Leonie Cooper

So you like ice cream? You’re not alone. We’re all just big children waiting for a little bit of sweet, cold milk to numb the pain of navigating adulthood (even if, for some of us, it does have to be dairy-free milk). It’s no wonder there are often massive queues for our city’s best ices, especially when a heatwave hits.  Want to make sure the cone you’re standing in line for is worth the 30-minute wait ahead of you? Look no further. We've asked ice cream experts from around our office for their favourite places to lick 99ers, chomp on ice cream sarnies, feast on sundaes and neck a scoop or two of premium gelato or soft serve. Go forth and get cool.  RECOMMENDED: The best brunches in London.  The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now to tuck in.

There are many sides to Stoke Newington; there's the yummy mummys and Stokey dads, the bohemian crowd who moved in during the 1990s, and the locals who've been keeping the area's welcoming Irish pubs going for decades. No wonder there are a multitude of watering holes to suit all kinds of outings. Plough through the great gastropubs and old school boozers, to find your favourite. These are ours. If you're looking for more great local east London pubs, then try the best pubs in Hackney, as well as the best pubs in Shoreditch, and the best pubs in neighbouring Dalston. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best pubs in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  So east London it hurts? Follow our Time Out East London WhatsApp channel for the latest news, openings and goss from the coolest bit of the capital. (Yeah, we said it.)

Eating out in Stokey is always a good time. A perfect day in N16 would start with shakshuka at brilliant brunch spot The Good Egg, followed by lunch tacos at Sonora Taqueria and then an all-out Indian veggie feast at Rasa or maybe Scottish-Spanish tapas at Escocesa. But we'll leave it up to you to make your own edible agenda; to help, here are the very best restaurants in Stoke Newington.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Hackney.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. So east London it hurts? Follow our Time Out East London WhatsApp channel for the latest news, openings and goss from the coolest bit of the capital. (Yeah, we said it.)

What's better than an amazing meal? An amazing meal, served up alongside a delicious pint in a cosy pub, obviously. London is the gastropub capital of the world, full of boozers that can compete with our fantastic restaurants in the culinary stakes – but they just happen to come with cracking Victorian buildings, as well as roaring fires, and the occasional dog. So whether you’re after fish and chips, a roast, an oxtail ragù, or a desi pub serving up sublime South Indian cuisine, you’ve come to the right place.  RECOMMENDED: London's 50 Best Restaurants. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Nowhere does Christmas quite like London. Come December, this city comes alive with dazzling festive lights, Christmas markets, theatre and endless shopping. Whether you’re venturing in from a nearby city or travelling from across the pond, there are endless reasons why a stay in the UK’s capital should be at the top of your list this festive season. Ready for some serious Christmas spirit? Look no further – we’ve handpicked the best hotels to stay in at Christmas in the Capital. And we’ve covered all the bases: hotels with Christmas markets on your doorstep, hotels that look out over ice skating rinks, and hotels that go all out for their very own festive offerings, with everything from bespoke Christmas packages to mega trees and blowout festive menus. And yes, you can stay on Christmas Day too. Ready to get festive? Us too. Read on for the best Christmas hotels in London this year.  📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to the best hotels and Airbnbs in London  Who makes the cut? Headed up by editor Joe Mackertich, our team at Time Out London spend their time reviewing hotels all over the Capital – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. Along with our pool of trusted hotel experts, every hotel on this list has been individually reviewed and selected for a reason: we’ve been there, we think it’s great and we’d genuinely recommend it. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links

People are obsessed with Kent for a reason, and to be honest, the biggest reason is probably Margate. This humble seaside town blew up a few years ago (mostly with day-trippers), and since then its seen a string of fantastic restaurants, bars and more open on its seafront.  Put simply, Margate is the perfect day out, from its quaint vintage shops to its old-school arcades, as well as its thriving contemporary art scene (shout out to the Turner Contemporary, one of the best in the business). We’ve curated the perfect day in this delightful seaside town: here are the best things to do in Margate right now.  🚆 RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from London At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This article includes affiliate links. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Dalston is synonymous with the late-night lash in London. Head to the mighty Kingsland Road and its surrounding backstreets and you’re be sure to stumble upon a great place to get into some (totally legal) trouble. Here you'll find chic cocktail spots, hip jazz bars, iconic queer venues, craft ale taprooms, trendy natural wine joints and banging DJ bars. There's something for everyone in this legendary Hackney neighbourhood. RECOMMENDED: Find more fun in the neighbourhood in our Dalston area guide. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. So east London it hurts? Follow our Time Out East London WhatsApp channel for the latest news, openings and goss from the coolest bit of the capital. (Yeah, we said it.)

