe In Style And Serenity
Last but not least, we have aromatherapy jewellery – the perfect marriage of fashion and wellness. These unique pieces feature small compartments or porous materials that hold essential oils, allowing you to enjoy their therapeutic benefits throughout the day.
Whether it’s a stress-relieving lavender ring or an energising citrus bracelet, aromatherapy jewellery adds a touch of elegance and tranquillity to your ensemble. And hey, it might even replace perfume in the not too distant future – what’s not to love?
Circadian-Friendly Fashion: Dressing for Better Sleep
The wellness revolution has brought sleep health into sharp focus, and fashion is catching up. Innovative brands are now creating clothing designed to support our natural circadian rhythms and promote better sleep patterns. These pieces go beyond traditional loungewear and pyjamas to include daytime clothing that can impact our sleep-wake cycle.
Some brands are incorporating special fabrics that filter out sleep-disrupting blue light wavelengths as the day progresses, whilst others are developing garments with built-in red-light therapy elements that can help regulate melatonin production. There’s even sleepwear embedded with far-infrared technology that claims to improve sleep quality by regulating body temperature throughout the night.
What makes this trend particularly exciting is its seamless integration into everyday fashion. From office wear with gradually darkening tints to evening wear that naturally promotes relaxation, these pieces help maintain healthy sleep cycles without sacrificing style. After all, there’s nothing more fashionable than waking up well-rested.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to looking good and feeling great, there really is no need to compromise. Stay stylish, my friends!
Forget everything you think you know about university town dining. While Oxford might claim the literary lunch, Cambridge has quietly transformed itself into East Anglia’s most compelling food city.
Here, Michelin-starred kitchens share streets with dumpling houses that would make a Shanghai chef homesick, and third-generation fishmongers turn their catch into the kind of seafood that makes London critics book train tickets. Hmmm, almost sounds like we’re rapping here…
Between the centuries-old college walls and along the backstreets where Newton once pondered gravity, you’ll find everything from wine bars pouring up something natty to pastry chefs who learned their craft in Paris before bringing it to Parker’s Piece. The result is a dining scene that’s both relaxed and forward-thinking – where you might start your evening with hand-pleated xiao long bao on Mill Road and end it with a twelve-course tasting menu overlooking Midsummer Common. Better have a friend willing to pitch up with a Haemmerlin to wheel you home…
…Anyway, you’re here to read, not get a case of Couvade syndrome as we reel from a food baby. Let’s not mess about any longer; here’s our guide to the places making Cambridge as much a destination for food lovers as it is for scholars. These are the best restaurants in Cambridge.
Noodles Plus, Mill Road
Ideal for xiao long bao that rival Shanghai’s finest…
In a bright green, no-frills space on Mill Road, Dong Huang and Hui Yan Li have created a place that draws homesick Chinese students and dumpling aficionados alike in their droves. Since opening in 2015, this modest spot has earned its reputation through consistent excellence rather than fancy furnishings. In all honesty, it’s our favourite place to eat in all of Cambridge.
The star attraction costs just £9 for six pieces: xiao long bao (soup dumplings) that require a certain technique to eat properly. Place one on your spoon, make a tiny hole to release the steaming broth, sip the rich soup, then dip the dumpling in sauce and devour. If you don’t heed this advice, your oral mucosa is getting burned clean off. And we promise that’s the last time we write ‘oral mucosa’ today…
Anyway, these little parcels of lava-filled joy are made fresh throughout service, each one perfectly pleated and filled with a deeply savoury pork and broth mixture that speaks of some serious skill and commendable attention to seasoning. It’s all in the judicious use of naturally occuring gelatine, you see…
Beyond the signature soup dumplings, the menu spans everything from pork and green bean dumplings to heartier options like their noodles with king prawn in spicy sauce. The spare rib noodle soup draws repeat-eaters (rep-eaters?) week after week for an all-encompassing and wholly satisfying lunch, while the mixed seafood noodle soup shows they know their way around the flavours of the sea, too. Each table comes with its own DIY sauce station – black vinegar, soy sauce, and minced garlic let you create the perfect accompaniment. No dish we mentioned breaks the tenner ceiling.
The setup at Noodles Plus is as casual as you want it to be – think canteen-style seating and counter service that’s all part of the charm. There’s usually a queue (especially at lunch), but it moves quickly, and you can watch the dumpling masters at work while you wait. Stacks of bamboo steamers line the counter, releasing puffs of steam that promise good things to come. Is there a better sight when you’re hungry and tucked in towards the front of the queue?
It’s cash only here, but with most dishes under £10, you won’t need much of it. The vaguely billed ‘Chinese herbal drink’ (a can of wong ko lat, it turns out) at £2.50 makes the perfect companion to a table full of dumplings and a welcome sense of humble luxury.
Open: Wednesday-Sunday 12-9:30pm
Price: Dumplings £7-9, noodle soups £8-9.50
Drinks: Tea and soft drinks £2-2.50
Book ahead: No reservations – be prepared to queue, especially at lunch
Ideal for special occasions that demand something extraordinary…
There’s something rather magical about Midsummer House’s current incarnation, now in its 26th year. In a Victorian villa overlooking the handsome grazing cows of Midsummer Common, chef and owner Daniel Clifford has created the sort of restaurant that makes you understand why Michelin stars still matter – his two have been twinkling here since 2005, making it the only double-starred establishment in East Anglia, and a destination for culinary pilgrims from all over the country.
The elegant conservatory dining room benefits from floods of natural light, lightening the mood in the process, with a window into the kitchen that lets you watch the culinary theatrics unfold. Here, classical techniques meet modern British innovation in dishes that celebrate both simplicity and surprise – expect to start with delicate morsels like aged parmesan sablé with autumn truffle and a complimentary glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois before moving onto more substantial delights.
