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Fans of the fabulously opulent Taj Hotel Group will surely be familiar with the old world glamour of the St. James Court Hotel. However, those expecting the same classic atmosphere as the esteemed hotel are in for a surprise, as the TH@51, its newly-refurbished modern Indian restaurant, is anything but traditional.

A sleek black hallway greets visitors at the door, revealing a stylish pale pink and mint green bar area, accented with gorgeous copper details. The TH@51 is a refreshingly modern juxtaposition to the hotel’s timeless interiors and stepping into it is like stepping into a completely different universe.

The pastel colour palette extends throughout the space, which features a large teak-wood bar area, minimalist grey marble accents and breezy salmon-coloured booths. The restaurant opens to a sun-lit glass half-dome, offering fantastic views of the hotel’s historical courtyard and the beautiful Edwardian buildings that surround it.

TH@51 reimagines traditional Indian dishes for the curious palates of the hotel’s international luxury clientele and London’s cultural elite. The restaurant draws colourful inspiration and flavours from around the world and brings these to life using only the freshest seasonal ingredients available. The adventurous menu offers just the right balance of exotic flavours and familiar home comforts, with each dish executed with flair.

We started with the Superfood Salad, which offers a generous serving of mixed sprouts with zesty pomegranate dressing, enhanced by a dash of sweet blueberries and roasted pine nuts.

The Portobello Phuket was a standout dish. A portobello mushroom is baked with sambal and aubergine and serves as the perfect base to absorb the rich Thai Green curry and cream cheese sauce, while the basil crisps add a welcome crunch.

The Teriyaki Salmon Risotto, a deceivingly simple dish, is a clever, lighter Japanese take on the Italian classic, resulting in a truly delicious risotto that you can eat forever.

The Bao Buns are a thing of beauty and are made with fluffy white buns and punchy, aromatic fillings. There are two Bao Bun fillings to choose from, the Indo-Chinese Chicken with pickled cucumber or the Tofu & Orange Marmalade. The latter is an excellent and tasty vegetarian version of the dish.

Finally, no meal would be complete without some cocktails, which is where TH@51 pulls out all the stops. All cocktails were curated under the theme ‘Biomes of the World’, with each creation inspired by different climates and cultures from across the globe.

These beautifully crafted and delicious cocktails add a final flourish (or in this case garnish) to what has been a superb meal at TH@51. It is clear that while the restaurant may have only opened recently, it already exudes the menu, service and confidence of the beloved St. James Court establishment it is soon to become.

https://www.th51.co.uk/en/

Summer is the season for al fresco – but it’s also when the London restaurant scene comes to life. While there seems to be an endless, ever-changing roster of cool restaurants in London town, we’ve rounded the top five most exciting London restaurant openings so you can get your reservations in order this summer.

Laurel’s On The Roof: Shoreditch

With its doors officially opened on Thursday 5th May, Laurel’s On The Roof is London’s newest and most laid back rooftop restaurant, bar and pool. Located at the Mondrian Shoreditch, Laurel’s is nspired by 1970’s Hollywood and the legacy of Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. Who/What is Laurel’s you say? – Laurel’s is an all day-dining and drinking hotspot infused with glamour and offering London’s most sought after tables. This effortless rooftop spot is the epitome of laidback California cool and takes diners on an exploration of Los Angeles. Laurel’s offers an evolving all-day, highly seasonal menu, the perfect spot to while away long summer evenings whilst overlooking the bustling Shoreditch neighbourhood. Definitely a London restaurant to hit up this summer.

Riding House: Bloomsbury

On 8 June, Notting Hill will welcome its new neighbourhood spot. Riding House Bloomsbury is the long-awaited second iteration of Fitzrovia’s Riding House Café from restaurateur Adam White. This casual bistro-style restaurant had a successful soft launch on 25th May and is set to be a lively modern brasserie with a members’ club-like atmosphere. We’re sure Riding House will add to Bloomsbury’s burgeoning reputation as the latest dining hotspot.