It’s the neighbourhood where all the cool kids go out to play, so it’s hardly surprising that you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to drinking options in Hackney. Cocktail bars are cutting edge, but in a way that’s not too try-hard. Wine bars bring high-end vino down to earth. And some of the country’s best breweries are found in the area, with hip, hop-heavy taprooms for the beer-loving public to explore, as well as two of London's most hedonistic heavy metal dive bars. Browse through our list of the area’s best bars for boozing inspiration come day or night thoughout Hackney – including Stoke Newington, London Fields, Bethnal Green, and Hackney Wick. If you're hungry, here are Hackney's best restaurants. And if you’re looking for the best bars in Dalston, there are so many there’s another list dedicated entirely to them.  RECOMMENDED: Try out the very best bars in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and has done far more than her fair share of drinking in Hackney over the years. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Sandwiched between the City of London and Shoreditch, Liverpool Street – and its main thoroughfare, Bishopsgate – is packed with high-end dining spots. Lots of them have breathtaking views due to being halfway up skyscrapers such as the Heron Tower, while you’ll find more casual eateries if you head over to Spitalfields and the iconic St John Bread and Wine. Stroll down in the general direction of Monument and you find The Wolseley City. Whether you’re splashing your bonus or just killing time before your a train at Liverpool Street station, here’s a solid selection of the area’s incredible eateries. The latest inclusion to this list is the really rather spectacular Japanese-Italian fusion spot Osteria Angelina. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Borough is known for having one of the best food markets in the world, but it’s also home to some seriously good restaurants as well as the brilliant market. The new Borough Yards development – just next to this historic, edible wonderland – is where you’ll find some of the latest spots to have a sit-down feast, including west African restaurant Akara. If you’re off to SE1 and your stomach is rumbling, then consult this list so you can hunt down all our favourite spots for a fabulous feed, from contemporary Greek classics at Oma and Pyro, to pasta at Padella, classy French cuisine at Camille and seafood at Applebee’s.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in London Bridge. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Trawling London for excellent seafood restaurants is a joy – it turns out that there are plenty of fish in the sea when it comes to where eat a fine coastal supper in the capital. To help you make your choice we've done the decent thing and spread the net wide across the city to bring you the very best in bivales, crustaceans, molluscs and more. From fish and chips and Michelin-starred must-visits to sushi – with this list, London is your oyster. Go fish. RECOMMENDED: The best bargain oysters in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

There’s nothing quite like a proper London pub. Maybe we’re old romantics, but old school boozers are the beating heart of this city. After many evenings of tipsy research, we’ve done the impossible and ranked the 50 best pubs in London.  The pubs on this list are heavy with the powerful whiff of history – though that just might be the sticky carpets – and throbbing with heart, soul and community charm.  How did we decide what made the final 50? With a scary amount of the UK’s pubs closing by the week, we wanted to highlight some of this city’s less well-known and independent inns. The pubs included here are places where you’ll not only get perfect pints, but pickled eggs, epic karaoke nights and intense darts sessions. There’s no gatekeeping here at Time Out and these spots are where old-school regulars rub shoulders with the new wave of pintspeople, from Clapton to Catford, via Walthamstow, Woolwich, Peckham and more. Want cosy and convivial? You’ve come to the right place.  Of course, in a city with well over 3,000 pubs, not everything can make the cut. If you’re looking for pubs with fancy food, you’ll find them in our list of the best gastropubs in London. Wondering where London’s most legendary drinking dens are? They’re all in this list of London’s most historic pubs. Cheers. RECOMMENDED: These are the best pubs in Soho. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and has spent an impressive amount of time drinking in London's many pubs. She even used to

