Bars

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Widely renowned as the oldest surviving cocktail bar in England – as well as being one of the finest – The American Bar at The Savoy is particularly steeped in British history. First opened in 1893, four years after the initial opening of it’s iconic location – Britain’s first luxury hotel – The American Bar was originally located in the riverside part of the hotel, before an extension made space for the wing on...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The first thing I said was, "it's a bit like secret cinema meets Winter Wonderland," but I was shot down immediately by my companions. It is the exact anthesis of the Hyde Park tourist trap, I was told. I apologised for my stupidity and took a massive gulp (ok sip through a straw) of my Jack Daniels cocktail, I had just acquired from their rooftop bar. So I will start again, "this xmas will see a...

By Chris Hemmings, (@hemmch) Whilst Mexican may not be top of everybody’s list of ‘eat out’ spots, Barrio Central has revamped, and is making a strong case for you custom. With the re-opening they’ve really mixed things up with their broad new range of simple, tasty dishes, ideal as a preamble to a night on the town. It’s an intimate venue, particularly upstairs, and certainly not too fancy. The decor is loud and adventurous, but there’s a decent array of cocktails...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food London’s biggest shopping thoroughfare – the World famous Oxford Street still continues to divide opinion across the city. Name any high street shop and you can almost guarantee that Oxford Street is the home to their London flagship outlet, stocking nearly everything you could ever need, conveniently squeezed into one street for optimum efficiency. That’s before 11am, of course. Before every shop is filled like a rush hour train, littered with the contents of...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food With the first Hawksmoor restaurant having opened its doors in 2006, there are now six outposts scattered across the country (five in London, one in Manchester). Positioned just a short walk from Liverpool Street Station, the original opening in Spitalfields also boasts a separate basement bar that’s so strong it could stand alone without the help of the adjoining Steakhouse. Accessible via a door that’s hung just a few metres from the main entrance,...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Frank's Bar on top of the NCP car park, in Peckham is known throughout the UK and beyond, but what most people don't know, is there's another rooftop bar, with an even better view circa two mins away. The Bussey Rooftop Bar is now open for summer 2015 with panoramic views, fantastic cocktails, delicious pizza (provided by indie pizzeria, Pizza Pilgrims) and a huge rooftop cinema across the hallway. It is worth the slog up the flights...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food We’ve already discussed the soaring popularity of cocktails being celebrated within some of the Capital’s finest restaurants, providing a refreshing change from the more classic dinner accompaniment of Wine. However, although the restaurant scene is jumping on board, it’s London’s exclusive Bars that are still reigning over the city’s cosmopolitan drinking scene. And one of these Cocktail Bars that has been generally renowned as one of London’s finest haunts is The Polo Bar, which...

By Jack Peat, TLE Editor A taste for more artisanal and authentic produce has given birth to a ‘source market’ in London where produce is both made and prepared in house. The movement is a natural evolution of a gastro drive which has seen demand for locally sourced produce shoot up as punters seek a seal of authenticity which is often local in nature. The craft/ real ale surge is a manifestation of this. Camden Pale Ale, Meantime Brewery and...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food editor @TLE_Food Despite the constant changes within British food culture, one ideal that has always stuck out as the pinnacle of the “great British dinner” is our beloved traditional Sunday Roast. Nowadays, the clockwork routine of gathering the family at the dining table at a set time to embark upon a grand feast of roasted meat accompanied by a plethora of trimmings doesn’t run quite as deep. However, as a nation, whenever these opportunities do arise,...