Riding House Bloomsbury’s all-day dining style menus will be cooked up by Chef Partner Henry Omereye. The menu is international, contemporary and unfussy, with Afro-Caribbean and Asian influences throughout. Riding House Bloomsbury is located in Bloomsbury’s The Brunswick Centre, a listed, Brutalist piece of architecture with interiors contrasting the stark exterior with an inviting interior. Surely this will become one of your new favourite London restaurants.

Mr. Fogg’s Apothecary Mayfair

Mr Fogg’s Apothecary is opening a much-awaited new location in Mayfair. Located on Brook Street directly opposite Claridge’s, the elegant new venue will transport you into Phileas Fogg’s wonderfully eccentric world. The bar will be stocked to the rafters with an extensive apothecary collection, with precise weighing scales on hand to measure out the perfect cocktail serves, perfect for cocktail connoisseurs.

The main drawing room was inspired by an elegant Mayfair townhouse with grandfather clocks, large armchairs and sofas to create a comfortable space to encourage visitors to settle in for the evening. With its own separate entrance is the Elixir Room which houses 24 Hennessy cabinets, each with their own unique key locks which will be gifted to lucky regulars to house their own bottles of spirits within. This cosy backroom has three large wallpapered booths which offer a perfect place to hide away and sample Fogg’s most restorative tipple – what a fantastical place for afterwork drinks.

Walmer Castle: Notting Hill

After being reimagined as a contemporary Scottish restaurant and dedicated whisky bar, Notting Hill dining and drinking institution the Walmer Castle has officially opened its doors. Walmer Castle was relaunched in collaboration with Scotland’s oldest whisky hotel, the Craigellachie Hotel. The Walmer Castle is inspired by the uniquely restorative, mineral rich waters of the River Spey twinned with the eclectic nature of London’s Westbourne Grove. Entrepreneur and hotelier extraordinaire Piers Adam is at the helm of Walmer Castle which serves as a local’s local and capturing the essence of Scotland within the neighbourhood. Walmer Castle spans two floors with a ground floor dining room and bar serving exceptional modern highland cuisine and the first floor Spey Bar with over 400 of the world’s finest whiskies.

Cellar: Hammersmith

Located in the ground floor of private member’s club Kindred, Cellar recently opened its doors the heart of Hammersmith. Cellar boasts a fabulous menu crafted by acclaimed chef Andrew Clarke, whose signature style is instantly recognisable in an ingredient-led and micro seasonal all day menu. Cellar showcases an eclectic range of dishes that celebrate the arrival of Spring produce, using the highest quality local meat, fish and seasonal vegetables.

Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner and with a gorgeous summer terrace, guests can while away the hours whilst feasting on dish highlights such as Fried cod cheeks with harissa mayo and lemon, Celeriac schnitzel with cavolo nero and wild mushrooms and Korean spiced tartare of Dexter beef served with straw chips. Expert mixologist Julian de Feral has created the cocktail menu which offers crowd favourites like the Kindred Spritz, blending Everleaf Forest aperitif, Bonanto cherry aperitif, peach, jasmine soda and sparkling wine and the West 6 Buttered Up.

The Act: Notting Hill

The Act is now open, serving up an all-singing, all-dancing programme of live entertainment and cocktails – seven nights a week. Located in the heart of Notting Hill Gate’s vibrant neighbourhood, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable night out, with performances from The Act’s talented team, as well as appearances from stars of the West End stage. The Act team will spontaneously serenade you with 80’s – 00’s crowd pleasers. Expect nightly flash-mob-style performances of musical favourites such as: Grease, ABBA and The Greatest Showman. Who said show tunes were limited to the West End.

The Umbrella Workshop: Shoreditch

The team behind our favourite East London bars The Sun Tavern and Discount Suit Company recently opened the doors to their third venue, The Umbrella Workshop. Located on a cobbled lane just off Boundary Street and housed in a C19th atelier, the Umbrella Workshop team have carefully restored the space to offer an interactive cocktail experience. The bar is set against an impressive, floor to ceiling display of spirits which include locally made and independent brands, as well as bartender favourites and rare whiskies.