Does a legendary London hotel by any other name still smell as sweet? From 1900 until 2018, this Bloomsbury grand dame was known as the Hotel Russell, thanks to its plumb position on the edge of Russell Square. Designed by architect Charles Fitzroy Doll, it was built as a tribute to a Renaissance chateau just outside of Paris, and remains one of the most imposing buildings in London. Kimpton’s revamping of the hotel was long overdue, and the stately hotel has been restored to something of its former glory. If we haven’t convinced you yet, the hotel also boasts a resident dragon, Lucky George, a bronze sculpture which you’ll find halfway up the majestic marble staircase. There was another, less-than-lucky George, which sank with the Titanic in 1912 (Fitzroy Doll was also behind the first class spaces on the doomed ocean liner). Why stay at Kimpton Fitzroy London? When it comes to locations, they don’t get much more convenient than that of the Kimpton Fitzroy. You’re right in the middle of London, but a million miles away from the hectic hustle and bustle of Soho, Covent Garden or Mayfair. As neighbourhoods go, the always-classy Bloomsbury is a beauty, and though this sprawling hotel might be massive – there are 334 guest rooms and suites and it takes up an entire city block  – it still feels intimate. The entrance is flanked by Henry Charles Fehr’s original sculptures of Queens Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne and Victoria on the Grade** listed Doulton thè-au-lait terracotta facade,

Applebee’s has been doing its quietly impressive thing since 2000. Starting life as a fishmonger, it casually morphed into a cutesy family-run seafood restaurant (making it now one of the oldest on this Stoney Street strip) which remains fit-to-bursting every evening. Brown crab rarebit was delightfully chunky, and layered with a heroic portion of salty samphire To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Applebee’s had a bit of an interior spruce up in 2025, and is now a light, bright and ultra-convivial space in which to plough through a superlative seafood offering from executive chef, Frankie van Loo. Super-sustainable, the menu at this Borough Market mainstay charges regularly, depending on what the Devon and Cornwall dayboats have brought to Brixham Fish Market. Our oysters were hearty and so fresh they might have made a run for it had they had legs, while a starter of wild seabass ceviche came meaty-thick and lifted by a vibrant strawberry and citrus dressing. Brown crab rarebit was delightfully chunky, and layered with a heroic portion of salty samphire, and followed by two sturdy and sizable grilled wild prawns honking with garlic butter. If there’s something Applebee’s does just as well as fish, it’s beautifully buttery sauces swirled with radiant green herbs.  We clock a massive fish and chips complete with a tower of tartate being delivered to another table and almost stand and applaud, but it’s creamy Cornish hake on top of a melt-y potato rosti with beurre blanc and a s

Nobody is safe from BuzzBallz. Their empty carcases litter the streets of London like so many cigarette butts, cackling in the face of rumours that Gen Z don’t drink alcohol. They most certainly do! They just can’t afford £9 pub pints! Following their status as pavement pariahs, BuzzBallz have now made the leap into our bars, and there’s even a vending machine dishing out these circular booze bombs in the latest of east London’s new wave dive bars. Like Rasputin’s, Easy 8 and Helgi’s before it, All My Gods runs because the long-gone likes of the Crobar and Intrepid Fox walked. A touch cleaner and less stinky than its grimy forebears (though give it a few years and the filth will no doubt come), this project from the team behind Denmark Street’s sleek whiskey bar Dram also comes with innovations that would have made the Crobar’s most grouchy patrons shake their heads in despair. Alongside the BuzzBallz vending machine (which also dishes out cans of White Claw), there’s also a ‘Martininator’ - a Jagermeister machine bought on eBay that’s been tweaked to pour the coldest martinis in the UK at a chilly, Jack Nicholson-at-the-end-of-The-Shining temperature of minus -18 degrees. Something else Crobar regulars might have sniffed at it is the inclusion of Champagne on the menu. But this isn’t any champagne, this is London’s cheapest glass of Ruinart, aka the bartenders’ favourite, at £13 a flute.  If playing on a black velvet pool table while sipping champers to a soundtrack of Black

Stationed at the Pembury Tavern since 2018, Ace Pizza has long been in Time Out’s good books (if by good books you mean our list of the best pizza in London) thanks to their giddy, stonebaked ‘London-style’ pizza, which combines the crispy-bottomed New York slice with the slow-fermented, bubbly crusts of the Neapolitan original.  Ace are still dishing out pub pies over in Hackney Downs, but this, their first stand-alone restaurant. shows that they’re finally ready to play with the big boys (if by ‘big boys’ you mean Yard Sale). Fried artichokes are soft inside, but tough on the outside, like a hardboiled 1940s gumshoe with a heart of gold On a sticky summer’s evening, the simple primrose and terracotta-shaded storefront is popping off. There are gangs of pals tearing into pizzas and pints, sunburned couples bickering while queuing for collection, and a veritable pound of hounds curled up on the floor. Ace Pizza does a good job of breaking up the undeniable smugness of Victoria Park Village with its uber-casual attitude. There’s no banging on about biodynamic wine or performative menu pointers about regenerative farming. The only real quirk about the restaurant is a moody, red-lit darkroom at the back of the space, kind of like Berghain but for aperitivo rather than fisting.  But largely, this is a simple, distraction-free zone dedicated to the business of eating pizza and getting a hot-honey margarita buzz on with friends. But unlike the Pembury, there’s more than just pizza