The full tasting menu experience comes in at £270, a serious investment that delivers equally serious rewards. Current highlights include a playful take on a Bloody Mary featuring celery sorbet and lime, and Loch Duart salmon elevated – genuinely – with white chocolate and caviar. The coconut parfait dessert, served with Nyangbo chocolate and a hint of green chilli, shows exactly why this kitchen team has maintained their stars for so long – it’s an intriguing, intoxicating balance of flavours that read like jargon on the page but make total sense on the palate. Petit fours are a particular highlight – dainty af and closing the meal in some style.
For the more budget-conscious, weekday lunch offers the same precision cooking at £95, while still including treats like their signature warm French bottereaux with Midsummer apples. The wine pairings are so well judged here that a flight feels almost essential, ranging from the Classic at £135 to the truly special Luxurious selection at £540. Their ‘juicelier’ has created an equally impressive alcohol-free pairing for £70 that proves non-alcoholic drinks can be just as exciting.
If weather permits, you can finish your evening with a Cuban cigar on their terrace overlooking the river. Just don’t expect to be thinking about dinner anywhere else for quite some time.
Open: Wednesday-Saturday 12-1:30pm, 6:30-8:30pm
Price: Weekday Lunch £95, Lunch Tasting Menu £160, Dinner Tasting Menu £270
Wine: Pairings from £58-£540, extensive bottle list available
Book ahead: Essential – aim for at least two months in advance
Located at number 22 Chesterton Road (hence the name), in a Victorian townhouse with stained glass windows dating back to 1892, Sam Carter and Alex Olivier earnt its Michelin star just a year ago, but that didn’t stop the hard work with a satisfied dusting off of the hands. Instead, they’ve continued to push creative boundaries while keeping the atmosphere agreeably breezy – a fine balancing act for a restaurant with clear, myopic ambition.
The intimate dining room backs onto Jesus Green, making it perfect for a pre- or post-dinner stroll (or punt, if you’re feeling brave). The vibe within – all flickering candlelight, stretched shadows and intimate corners – creates the kind of ambience that makes every meal feel like a special occasion, without ever tipping into formality.
The full tasting menu at £145 shows remarkable creativity and deep respect for seasonal produce. Current highlights include smoked Chalk Stream trout with lovage and ikura (red caviar), and Isle of Skye venison paired with Alsace bacon and black trompettes. The blood pudding with mustard and toasted barley has become a signature dish, showing how comfortable they are elevating humble ingredients to new heights.
For lunch, you’ve got options – 22’s short tasting menu offers the same precision in a more time (and wallet) friendly format at £110, while Thursday lunchtimes see a set menu for £60 that remains one of Cambridge’s best value meals. The Cornish cod with brassicas and preserved lemon appears across all menus, suggesting they know when they’re onto a good thing.
The wine program deserves special mention – their sommeliers have carefully curated a list that ranges from accessible to exceptional – the AA recently recognised it as a Notable Wine List, which is actually a more esteemed accolade than the prosaic billing suggests.
The drinks pairings take you on different journeys: the Discovery flight at £79.50 features lesser-known regions and exciting styles, while the Signature flight for £149 showcases fine wines from around the world. Their non-alcoholic pairing at £49.50 receives the same careful attention as its wine counterparts.
Anyway, back to the beginning; start your evening with one of their house cocktails – the Twenty-Two Espresso Martini with muscovado and chocolate bitters puts a clever spin on the classic, while their Cambridgeshire Negroni uses locally-distilled spirits including their own Restaurant 22 gin, created in collaboration with Cambridge Distillery. You could, of course, finish with one, too. Suddenly, that punting feels like a fine idea. Anyone got a life jacket?
Ideal for seeing vegetables in an entirely new light…
In an understated space on laid back Mill Road, with an open kitchen framed by white metro tiles and brass pendant lights, chef Alex Rushmer and his team have created something truly singular. Since opening in 2019, Vanderlyle has evolved from an exciting newcomer into one of Cambridge’s most innovative restaurants – and they’ve done it without ever serving a piece of meat or fish.
The minimalist dining room, with its teal-blue bar and mid-century modern furniture, sets the scene for what’s to come: thoughtful, stripped-back cooking that lets ingredients speak for themselves. Music plays an important role here too (the restaurant takes its name from a song by The National), with carefully curated playlists adding to the relaxed yet focused atmosphere.
At £85, their tasting menu changes with what their local farmers and producers deliver each morning. Expect clever combinations that might make you forget you’re eating purely plant-based food – recent highlights include a smoked carrot tartare with horseradish and fermented white asparagus, and an oyster mushroom milk bun that could convert the most committed carnivore. Their mushroom and ricotta tortellino with bordelaise sauce demonstrates that depth and richness don’t require animal products. It really is a lip-smacking sauce, and we’d encourage Rushmer to start selling the stuff in pint form.
Their signature dishes have become the stuff of local legend – the ‘Vanderlasagne’ layers house-made pasta with 12-hour vegetable ragù and truffled bechamel foam, while their carrot rigatoni cleverly mimics smoked salmon using just carrots, seaweed caviar and dill. Perhaps most impressive is their smoked carrot tartare, a plant-based homage to Thomas Keller’s famous salmon cornet that proves vegetables can be just as luxurious as any protein.
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at Vanderlye – it’s built into everything from their four-service week (allowing staff proper rest) to their pre-payment system that helps minimise food waste. They work directly with regenerative farmers and local producers, creating dishes that celebrate what’s growing right now in Cambridgeshire’s soil.
The drinks program matches this thoughtful approach – their wine list starts from £30 a bottle, with drinks pairings that might include anything from South African Chardonnay to house-made cola herb soda. The non-alcoholic pairing at £35 stands equal to its alcoholic counterpart at £50, with some intriguing, invigorating kombuchas making up the bulk of the offering. Even their petits fours feel considered, providing a perfect full stop to an evening of discovery. Eat your cake, indeed.