Umbrella Workshop also hosts tastings and workshops, with everything on the menu available to buy and take home. With just 12 seats inside and the same outside, this intimate drinking spot is a hidden gem amongst bustling Shoreditch and perfectly located for pre-dinner cocktails before heading off to local favourites, Brat, St John and Rochelle Canteen.

Alice’s Oyster Bar and Gallery: Bishopgate

City institution Boisdale of Bishopsgate recently opened its new art exhibition and oyster concept, ‘Alice’s Oyster Bar and Gallery’. Blending a stunning marble topped bar with a characterful gallery of contemporary art, Alice’s features works from some of the most talented up and coming artists living and working in London. Alice’s Oyster Bar and Gallery also offers some of London’s finest oysters, a generous array of bar snacks and dishes charged with a taste of Boisdale’s Scotland sitting alongside a creative cocktail menu and a range of outstanding artisan beers from Hawkshead Brewery. Art and oysters? What’s not to love.

Start your weekend RIGHT with this easy one tin bake

An easy bake using seasonal ingredients, the zest and juice of blood orange creates a bold yet sumptuously moist cake. Keep any leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy within 3 days.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Bake time: 45-50 minutes (plus one hour for the oranges)

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

  • 260g baking margarine
  • 260g caster sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 260g self-raising flour
  • 2tsp baking powder
  • Zest and juice of 2 blood oranges

For the decoration:

  • 200g icing sugar
  • Juice of 1 blood orange
  • Sprinkles
  • 1 blood orange, thinly sliced

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C (fan)/gas mark 4. Grease the Bundt tin with a little butter/margarine and dust with flour.
  2. Whisk together the margarine and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, flour, baking powder, juice and zest, mixing until a smooth batter has formed. Transfer the batter to the prepared Bundt tin and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a skewer into the cake comes out clean.
  3. Leave the cake to cool on a wire rack. Do not try and remove it from the tin until cold.
  4. Whilst the cake is cooling, place the orange slices on a sheet of baking paper and bake in the oven for one hour on its lowest setting. Turn the slices over after 30 minutes to ensure both sides are evenly done.
  5. When the cake is completely cool, easy it out of the Bundt tin. If it is reluctant to leave, you can loosen it by gently easing a palette knife or other blunt knife down the ridges of the cake.
  6. Whisk together the icing sugar and blood orange juice, adding a little water if it seems too thick. Pour the icing over the cake and top with orange slices. Enjoy.

Christmas may be over but Six by Nico is carrying the festive cheer all the way through to joyful January with the ‘Miracle On’ Christmas menu.

There’s a story every six weeks at Six by Nico, and the ‘Miracle On’ menu – which was launched on the 14th and will run until the 9th of January is certainly one worth telling.

The six-course menu is a celebration of old-fashioned nostalgia. From Christmas traditions to festive decorations, the menu is a journey back to Christmas spent with family – and serves as a reminder of why we cherish it so much today.

The ‘Miracle On’ menu was inspired by beloved Christmas themes and goes like…

  • Memories of a Christmas Market – Smoked Sausage & Onion Compote, Smoked Sausage Espuma, Crispy Potato, Gherkins & Pickled Shallots
  • Partridge in a Pear Tree – Partridge, Duck & Chicken Boudin, Haricot bean, Pickled Walnut & Salsify
  • Who Doesn’t Like Brussel Sprouts – Chanterelle Mushroom, Sprout Tops, Ewes Cheese Royale, Confit Egg & Fermented Black Garlic
  • Smoked Salmon Blinis – Smoked Salmon, Celeriac, Queen Kale & Granny Smith Apples, Smoked Caviar & Potato Blini Foam
  • Festive Fun and Game – Haunch of Venison, Game Pie, Jerusalem artichoke, Toasted Hazelnut Emulsion & Sherry Juś.
  • Buche De Noel – Dulce de Leche Mousseline, Sour Cherry, White Glacage & Hazelnut, Chocolate Aero

Commenting on his latest culinary masterpiece, Nico Simeone said: “Nothing will stop us all from having a fun-filled Christmas this year, and I think we all appreciate festivities more than ever.