Rare is the pub that opens at 8am and isn’t around the corner from an early morning meat market (or a Wetherspoons). The Angel – which is from the same team as Highgate’s primo gastropub the Red Lion & Sun – is bucking the trend with a classy breakfast bistro offering, before easing punters into lunchtime wine and evening feasts (though not on Sun-Tue, when it shuts up shop at 6pm - they’re not maniacs). Booze begins at 10am, if you’re wondering, with a kimchi bloody mary one of the more acceptable pre-lunch libations on offer.  Formerly the unremarkable Angel Inn, the Angel relaunched in 2025 on a prominent corner of the quaint Highgate High Street, well aware that it needed to offer something different in an area already packed with exceptional pubs. Despite being super close to the aforementioned Red Lion & Sun, ever-popular Flask, cosy Prince of Wales and Americana-themed Dukes of Highgate, the Angel stands out. Airy and bright, the space feels more like a Parisian brasserie than a north London boozer, with classy touches such as elegant fairground-styled painted logos for your pints rather than ugly branded pump clips. Kippers, full english brekkies and a selection of pastries are available until 5pm, after which the evening menu kicks in, with the likes of bavette steak and chips, confit duck leg, and Wagyu double cheeseburger up for grabs. But this isn’t one of the gastropubs where you’ll be sneered at for only ordering booze - from what we can see on our visit, drinke

Islington isn’t exactly wanting for good boozers. The fabulous Wenlock Arms and ultra-welcoming Britannia are both within spitting distance of the freshly-revamped William IV, which offers a more refined, gastro take on classic north London pub proceedings.  Head to the spacious ground floor for the kind of shabby chic backstreet experience you’ll also experience at places like the characterful Earl of Essex – but upstairs is where things get serious. The pub’s candle-lit Regency-era dining room, which comes with shades of the Quality Chop House, doesn’t just offer an excellent Sunday roast, but week-round dining that feels more King Henry VIII than William IV. We’re talking massive salty chops slathered with a Rorschach test of melted butter; an allotment’s worth of spuds with a creamy slab of plaice; meaty platters of perky oysters; chickpea panisse that are fatter than the fattest chips and William IV’s house speciality – malty and toasted Guinness bread which comes with a honking, ultra-savoury Marmite butter that looks not unlike a dollop of gelato. All of this to a sublime soundtrack of Scott Walker. Come hungry, and feast until you have to be rolled out of the joint like the decadent king you are.   Time Out tip This might be a pub, but the wine list is epic and they also make a marvellous martini. The 2:1 Coastal Martini is a light-touch take on the cocktail classic, meaning you can get stuck into a bottle of lovely Savvy B after.

Expectations for Canal are ludicrously, toweringly, almost worryingly, high.  That’s what happens when your team already runs one of London’s best restaurants; distinguished sausage slingers of Shoreditch, Bistro Freddie. They’re also behind those charming playboys of the seasonal small plates scene; Crispin, Bar Crispin and Crispin at Studio Voltaire in Clapham. Does Canal match their majesty? Yes. Well, almost.  It is like taking an entire Sicilian beach into your mouth, minus the sand The glossy riverside retreat sits pretty on a new-build chunk of yet-to-be battered brickwork by the Grand Union Canal. There’s a waterfront terrace outside with views of wall-to-wall west London graffiti and inside is all glossy chrome tables and putty-coloured plaster walls, with bathrooms that seem lifted directly from a louche 1960s architect's Barbican bolt-hole. The staff too, may be the best dressed in London, in their baggy denim slacks and matching fishing gilets designed especially by counter-cultural menswear titan and eternal cool guy Nicholas Daley.  The chef too, has everything going for him. New York-born Adrian Hernandez Farina has the kind of CV that most cooks would chop off a finger for. Here in London he’s done stints at Humo, Luca, Hawksmoor, Smokestak and Chiltern Firehouse, while he’s also served time at the irreproachable triple-Michelin starred French Laundry in California.  Some dishes reach the giddy heights of Bistro Freddie. Mangalitza sausage is juicy and pert,