Open: Tuesday-Friday 6-11pm
Price: Tasting Menu £85
Wine: Bottles from £30, drink pairings £35-£50, corkage £30
Book ahead: Essential – bookings released first Tuesday of each month at noon for the following month
It feels rather perverse to leave Vanderlyle and immediately duck into a restaurant for some fish, but the proximity here is rather poetic, so we’re running with it…
Ask any Cambridge chef where they eat on their day off, and this unassuming Mill Road spot inevitably makes the list: Jay Scrimshaw and Richard Stokes’s Fin Boys – a restaurant that’s part fishmonger, part dining room, and entirely dedicated to celebrating the best of British seafood. There’s some serious pedigree in the kitchen here: Scrimshaw has previous at Parker’s Tavern and London’s Bibendum and Chez Bruce, whilst Stokes has done time at Alice Waters’ legendary Chez Panisse. It all comes together with a menu of precise simplicity. When fish is being served, there really is no better duo of adjectives.
Working directly with day boats and independent fishermen, the kitchen champions lesser-known sustainable catches alongside the classics – expect to see coley, ling and pollock rubbing shoulders with cod and crab… You know the drill. The menu changes daily depending on what’s been landed, but the cooking is consistently clever without being showy – this is a place that knows when to let exceptional ingredients speak for themselves.
Their a la carte menu, served Tuesday-Thursday evenings and Wednesday-Saturday lunches, might feature anything from cured sea trout in green garlic broth with kombu oil for £12 to Cornish monkfish with boiled courgette, basil and mint at £32. Yep, they love a little verdancy in this part of town…
All that said, it’s perhaps the most humble dishes where the kitchen (and their sourcing) truly shines. The house-made crumpet with Portland crab in a luxurious cacio e pepe emulsion has become their signature dish, and their treatment of Maldon oysters (six for £18 or twelve for £36) proves they know when to let pristine ingredients shine. When we say ‘treatment’, we mean simply shucking them properly and serving them over ice – which is all these guys need when they’re this damn fresh.
That said, weekend evenings at Fin Boys see a more elaborate six-course set menu at £85 that really lets the kitchen flex its creative muscles. Recent highlights include Portland crab with velvet crab and plum vinegar sauce, paired with a 2013 Pinot Gris from Moorooduc Estate in Victoria, both all richness and refinement.
Grab a seat at the pass if you can – the chefs are happy to chat about where your dinner was swimming that morning, and you might pick up some tips for cooking the fish you can buy from their attached fishmonger.
Of note, their commitment to exceptional, accessible seafood extends beyond Mill Road – catch them at The Gog Farm Shop at the weekend (11am-3pm) for alfresco hits like tuna laap and lobster rolls. The farm shop outpost also gives you a chance to grab fresh fish for home cooking, along with their signature oysters in bucolic surroundings.
Ideal for French bistro classics with modern flair…
Holly and Dan Fancett’s slice of Parisian charm is just such a charmer; a cosy space with sage green banquettes and bentwood chairs beneath decorative wisteria, it happens to serve some of the best French bistro cooking in the country.
Since opening in 2021, this intimate bistro has earned its place in both the Good Food and Michelin Guides with cooking that respects French classics while embracing modern British sensibilities. Though it’s a well-trodden path in recent years in that there London, Fancett’s could quite rightfully stand up to Zedel, Racine, Francois et al in a duel, and come out with their head held high.
The prix fixe menus change regularly, showcasing seasonal ingredients with finesse. Lunch brings excellent value with two courses for £30.50 or three for £36. You might find a velvety cream of chestnut mushroom soup with truffle chantilly, followed by confit Guinea fowl leg with braised puy lentils and smoked bacon. Their bouillabaisse of John Dory with mussels, squid, and nduja shows they’re not afraid to put their own spin on the classics, the spicy Calabrian sausage bringing not only spice but a welcome blast of piquancy, too.
Dinner sees three courses of similar confidence, but priced at £58. A recent dish of Cornish crab and scallop mousse lasagne with beurre blanc was a real technical piece of work, and a showstopper quite frankly. Eyes widened on first bite, let’s just say that…
Vegetarians aren’t an afterthought – the double-baked cave-aged cheddar soufflé with soft leeks and English autumn truffle proves that with a dish of utter decadence. If I could eat this every night, I’d happily go veggie, too. I’d also die young, but it’d be worth it…
The wine list deserves exploration, with thoughtfully chosen bottles from across France and beyond. Begin with a Bellini or their house Negroni, before blowing the budget on the suave Thomas Labille chablis at £78; it makes an excellent companion to seafood courses. For something even more special, their fine wine list, curated with Cambridge’s Thorne Wines, offers exceptional bottles at surprisingly reasonable prices.
The intimate atmosphere and professional, warm service make this feel like your neighborhood bistro, even if you’re only visiting for the day – that’s if your neighborhood bistro happened to be in the Marais, of course.
Ideal for transforming “I’ll just have one scoop” into an afternoon’s adventure…
In a sleek storefront on Bene’t Street, Jack van Praag’s gelato shop is something of an ice cream obsessive’s paradise. His culinary background (he’s ex-Midsummer House, don’t you know?) shows in the inventive flavours and meticulous attention to ingredients – think Estate Dairy milk, Pump Street chocolate, and honey from local Cambridge hives.
The menu changes daily, but expect anything from classic iterations done perfectly (their white chocolate and vanilla brown sugar are masterclasses in simplicity) to more adventurous combinations that somehow just work – fig, Manuka honey and gorgonzola might sound odd until you try it. One bite (lick?) and you’ll be a convert. The vegan dark chocolate and sea salt number proves that dairy-free doesn’t mean compromising on richness and mouthfeel.