Most of us are familiar with the traditional Christmas lunch and all the trimmings but this December, our team at Six by Nico wanted to bring the magic of Christmas nostalgia to the plate with our ‘Miracle On’ menu and create the perfect Christmas dining experience for all of our customers”.

Miracle On is open from midday, Monday through to Sunday in Six by Nico Canary Wharf. Each six-course menu will be available from noon. The menu will be priced at £37 per person with the option to enjoy an expertly selected wine pairing for an additional £33 at each restaurant. As ever, there is a vegetarian alternative available for every course, as well as festive inspired snack sides, such as Sourdough bread with festive spiced chicken fat butter and Pigs in blankets; smoked ham hock and pancetta ballotine from £5.

Our #TeamCoco review is coming soon – so watch this space

WWW.SIXBYNICO.CO.UK

Hidden amongst the winding cobbles of Covent Garden was an intimate soiree, invite only, hosted by the Don, a taste of Sugarlandia and one of its finest exports – Don Papa rum. Lucky enough to bag an invite, #teamcoco gal Hannah Gregory put on her finest sparkles, got her cocktail-shaking arm limbered up and did what anyone in her position would do: tasted every rum the Don had to offer.

The Don Papa range are dark rums, every edition offers deep, rich flavour with heady notes of vanilla, honey, candied fruits and sugars. It works perfectly mixed or dare I say it, on the rocks – the flavour is that good. It’s complex with no ‘burn’ or harsh alcohol taste, making it incredibly sippable. Also a fantastic base for a wide variety of cocktails – this guy has it all. With its beautiful bottles that would take pride of place on any drinks cabinet (do people still have drinks cabinets?) this would make the perfect gift for any rum lover. Alternatively, it is a fantastic gift to oneself to say “well done for being so bloody fantastic”, which is exactly what I did!

Below are a couple of recipes that really utilise this drink. Enjoy!

Don Papa Rum truffles.

What you need :

  • 250ml whipping cream
  • 100g milk chocolate,
  • 200g dark chocolate (at least 80% – the higher the better)
  • 25g unsalted butter
  • 5 tbsp Don Papa rum
  • Cocao powder for dusting
  • Desiccated coconut for dusting

How you do it :

  1. Grate both of your chocolates into a bowl and set aside (you could snap it into pieces but grating will quicken the melting process).
  2. Heat the cream in a saucepan until just before boiling. Keep an eye on it as you don’t want it to reach boiling point. As soon as it is steaming and the surface is puckering, it’s ready.
  3. Once the cream is to temp, pour over the grated chocolate and whisk until all melted and combined.
  4. Add the butter and rum, stir well until everything is combined. Taste to make sure your rum levels are on point.
  5. Cover with cling film and pop into the fridge for at least four hours.
  6. When you are ready to shape, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take two plates, sift the cacao onto one and pour the desiccated coconut onto the other.
  7. Using a teaspoon, scoop out a walnut sized piece of chocolate mixture. Roll gently into a ball in your hands and then roll into the cacao powder. Repeat till half the mixture is used and then do the same process again but using the desiccated coconut.

Don Papa Al-Nog.

What you need :

  • 250ml unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 shots Don Papa rum
  • 1 shot muscavado simple syrup
  • ice
  • ground cinnamon

How you do it :

  • If you want to make the simple syrup rather than buy use the following method – gently heat 225g dark muscavado sugar, 110g granulated sugar and 225g water in saucepan until the sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool and then refrigerate (this will keep for a few months).
  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Add the rum, simple syrup & almond milk and shake like your life depends on it.
  • Fill a high ball with ice, strain the cocktail over.
  • Garnish with ground cinnamon.