The first London branch of Dishoom’s all-day Bombay-inspired cafe sideline can be found in the jazzed-up bones of a grand Victorian boozer on one of the city’s most famous streets. Permit Room Portobello comes on the back of branches in Brighton, Oxford and Cambridge, and is, essentially, Dishoom with a side hustle as a Notting Hill creative director. It’s still fairly pub-like in demeanor; there’s a big long bar and cosy booths, but design-wise it’s had the full Dishoom treatment; glossy wood panelling, a smattering of South Asian art, embroidery pieces, parquet flooring and potted palms. There’s a slightly formal first-floor dining room – good for dimly lit dinners as well as chai-fuelled weekday co-working – but if you’re popping in to hoover up an 8am bacon naan, then the more casual ground floor is where you’ll want to be.  When it comes to food, the menu is shorter than your standard Dishoom offering, but with dishes exclusive to the Permit Room, such as chilli-cheese naan bites, and fish chapali patties, as well as cinnamon-spiked French toast for brekkie. But what really makes the Permit Room special is the fact that it’s home to a stunningly designed two-room apartment upstairs - yes, a Dishoom hotel. It’s £700 a night, but could comfortably sleep four, with bouncy beds, a large living area and a view up Portobello Road that seems straight out of a Richard Curtis movie. It feels less like a hotel and more like your stylish auntie’s west London bolthole, complete with

Once home to the Electric Diner (part of the Soho House Group-owned Electric Cinema) this oddly inviting, tunnel-like space is now the second London outpost of the very delicious Speedboat Bar. One of London’s best Thai restaurants, nothing has been lost in translation when it comes to Speedboat Bar 2.0. The Bangkok-inspired flavours still hit hard, with the seriously spicy chicken salad with green mango kerabu a must-order, alongside a compelling crispy pork with creamy black pepper curry, as well as a whole sea bream in addictive makrut lime sauce. Much like at the Rupert Street original, no order is complete with a plate of chicken skins with zaep seasoning. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights (and midnight during the week), it’s also a great bet for a late-night feed-up.  Read the full review of Speedboat Bar in Chinatown here. 

There’s nothing that puts me on edge more than the threat of someone ‘doing up a pub’. More often than not, it means stripping a historic community hub of everything that made it special, before whacking in some Metro tiles, a couple of Babak Ganjei prints and hoping for the best.  Beef with murky tonnato sauce is intensely savoury, and wears fried sage leaves like a Wiccan tiara  Elephant on Lower Clapton Road – once the statuesque Elephant’s Head, but more recently an Irish pub, then a forgettable bar, then boresome brasserie – has escaped the pitfalls by working backwards, peeling away various refits to reveal a striking Victorian boozer. Of course, it’s not really a pub anymore; there is table service, menus, and a very good wine list. You could call it a gastropub at a push, but to call it anything other than a restaurant would be doing it a disservice, because what it is a great restaurant.  With a restored, curved-glass ceiling at the back of the room (apparently once part of a local opera house or cinema, reports differ) and elephant-adjacent 1950s movie posters on the walls, the room feels like the Prince George in nearby London Fields, shabby and welcoming, with booths, nooks and one long table for family-style dining (while we’re here, two groups of eight take it over in turn).  With ex-Manteca chef Francesco Sarvonio in the kitchen, the food is of a southern Italian persuasion and not a single dish falters. Creamy seabass crudo comes in an addictive melon sauce,

This tucked-away test kitchen for nearby bars Discount Suit Company, The Sun Tavern and Parasol, weirdly might be the best of the bunch and finding it is all part of the fun. Head down an alleyway it doesn’t look like you should be heading down and you’ll be greeted with the site of a teeny, tiny 12-seater bar situated in a 19th century atelier workship. At once dramatic and extremely cosy, it would be perfect for an illicit liasion were you that kind of person. If not, use it as a place to try out a host of weird and wonderful cocktails that might end up on the menus of the other Umbrella Project bars. On our last visit we tasted a baklava old fashioned and saw God. Seats outside double the capacity, and there might not be a nicer place in the area to drink away a warm summer evening. Time Out tip You are but steps away from one of the best restaurants in London; Rochelle Canteen. Order this If none of the experiemental specials take your fancy, they can make pretty much any classic cocktail you care to drink.