A single scoop will set you back £2.90, with doubles at £4.90 and triples at £6.90. The attention to detail extends beyond the gelato – their thickshakes at £6 (available with Estate Dairy or house oat milk) are properly thick. For the curious, ‘tiny’ scoops at £1.80 let you sample more flavours without quite so much commitment.
A sign of how good Jack’s gelato is, even in winter there’s often a line down Bene’t Street. Fear not, it moves fast, and gives you time to ponder important questions like whether salted Oreo gelato counts as dinner (it does).
Indeed, we’re not putting our neck on the line (except in the minds of the pedants) when we say that Jack’s Gelato is one of Cambridge’s best restaurants.
Open: Daily 10am-11pm (Friday-Saturday until midnight)
Ideal for North African flavours that transport you straight to the Sahara…
Step through the doors of this Mill Road favourite and you’ll find yourself transported to North Africa, with a real Bedouin tent, authentic wall rugs from the Sahara, and an atmosphere that makes you forget you’re in Cambridge altogether. Indeed, Bedouin’s 2022 win for Best Restaurant in Cambridge at the British Restaurant Awards merely confirmed what locals already knew.
image via @bedouincambridge
The menu roams across the Maghreb, with tagines taking centre stage. The tagine beldi features slow-cooked lamb shank in a rich sauce with tomato, paprika, and chickpeas that falls off the bone, while the tagine berkook brings slow-cooked beef in a warming sauce with ginger, cinnamon, prunes and apricots to the table. Both generous affairs give you change from a twenty. The best of the lot, though, is perhaps the tagine boustaan (£15.90), which proves they take vegetable dishes just as seriously, combining seven vegetables in a tomato and apricot sauce fragrant with ras el hanout.
It’s not only about the tagine here. Begin with the kemiette for £9.90 – a chef’s selection of dips and salads served with hot pitta bread. The borek jubna features brik pastry rolls stuffed with spinach, potato, and feta, while the chekchouka – a dish of peppers, onions and tomatoes with egg and harissa – makes a perfect lunch.
They may not serve alcohol, but Bedouin’s bespoke range of non-ABV cocktails, developed with London Cocktail Club, offers creative alternatives. The Ottoman at £6.50 presents a clever play on tzatziki with apple and cinnamon, while L’Etranger at £7 takes a spiced approach to a Virgin Mary with harissa and cumin. Of course, you could just go with the traditional North African mint tea, which starts at just £1.50.
For groups of six or more, a special menu offers two courses for £20.50 or three for £25. Early birds can enjoy similar pricing Monday to Friday between 12-3pm and 5-6:30pm. The 60-seat dining room fills up quickly, but the warm hospitality and aromatic dishes make any wait worthwhile.
Ideal for Spanish small plates that transport you to San Sebastián…
Mercado Central brings the spirit of Spain’s historic markets to Cambridge. In a handsome townhouse just steps from Trinity College, the ground floor’s open kitchen, backed by striking turquoise tiles and fronted by a marble counter with leather bar stools, adds drama and authenticity to proceedings – grab a seat here to watch the chefs at work with the day’s market produce.
The focus firmly falls on exceptional Spanish produce, whether that’s wild Cornish seafood or aged Rubia Gallega beef from the lush pastures of Galicia. Start with admittedly ubiquitous aperitivos that still mange to set the tone – Marcona almonds and spicy gordal olives at £5 each, alongside sourdough with arbequina olive oil for £5.50. Mercado Central’s selection of Ibérico charcuterie shines, with a plate of acorn-fed chorizo, salchichón and lomo at £13.50 showing why Spanish curing is both an art form and the only way to truly start a meal.
Image via @mercadocentral.co.uk
The menu changes with the market and seasons, but current highlights include wild Cornish squid with confit onion, and a black rice with monkfish, cuttlefish, mussels and prawns that’s a moody, brooding affair. Their grass-fed beef options vary daily (check the blackboard), but all are dry-aged in a Himalayan salt chamber for at least 28 days before meeting the charcoal grill.
Finish with their Basque cheesecake, which lands on just the right side of bitter, perhaps paired with one of Mercado Central’s dessert wines – the Dulce Enro ice wine at £12 per 75ml from Spain’s highest altitude winery is particularly special.
The wine list travels through Spain’s regions, with some exceptional finds from Galicia’s Rías Baixas. Try the Attis Lias Finas Albariño at £58, aged on the lees for extra complexity, or for something truly special, their Attis Mar at £140 – aged underwater in the Atlantic Rias for six months, complete with barnacles on the bottle. As with any self-respecting tapas joint, the sherries deserve attention too, from Fino Inocente at £10 per 100ml to rare Palo Cortado at £13 per 75ml.
At lunch, their menu del día offers exceptional value at £30 for two courses or £33 for three, with dishes like wild mushroom rice with goat’s curd or sustainable St Austell Bay mussels a la marinera.
Ideal for another taste of Cambridge’s ace dumpling scene…
In a modest blue-fronted shop on Norfolk Street, this no-frills dumpling house has been quietly serving some of Cambridge’s most faithfully rendered Chinese snacks for over a decade now. With picture menus in the windows and a functional interior, it’s the kind of place that lets the food do all the talking.
The extensive menu covers everything from dim sum classics to hearty noodle soups, but the hand-made dumplings take centre stage. Available with a vast array of fillings, each dumpling (twelve pieces for £8.90) is expertly pleated to order.
Beyond dumplings, their side dishes demand attention – the cold dressed seaweed and five-spice pig ears make perfect starters, while their noodle soups starting at £8.50 offer warming comfort on chilly Cambridge days. The barbecued pork steamed buns showcase their skill with different dough textures (these are satisfyingly smooth, bouncy numbers), and the green tea cakes provide a perfect sweet finish.