The Experimental Group’s fabulous Miracle pop-up has landed at Henrietta Hotel bringing enough Christmas cheer to brighten up even the dreariest of Decembers. #TeamCoco babes Hannah Tan-Gillies and Hannah Gregory checked out Covent Garden’s most festive pop-up, which transformed the hotel’s mezzanine into a wonderfully whimsical winter wonderland.

Described as the ‘perfect pitstop’ for a Christmassy cocktail, the Miracle pop-up is a fully-immersive space that transports visitors back in time to a 70’s Christmas home. Upon climbing up the stairs you are greeted with an appropriately over the top lighting display, larger than life Christmas tree, and every single retro Christmas decoration ever invented, creating a wonderfully kitschy escape from the realities of daily life.

At the bar, Santa’s little helpers (or in this case Miracle’s expert elvish mixologists) conjure up some fabulously festive cocktails with names to match. The ‘Christmapolitan’ – a crowd favourite — combines Vodka, Elderflower, Dry Vermouth and Spiced Cranberry Sauce. Meanwhile, the ‘Yippie Ki Yay Mother F*****!’ is another cheeky concoction of Barbados rum and rum Agricole, with hints of coconut and pineapple juice that proves (once and for all) that Die Hard is indeed a Christmas movie. There are also ‘Nice and Naughty’ Shots – depending on how naughty you’re feeling during your visit.

There are plenty of festive nibbles too. The Italian Charcuterie is perfect to balance out the sweet flavours of Miracle’s holiday-themed cocktails, while Lamb and Cumin skewers with spicy mayo offers just the right kick to add a flavour punch to your meal. The Wild Mushrooms and Cheese croquettes, our personal favourite, are hearty bite-sized treats that pair perfectly with a serving of Miracle’s ‘Jingle Balls Nog.’

So, whether you’ve been naughty or nice, if you’re looking for an experience to ramp up the Christmas vibes, then definitely head over to the Miracle pop-up at Henrietta Hotel. You’ll get enough Christmas cheer to last you another year (at least!).

To book visit www.henriettahotel.com

Three Uncles, which has opened a second location in Camden’s new Hawley Wharf Food Hall, is bringing truly authentic Hong Kong street food to London and (in our humble opinion) changing the Asian street food game for good.

The popular Hong Kong style Cantonese roast meat kiosk, which first opened in Liverpool Street, was created by childhood friend and chefs Cheong Yew (Uncle Lim), Pui Sing Tsang (Uncle Sidney) and Mo Kwok (Uncle Mo). The eponymous ‘Three Uncles’ specialise in chopped-to-order Cantonese Roast Duck, Crispy Pork Belly and Char Siu Pork, bringing genuine Cantonese flavours to Camden’s food scene.

There are no bells and whistles at Three Uncles, and the menu is as simple as they come, but all the fanfare is reserved for the truly delicious food on offer. We tried the combination platter, mixing Three Uncles’ Cantonese Roast Duck, Char Siu Pork, and Crispy Pork Belly – the Siu Mai trifecta that offered a flavour and texture explosion in your mouth.

The Crispy Pork Belly had wafer thin yet perfectly crisped skin, while maintaining soft and tender belly meat (a difficult task even for the most gifted Sui Mei master). Meanwhile the Char Siu Pork was marinated to sweet barbecue perfection, while the Cantonese Duck balanced texture and flavour perfectly. It was so good – we ordered two – and had our second serving later that evening.

Three Uncles has also added two new Hong Kong dishes to the menu, Auntie Jun’s Char Siu Sou (sinfully delicious, sweet BBQ pork pastries) and Curry Fish balls, traditional fish balls served with Uncle Lim’s special curry sauce. Both additions boast the same comforting home-style of cooking, evoking memories of home, yet adding something fresh to the already fantastic menu.

