Tag: London
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Scott’s Richmond: Oysters, Opulence, and the Comfort of Getting It Right
Scott’s in Richmond is the sort of restaurant that makes you want to sit up a little straighter the moment you walk in, as if the building itself has opinions about posture. Oysters, opulence, and old-school service, really, what’s not to love? It is a modern throwback, which is a perfect contradiction and all the…
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The Pelican Notting Hill – Built by Gods
If the ancient gods ever convened on a cloud somewhere above W11 and announced, “Right, let’s design the world’s most implausibly perfect winter pub,” they would, naturally, bicker for a bit; Zeus insisting on thunderbolts behind the bar, Hera wanting better cushions, Dionysus demanding bottomless wine; before finally agreeing to conjure The Pelican, Notting Hill.…
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Vivat Bacchus, Farringdon – A Lunch Upgrade Worth Logging Back Into Teams For
There’s nothing quite like an impromptu business lunch to lift the spirits and recalibrate your day. One minute you’re weighing up whether to endure another Super Green Falafel from Pret or gamble on that egg mayo baguette that’s been sweating quietly in the chiller since 8 a.m., and the next—you’re in a real restaurant. With…
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From Downton to Downtown: The Andaz Experience
When you’re nipping into London for a quick overnighter, location is everything. Schlepping across the capital like some 18th-century explorer, map in hand, is a waste of valuable time you could be spending doing literally anything else. So, you want a hotel near a major tube station—a station that’s basically a public transport Swiss Army…
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One Aldwych: Quietly Exceptional in the Heart of London
Here’s the hard thing about being a luxury hotel in London: standing out. Honestly, who isn’t spoilt for choice? You’ve got the big-name establishments with their red-carpet entrances, top-hatted doormen, and an air of aristocratic pomp, servicing those who like their luxury served with a side of flash. Then there are the multi-national chains—slick, polished,…
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Twice Blessed at Bentley’s: A Week of Unimaginable Indulgence
There are weeks when the heavens part, the stars align, and the gods of gastronomy beam down upon you. This, dear reader, has been one such week for me. Not once, but twice I’ve graced the hallowed halls of Bentley’s in Mayfair. First, hosting a client Christmas lunch in the Mersea private dining room, and…
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The Breakfast Club: A Review by Someone Who Knows How to Plan Ahead
Gen Z’s are famous for their desire for instant gratification—except, it seems, when it comes to queuing outside the latest Instagram restaurant. Unlike most of them, I can make a plan and stick to it. So, instead of standing in the rain with the hopeful hordes, I booked a table. Yes, it’s called being an…
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Shaken, Stirred, and Cloaked in Mystery: Manetta’s Bar Unveiled
Tucked away in London, where cobbled streets and whispered secrets meet, lies Manetta’s Bar. You know the type. One of those subterranean jewels you have to “accidentally discover,” as though stumbling across Narnia through the back of a wardrobe. No natural sunlight, of course. Carpet so thick you immediately reassess your own home’s threadbare offerings.…
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The Gate Hotel, London: Style Without Substance
The trouble with hotels is this: they face two challenges—the building and the service. Separately, neither means a thing. The finest architecture without warmth is just a shell; impeccable service in a soulless box feels like being hosted by a robot. The Gate Hotel, sadly, is a masterclass in missing the point. At first glance,…
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Blacklock: A Glorious Return to Real Life
In a time when half the population seems to avoid anything with a heartbeat on their plate, and drinks are mostly oat milk lattes or craft kombucha, the simple joys of steak and wine can feel like relics of a bygone era. But then, you walk into Blacklock on a Monday night – that’s right,…
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The Travel Critic 