The menu helpfully notes which dishes are spicy (and they mean it), but they’re happy to adjust the heat levels to your preference. Make any a dumpling soup for just £1 more. In this economy and for this quality, it’s no wonder this place is so enduringly popular.
Open: Daily 12-9pm
Price: Dumplings £8.90/12pcs, Noodle soups from £8.50
Drinks: Chinese teas £2.85, soft drinks £2.50
Book ahead: No reservations – be prepared to wait at peak times
Stem & Glory, Station Road *As of February 2025, now sadly closed*
Ideal for plant-based food that makes you forget you’re eating plants…
A pioneer in the UK’s plant-based movement, Stem & Glory proves that vegan cuisine can be both innovative and indulgent. This carbon-neutral restaurant serves up creative dishes that spans global influences, all anchored in a celebration of vegetables.
Their ‘nibbles’ section sets the tone – harissa-spiced nuts at £4.50 or nori popcorn at £4 hint at the kitchen’s gently creative approach. Small plates continue that inventive, globetrotting spirit: BBQ cauliflower ‘wings’ with ranch dip are assertively spiced (and vinegar’d) and all the better for it. The kimchi-stuffed onigiri is equally bold in its flavour profile.
Main courses continue to impress. The signature Redefined fillet mignon with mushrooms and sauté potatoes shows just how far vegan alternatives have come, while the Szechuan aubergine is the pick of the bunch; served over a slippery tangle of noodles, the aubergine has been cooked down until silky, and glazed with miso to introduce the ol’ umami in droves.
There’s good, vegan booze here, too, from craft beers (including Cloudwater ‘Fuzzy’ Hazy & Juicy Pale Ale at £7) to imaginative cocktails like their Stem & Spritz with prosecco, elderflower and lime.
Their set lunch menu (Mon-Fri 11:30-4pm) offers excellent value at £16.95 for two courses or £23.90 for three. Word on the street is that they do a wicked Sunday roast too.
*Sadly, in November of 2024 it was reported that Stem and Glory would be closing its doors for good*.
Open: Now closed
Price: Small plates £8-11, Mains £16-22.50, Set lunch 2/3 courses £16.95/£23.90
Drinks: Cocktails from £8, Wine by glass from £7.70, Craft beers from £5.60
Book ahead: Recommended for evenings and Sunday roast
Ideal for when you want your craft beer with seriously good food to match…
We end in a handsome Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse where E.M. Forster once lived. Here, the Pint Shop has managed that rare feat of being both a serious beer destination and a proper restaurant. The 2013 opening marked Cambridge’s first new pub in over a decade, setting a standard that others have followed. The building, spread across three floors with multiple rooms, balances historic charm with contemporary edge – think parquet floors and industrial-chic décor, with a rear terraced garden for summer escapes.
The beer selection impresses with its breadth and rotation – four cask ales are joined by 17 keg lines offering both UK and European craft options. For gin enthusiasts, their collection (over 100 at last count) ranks among Cambridge’s finest, and the bar staff know their spirits as well as they know their beers.
But it’s the food that elevates this from an excellent pub to a dining destination. The kitchen takes pub classics and gives them a creative twist – their Scotch egg comes with apple and mustard ketchup and pickled mustard seeds, while the chorizo croquettes for are given lift off with chilli and honey-cured egg yolk. Single portion pies are something of a signature, and for good reason; they’re carefully crimped and beautifully burnished numbers, their quenelles of mash and dedicated gravy boats making such a satisfying plateful.
Unsurprisingly, the roast dinners are top drawer here, but even better are the midweek ‘local’ lunches. A recently dish of charred gammon steak (topped with a fried egg, naturally) and pineapple relish was gloriously retro, and for £16 including a pint of house ale, gloriously retro in its pricing, too.
Perhaps the biggest draw here, though, is the burger. A towering number featuring a double patty, house sauce that’s a fine imitation of Big Mac sauce, and Ogleshield cheese, it has a devoted following across the city (you can tell by all the slack-jawed folk walking about). All three of those highlights cost around £20 – not bad value in one of the UK’s most well-to-do cities.
Ever wondered why some recording studios often have egg cartons on their walls? Or why medieval castles, with their thick tapestries, have a surprisingly quiet vibe within? The principles behind sound management haven’t changed much since then—we’re still using mass, absorption, and diffusion to tame unwanted noise.
Indeed, with some acoustic know-how, ordinary household items can be transformed into remarkably effective sound control solutions. We’ve spoken to Mike Jones, Manager at SimplyUnderlay.co.uk, to find out more…
The Science Of Silence
Sound waves behave like water, seeking out any available path and bouncing in unexpected patterns. Professional soundproofing targets four elements: mass, damping, decoupling, and absorption. Household items can effectively replicate each of these principles when used strategically.
Unexpected Acoustic Heroes
Bookshelf Acoustics
Books create what acousticians call a ‘diffusion gradient’—multiple surfaces of varying densities that scatter and weaken sound waves. The secret lies in deliberate disorder. Skip the perfectly aligned shelves and instead mix up book sizes and positions. Hardbacks next to paperbacks, tall art books beside slim novels—this variety might look chaotic, but it optimises sound diffusion.
Strategic Curtain Design
Most curtains hang flat against windows, severely limiting their acoustic potential. Creating a 10-15cm air gap transforms them into serious sound barriers. This buffer zone works similarly to double-glazing, trapping and dissipating sound waves. Hanging curtains in a convex curve away from the wall increases their effective surface area and prevents direct sound reflection.
Multi-Layer Textile Engineering
Medieval tapestries worked because they combined different fabric densities and weaves. Modern equivalents might pair dense moving blankets with lighter decorative fabrics. Each layer targets specific frequencies—lighter fabrics handle high frequencies while denser materials control lower ones. This multi-layer textile engineering not only enhances the acoustic properties of a space but also provides an opportunity for innovative design and aesthetic appeal.