Three Uncles, while offering truly excellent Hong Kong style comfort food, is undoubtedly leagues away from the average takeaway. As a foodie with mixed Chinese/Filipino descent, these dishes, genuinely authentic and so wonderfully executed, reminded me of busy Sunday evenings in my grandmother’s kitchen, bringing me closer to home in a way that only good food can achieve. I am thrilled to have discovered Three Uncles, and will undoubtedly be back for more.

www.threeuncles.co.uk

Three Uncles, which has opened a second location in Camden’s new Hawley Wharf Food Hall, is bringing truly authentic Hong Kong street food to London and (in our humble opinion) changing the Asian street food game for good.

The popular Hong Kong style Cantonese roast meat kiosk, which first opened in Liverpool Street, was created by childhood friend and chefs Cheong Yew (Uncle Lim), Pui Sing Tsang (Uncle Sidney) and Mo Kwok (Uncle Mo). The eponymous ‘Three Uncles’ specialise in chopped-to-order Cantonese Roast Duck, Crispy Pork Belly and Char Siu Pork, bringing genuine Cantonese flavours to Camden’s food scene.

There are no bells and whistles at Three Uncles, and the menu is as simple as they come, but all the fanfare is reserved for the truly delicious food on offer. We tried the combination platter, mixing Three Uncles’ Cantonese Roast Duck, Char Siu Pork, and Crispy Pork Belly – the Siu Mai trifecta that offered a flavour and texture explosion in your mouth.

The Crispy Pork Belly had wafer thin yet perfectly crisped skin, while maintaining soft and tender belly meat (a difficult task even for the most gifted Sui Mei master). Meanwhile the Char Siu Pork was marinated to sweet barbecue perfection, while the Cantonese Duck balanced texture and flavour perfectly. It was so good – we ordered two – and had our second serving later that evening.

Three Uncles has also added two new Hong Kong dishes to the menu, Auntie Jun’s Char Siu Sou (sinfully delicious, sweet BBQ pork pastries) and Curry Fish balls, traditional fish balls served with Uncle Lim’s special curry sauce. Both additions boast the same comforting home-style of cooking, evoking memories of home, yet adding something fresh to the already fantastic menu.

Three Uncles, while offering truly excellent Hong Kong style comfort food, is undoubtedly leagues away from the average takeaway. As a foodie with mixed Chinese/Filipino descent, these dishes, genuinely authentic and so wonderfully executed, reminded me of busy Sunday evenings in my grandmother’s kitchen, bringing me closer to home in a way that only good food can achieve. I am thrilled to have discovered Three Uncles, and will undoubtedly be back for more.

www.threeuncles.co.uk

London’s most playful and experimental restaurant, Six by Nico Canary Wharf is once again taking foodies on a six-course culinary roller coaster with its new ‘Guilty Pleasures’ Menu.

Running from 20 September to 31 October, the Guilty Pleasures Menu is a celebration of pure indulgence and aims to remove the stigma around our favourite unglamorous junk food.

As with any Six by Nico Menu, the Guilty Pleasures menu flips all our late-night favourites, including a Lamb Kebab, Nutella & Waffles and even a Can of Tuna on its head – elevating their status to gastronomic masterpieces. We tried the Guilty Pleasures Menu with wine pairings to match – which is a must-do for those looking to enjoy the full Six by Nico experience.

Six by Nico Canary Wharf

Innovative Culinary Delights at Six by Nico Canary Wharf

We start with the Spaghetti Bolognese, which combines octopus and pork with fregola sarda and aged pecorino foam, an excellent precursor of the kind of culinary cartwheels to come. This is followed by a ‘straight from the can’ tuna ceviche, which offers a perfect mouthful of pickled watermelon, Tokyo Turnip, Bonito, Dashi Jelly and Avocado Purée.

Course three was Chef Nico’s take on a lamb kebab, which comprised a wonderfully tender sous vide spiced belly of suckling lamb, nestled on some pickled white cabbage, rose harissa emulsion and cucumber chutney. This was certainly unlike any lamb kebab we’ve ever imbibed in, and a clear favourite in our table.