Advanced DIY Methods
Corner Bass Management
Bass frequencies congregate in room corners, a phenomenon known as ‘bass traps’. Transform old duvets or pillows into triangular columns for corner placement. Adding rigid backing (old cupboard doors work well) enhances their effectiveness at controlling low-frequency resonance.
DIY Membrane Absorbers
Sound-induced vibration can work to your advantage. A tightly stretched bed sheet across a wooden frame, with an air gap behind, creates an effective membrane absorber. These target mid-range frequencies particularly well and can be disguised as wall art.
Advanced Window Treatment
Create secondary glazing using heavy-duty clear plastic sheeting and magnetic strips. The key is achieving an airtight seal—even small gaps dramatically reduce effectiveness. This method can rival professional solutions at a fraction of the cost.
Innovative Material Use
Cork Engineering
Cork’s cellular structure makes it an acoustic powerhouse. Wine corks, sliced lengthways and arranged in patterns, create effective modular wall panels. The uneven surface diffuses sound while the material itself absorbs mid-range frequencies.
Foam Transformation
Old mattress toppers become acoustic art when cut into geometric patterns. Different angles scatter sound waves while the foam provides absorption. Planning the design with cardboard templates ensures professional-looking results.
Strategic Placement Science
The 38% Solution
Room acoustics follow predictable patterns. In rectangular spaces, sound absorption is most effective when placed 38% of the room’s length from either end. This corresponds to standing wave formation points—critical for controlling room resonance.
Vertical Space Utilisation
Stripped-down lampshades, hung at varying heights, create excellent sound diffusion while maintaining visual interest. The varying shapes and heights break up sound waves more effectively than flat wall treatments alone.
Specialised Problem Solving
Impact Noise Control
Create a floating floor effect using old yoga mats under rugs. Arrange them in a grid pattern with small gaps between mats—these isolation zones reduce impact transmission. The gaps prevent the mats from acting as a single surface, improving overall effectiveness.
For a more permanent solution, quality carpet underlay is remarkably effective – dense rubber or foam underlay doesn’t just make carpets feel luxurious, it significantly reduces impact noise transmission. Look for high-density rubber underlay marketed specifically for sound reduction—it’s one of the few purpose-built soundproofing materials that’s both relatively inexpensive and remarkably effective. Even under hard flooring, a layer of good underlay can reduce impact noise by up to a third.
Pipe Vibration Management
Wrap noisy pipes in neoprene (old mouse mats or yoga mats work well), secured with cable ties. This dense, flexible material absorbs vibrations before they transfer through building structures.
The Bottom Line
The most sophisticated soundproofing solutions often emerge from understanding both acoustic physics and space characteristics. Document your modifications with sound meter readings—objective measurements often reveal improvements that might be subtle to the ear.
The pile of old blankets in your airing cupboard, those wine corks you’ve been saving, even that forgotten foam mattress topper – each has genuine acoustic potential when used with understanding and purpose, leading to a life lived less noisily when done right,
Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey from a small start-up to the point where you’re ready to sell your business is both exhilarating and challenging. Regardless of the type of small business you own and operate, you will want to boost sales and revenue. That explains why there is such a high interest in small business growth.
From Start-Up To Selling Up
Of course, small business owners need help accessing a straightforward, universally applicable business growth strategy. That’s where we come in. Here’s a simple, straightforward gameplan that outlines the journey from small business start-up to selling up in 11 steps. Let’s dive in…
Establishing Exit Strategy Milestones Early On
Creating a detailed exit strategy in the early stages is crucial for any business owner looking to eventually sell their enterprise. This roadmap template should outline specific milestones that indicate when your business is ready for sale. Consider factors such as revenue targets, market share, operational efficiency, and succession planning.
Document your business processes meticulously, as this documentation becomes invaluable during the handover phase. Develop contingency plans for various scenarios and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and employees.
Remember to regularly review and update your exit strategy as your business evolves. This flexibility ensures that when the time comes to sell, you’re well-positioned to achieve maximum value for your enterprise.
Idea Generation & Market Research
The first step in launching a small business is deciding on the type of enterprise you wish to launch. Will you operate a solely service-oriented company in which you provide your knowledge and time? Or would you instead offer tangible goods online or through an actual storefront? You may want to combine the two.
Whichever path you choose, think carefully about these important financial questions: How much is your available capital limiting you? Do you only have a meagre sum of savings? Do you need the connections and credit necessary to obtain money from investors or a loan? If so, start your entrepreneurial adventure with some inexpensive company ideas.
The first step is conceptualising a unique business idea. It should address a specific need or gap in the market. Be innovative and think outside the box.
Understand your target market and competitors. Research helps refine your product or service and develop strategies to stand out in the market.
Crafting A Solid Business Plan
As we’ve already discussed, planning is crucial before starting a small business. Your business plan is the most formal element of the planning process, even if all of these processes are included.
You are forced to consider the essential components of your organisation when creating a business strategy. It is your go-to-market plan, including your primary objectives, market research, product information, marketing plan, and financial estimates. You can ensure you always know what to do next by keeping a record of these components.
A well-conceived business plan is your roadmap to success. It should include your business model and structure, financial projections, market analysis, and growth strategies.
Get Licenses & Permits
A step that comes with starting your own small business is paperwork. Nobody wants to go against the law. Laws and regulations unique to your industry and local laws apply to your firm.
Different small business licenses and permits may apply to you depending on the kind of business you are beginning and where you live. During the start-up phase, you will need to determine what licences and permits apply to your company.
Getting legal counsel early on can save you a lot of trouble in the future by costing you money and effort upfront.
Securing Funding
Evaluate various funding options like personal savings, bank loans, angel investors, or venture capital. Choose one that aligns with your business goals and financial needs.
The needs of your small business will determine which bank is best for you. You can focus more intently on what you should look for if you write out your banking needs.
To choose the ideal bank for your small business, set up meetings with different banks and inquire about their policies about working with small businesses. Local banks can occasionally support small businesses far more than international ones. Therefore, knowing where you stand about the bank’s requirements is crucial.
Keeping your personal and business funds apart simplifies filing your business taxes and allows you to automate specific processes. Consulting with an SME accountant can also help you make informed financial decisions and ensure your business remains compliant with all regulations.
Building A Strong Brand & Online Presence
Remember to value the significance of this action. Erroneously choosing the first name that occurs to them, many entrepreneurs need to consider the importance and possible effects on their target audience. Prospects build their opinion of your firm based on their first exposure to your business name. The perfect name is essential.
What factors must be taken into account when selecting a company name? It’s crucial to be original and simplistic.
Develop a compelling brand identity that appeals to your intended market. This covers the name of your company, your logo, and the general look of your brand.
Having an online presence is essential in the modern digital world. Create a business website and interact on social media. What tools do you need to operate your business?
For instance, you’ll require accounting software to provide bookkeeping services. You’ll gain from standard business tools like communication and invoicing software regardless of your service; after all, you need a way to stay in touch with clients and collect money.
Delivering Quality Products Or Services
The core of your business is your product or service. Ensure they are of high quality and meet customer expectations. Consistently review and improve your offerings.
If you want to sell goods, would you make them yourself, or will you enlist the assistance of a manufacturer and a designer to make them a reality? How about personalising already available white-label products? Is dropshipping a feasible alternative?
If you intend to provide services, you should ask comparable questions. What is the procedure you will follow to provide your services? What results and experiences may clients anticipate from working with you and your company?
Implementing Effective Marketing Strategies
Use targeted marketing strategies to reach your audience. This might include SEO, content marketing, social media campaigns, or traditional advertising.
For a small business, having a solid online presence would be excellent. When compared to conventional marketing strategies, it is a more economical option. It is beneficial for small businesses that face up against more well-known brands.
Determine which marketing initiatives will most affect your new company first, then utilise your plans to create a list of the abilities you’ll need to carry them out.
First, create a website for your company so potential clients can learn more about you. Additionally, it offers a digital hub for all of your marketing initiatives.
There are numerous strategies to market your business:
What kind of skills and amount of work will you need to start your business? Since they will determine your launch schedule and expenditure, you must address these essential concerns.
Your time investment is a limiting factor if you intend to do the work with others. You must budget for these expenses if you want to hire assistance and the time required to locate and train employees or freelancers.
Finding the proper people for marketing, design, engineering, finance, sales, and human resources takes time and effort. For a small business to succeed, having a competent and reliable crew is essential.
Scaling & Adapting
As your business grows, look for opportunities to scale. This could be through diversifying your product line, expanding into new markets, or scaling up your operations.
Keep going even after you’ve completed the planning, launched your company, and built a clientele. The need you’re meeting may only sometimes exist. Watch the market and recognise when to change your business plan.
Keeping up with the significant trends will give you plenty of time to modify your approach and continue to be successful. All it takes to understand that prosperous businesses can experience considerable transformations is to examine the music industry or Blockbuster videos.
Additionally, as your business transitions to wider customers, you must incorporate effective management and financial strategies. This is why management buy-out strategies (MBO) and advice become especially important if you plan to sell your business.
These strategies involve setting clear, defined objectives that are agreed upon by both management and employees, ensuring that all members of an organisation are aligned in their goals. MBO solutions typically include regular progress reviews, feedback mechanisms, and personal development plans to ensure that targets are met in a supportive and constructive manner.
Preparing For The Sale
Before selling, ensure your financial records are in order, legal obligations are met, and the business is as profitable as possible.Get a professional valuation to understand the worth of your business.
This will guide you in setting a realistic sale price. Identify potential buyers who align with your business’s vision and values. This could be competitors, investors, or even employees. Engage in negotiations with potential buyers. Once you agree on terms, finalise the deal with the proper legal documentation.
The Bottom Line
Transitioning from a small start-up to selling your business is a multifaceted process filled with exciting milestones and challenging obstacles.
Remember, every successful business story is unique; yours will be no different. Embrace each phase, learn from the challenges, and celebrate your achievements.
For thousands of Londoners, 2025 marks a tipping point. With the capital’s average rent now exceeding £2,200 per month for the first time and house prices hitting new highs despite the cooling market elsewhere, the exodus to commuter towns has accelerated.
But this isn’t the same commuter belt story of previous decades. Hybrid working has reshaped priorities – many buyers now happily trade a slightly longer commute for significantly more space, knowing they’ll only make the journey two or three times a week.
Whether you’re looking to buy your first property or seeking more space for a growing family, here’s what you really need to know about the locations that offer the best balance of connectivity, value, and lifestyle.
Sevenoaks, Kent: Premium Living Without Compromise
The speed of connection to central London puts Sevenoaks in a class of its own, but it’s the amenities that justify the price tag. The medieval high street has evolved into a sophisticated retail hub – specialty food store Eat’n’Mess and The Chocolate Shop maintain the independent spirit, while M&S and Waitrose provide practical convenience.
Property choices span centuries – the St John’s area offers Victorian villas within walking distance of the station, while the Montreal Park estate provides larger plots and Art Deco gems. The streets around Granville Road command the highest prices due to their proximity to Sevenoaks School, while the Riverhead area offers better value with the same school access.