A Culinary Journey of Creative Indulgence

The ‘lamb kebab’ was followed by Chef Nico’s Fish Supper 2.0, which was an undoubtedly creative take on classic fish and chips. The ‘perfect bite’ consists of a Scrabster cod, caramelised cauliflower, and curry sauce – with hints of caper & raisin. Another junk food favourite, Nico’s Fried Chicken foregoes the grease and instead offers a delicious chicken leg roulade with barbecued corn, hen of the woods & black garlic sauce. A sinful and indulgent combo that never overpowers the palate.

The piece de resistance, of course, was the Nutella & Waffles, perfect for those looking to end this dynamic tasting menu with a saccharine finish. Nutella lovers will enjoy the Chocolate and Praline Cremeux, balanced with sour cherry, stroopwafel and crème fraiche. A final flourish to what was yet another bold, creative and exciting offer by one of London’s most exciting culinary talents. You will never view your junk food the same again.

The Six by Nico ‘Guilty Pleasures’ Six Course Tasting Menu is £37 per person and an additional £33 for matching wine pairings. To book your table visit www.sixbynico.co.uk

Guilty Pleasures – CANARY WHARF

Isla, The Standard’s effortlessly cool, lounge/terrace is back and with a bang. #TeamCoco babe Hannah Tan-Gillies checked out the refreshed seasonal menu, which was a celebration of Britain’s Island geography.

The Standard’s distinctively retro aesthetic is on full show at Isla, which now boasts a refreshed garden terrace. Inside, the space is characterised by shaggy fur walls, sleek artwork, and plenty of foliage – all in an inviting yet bold colour palette that isn’t afraid to take a few design risks.

Dark leather sofas and an eclectic library of books and records are dotted throughout the space a, which is centred around a cosy fireplace, a relaxed yet vibrant aesthetic that extends to the dining area. Outside, a mid-century modern outdoor fireplace and retractable awning adds warmth to the cool and contemporary new garden terrace, ideal for dining al fresco even in the autumn months.

Start off with some cocktails. We especially enjoyed the Fino Sour, which was a zesty combination of Barsol pisco, quebranta, orange marmalade, fino sherry and kaffir lime leaves. The Thyme Colins, combines Tanqueray with lemon thyme, elderflower, and aromatic tonic water, while the Pink Rock combines Tanqueray with Mastiha liqueur, pink grapefruit, mint, tonic water, and pink peppercorn. Two vastly different expressions of everyone’s favourite gin cocktail. The masterfully crafted cocktails exuded the same panache as the refreshed menu – confidently combining unexpected notes and flavours in a way that only Isla can achieve.

The revamped menu draws on plenty of international inspiration and is focused on flavourful yet seasonal dishes. The small plates pack a wonderful flavour punch – while the larger plates offer a hearty yet explorative mix of land and sea.

We sampled a selection of snacks and small plates, but the standouts were undoubtedly the Padron peppers, and wonderfully flavourful Iberico Jamon shoulder. The Scallop XO was perfectly cooked and seasoned, while the Oyster with Cider and Dill added a refreshing zing to a timeless classic.

For the large plates, we tried the delicious and hearty Chicken supreme with chicken sauce, which was a simple yet perfectly executed dish, followed by the Ikejime trout with salsa verde that was deliciously fresh – and highlighted Isla’s Island inspirations. The pink Fir potatoes with nori and aioli served as the perfect complement to the large plates, serving as a hearty side without overpowering the flavours of the large plats too.

For desserts, don’t leave without trying the poached pineapple with bread ice cream, which was yet another excellent example of Isla’s bravery when it comes to trying out experimental new flavour combinations to stunning effect. So, believe us when we say that whether you’re looking for a place to enjoy a few midweek cocktails, dine or simply lounge and spend an evening, there is no better place than Isla across the British Isles.

For more information, visit www.standardhotels.com