Knole Park’s 1,000 acres of deer-inhabited woodland provide genuine countryside on the doorstep. The recently expanded Stag Theatre brings West End previews to Kent, while the Saturday market in the High Street car park has evolved into a self-respecting food destination. You also have National Trusts site Ightham Mote, a medieval moated manor house which makes for a great day out, just 15 minutes away in the car.
Journey: 55 minutes to London Victoria/St Pancras International
Annual season ticket: £5’224
Average house price: £346’048
Nestled in the Medway Towns, Rainham offers exceptional value compared to its London-bordering counterparts.
Experienced Rainham estate and letting agents highlight particular interest in the Victorian terraces around Station Road, where three-bedroom properties still sell for under £350,000. The Parkwood area offers larger 1930s properties with gardens, while new developments near Berengrave Nature Reserve provide modern options with better energy efficiency.
The town’s maritime heritage shapes its character, with Riverside Country Park offering 100 hectares of Thames Estuary walks and protected marshland. Boat owners appreciate the practical moorings at Gillingham Marina (10 minutes away), while the historic high street has seen significant improvement, with independent cafes like The Riverside Rooms joining established favorites.
Schools are a major draw – Rainham Mark Grammar School consistently ranks among Kent’s top performers, while Thames View Primary holds a solid ‘Good’ Ofsted rating. The 101 bus provides reliable connections to Medway Maritime Hospital, while the recent introduction of Southeastern’s high-speed service via Gravesend has cut journey times to St Pancras.
The completion of the Jackson Square redevelopment has transformed Bishop’s Stortford’s retail offering, but it’s the independent scene around North Street and Market Square that gives the town its character. The South Street area between the station and castle remains the property hotspot – Victorian terraces here offer period features and gardens at reasonable prices.
The proximity to London Stansted Airport (15 minutes) adds convenient travel connections without noticeable aircraft noise in the town center. The South Mill Arts Centre provides serious cultural credentials, while the recently upgraded Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre offers Olympic-standard swimming facilities.
Journey: 45 minutes to London Bridge/Charing Cross
Annual season ticket: £5’828
Average house price: £544’967
The Pantiles remains Kent’s most elegant shopping arcade, but modern Tunbridge Wells has spread far beyond its Georgian core. Chapel Place has emerged as a hub for independent retailers, while the new Amelia Scott cultural centre has added contemporary arts credentials to the town’s traditional offerings.
The grammar school quartet (Skinners’, TWGGS, Kent College and Judd) draws education-focused families, though catchment area competition is fierce. High Brooms offers the best value housing within walking distance of a station, while the St James’ area provides period properties with substantial gardens. Dunorlan Park’s 78 acres include a boating lake and events space, while the Common’s protected woodland creates a green corridor through the town centre.
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire: Canal-Side Character
Journey: 35 minutes to Euston
Annual season ticket: £6’152
Average house price: £697’385
Berkhamsted’s high street repeatedly wins ‘best in Britain’ plaudits, and with good reason. The Rex Cinema provides Art Deco glamour and serious film programming, while the canal-side towpath offers an 11-mile traffic-free route to Watford. The Castle Street area commands premium prices for its Victorian villas, while the Northchurch end of town offers better value without compromising on character.
Berkhamsted School dominates both education and architecture, its buildings spanning six centuries of the high street. The surrounding Chilterns provide genuine hiking terrain, while the monthly Food Assembly has evolved into one of Hertfordshire’s best farmers’ markets.
Photo by David Clarke on Unsplash/ Country walk in Berkemstead UK outside of London
Reading, Berkshire: The Mini-Metropolis
Journey: 23 minutes to Paddington (Elizabeth Line)
Annual season ticket: £5’600
Average house price: £407’161
The Elizabeth Line has transformed Reading’s London connections, while the £500m station upgrade has created a genuine transport hub. The Oracle Centre provides serious retail therapy, but it’s the independent scene around Harris Arcade that gives modern Reading its character.
Caversham offers village atmosphere with walking access to the station, while the Conservation Area around Alexandra Road retains Victorian grandeur at reasonable prices. The University area drives a vibrant cultural scene, with South Street Arts Centre and Progress Theatre providing consistent quality programming.
Essex’s only city, Chelmsford, combines excellent shopping (the Bond Street development has brought high-end retail) with surprising green space. Central Park provides 855 acres of riverside walks, while the Hylands Estate offers everything from concerts to coffee mornings. The Golden Triangle between the station, cathedral and university commands premium prices, while Beaulieu Park provides modern family homes with excellent amenities.
The grammar schools (KEGS and CCHS) rank among England’s best, while Anglia Ruskin University has driven significant cultural investment. The new Victoria Square development adds serious restaurant credentials to the city centre, while the Chelmsford City Racecourse provides both sporting interest and conference facilities.
Chelmsford Cathedral
When choosing your ideal commuter location, consider the full picture of your daily routine. Station parking often adds £1,200 annually to commuting costs, while service frequency varies dramatically outside peak hours. Most towns offer ‘station car share’ WhatsApp groups – worth joining before committing to a move. The best approach is to spend time in your shortlisted locations during both peak and off-peak hours, testing everything from the morning coffee run to evening parking availability.
Remember that commuting patterns have shifted significantly post-pandemic. Many towns now offer co-working spaces, worth investigating if you’re planning a hybrid working pattern. Scout out backup routes – engineering works can significantly impact weekend journey times, and understanding alternative options helps inform location choices.
The perfect commuter town balances journey time, property value, and lifestyle factors. While faster connections generally mean higher house prices, the sweet spot often lies in understanding your genuine priorities. A pretty market town might feel limiting if you’re used to urban amenities, while a larger town’s facilities might compensate for a slightly longer journey. The key is matching your specific needs to what each location truly offers – beyond the estate agent headlines.
Average house prices quoted are based on current Rightmove reporting, as of February 2025. Season tickets are based on traveling 5 days a week for 12 months of the year, as of February 2025.