Will the comestible wonders of Rye Lane never cease?  Peckham’s perma-packed main drag currently offers everything from indulgent Malaysian cookery (Janda Diner), to rooftop picantes (Forza Wine), one of the cheapest pints of non-’Spoons Guinness in London (Nag’s Head), and impeccable Nigerian barbecue (Suuyar). The exact point where Saigon canteen culture meets the contents of Charli xcx’s Dropbox Follow the smoke drifting across the road from Suyaar and you’ll find the latest addition to SE15’s substantial food trail, Lai Rai. A new-school Vietnamese with an adamantly ‘no pho’ menu, Lai Rai has local roots (it’s run by the same family as nearby Bánh Bánh) but is a snackier, share-ier proposition than its big bowl-proffering sibling.  Lai Rai’s discreet shopfront is immediately rendered indiscreet thanks to a red-and-white striped awning nabbed from a passing funfair. Inside, Lai Rai continues with its endearing brand of intensity. Lit by red neon and with a clinical stainless steel counter, the rest of the small space is a jumble of high and low tables (there’s also an airier, less full-on upstairs level); suggesting the exact point where Saigon canteen culture meets the contents of Charli xcx’s Dropbox. We match the chaotic energy and start with a mango-muddled picante complete with strands of potent red chilli, and so begins a fast and furious assault of flavour. A bowl of slow-braised pork belly pieces, sweet and sticky nugs of crispy, crunchy, and fatty flesh, could be

Pub pros CAMRA – AKA the Campaign for Real Ale – have revealed the organisation’s London Pub of the Year 2025. The annual competition sees 16 regional and national winners crowned in UK, and the capital’s title has been taken by a six-time winner of the London contest. So congratulations are in order (again!) to the Hope in Carshalton (which yes, is in the Greater London area – we checked!). According to CAMRA, the community pub is ‘by beer enthusiasts for beer enthusiasts’, and features two regular ales, five changing guest ales and craft keg beers. ‘There is a piano in the conservatory room but no fruit machines, TV or ‘muzak’.’ The 16 regional winners are now in the running to be named CAMRA’s overall Pub of the Year. Four finalists will be announced in October, and the overall winner will be revealed in January 2026. The current holder of the title is The Bailey Head in Oswestry, Shropshire. Speaking about the finalists, Andrea Briers, CAMRA’s Pub of the Year Co-ordinator, commented: ‘It is a real pleasure to announce this year’s top 16 pubs, each of which has demonstrated exceptional quality, warmth and dedication to their communities. These pubs are shining examples of what makes the Great British pub so special, from perfectly kept pints to a genuine welcome for all.’ ‘Achieving this in the face of rising costs and other pressures is no small feat, and we want to see these pubs, and thousands of others like them, continue to thrive. That’s why we’re calling on the Chan

The end, quite potentially, is nigh. We bring you news that a London pub (one in a train station, but a London pub nonetheless), has apparently started adding on a service charge for drinks ordered at the bar. Yes, you heard right – this isn’t for table service, but for bar service. Whatever next! The pub in question is the Well and Boot in Waterloo station, which has been adding on a 4 percent charge to any drink (and food) ordered at the bar, reports the Telegraph. A sign on the bar states that the charge is ‘optional’ but that it will be ‘automatically added’ to every bill. Time Out contacted Glendola Leisure, which runs the pub, for comment but did not hear back. We’re now more than used to pubs charging a 12.5 per cent service fee for food and drink which is delivered to the table, but there’s something about a service charge at the bar that feels a little… off, especially if you’re just ordering a single drink.  This follows news that a central London pub was charging an extra £2 on all pints served after 10pm. All the more reason to take a look at this new map which shows you every single happy hour in London – there are cheap pints out there, you just need to know where to look. UPDATE: An investigation by London Centric has revealed that nine Glendola pubs across London have rolled out the 4 percent service charge. Those are:  The World’s End in Camden The Fox in Shoreditch The Lansdowne in Primrose Hill Waxy O’Connor’s in the West End Waxy’s Little Sister in the We

It’s time to eke out the dog days of summer by eating your dinner on the street. Not, like, off the actual pavement, but on an alfresco table at one of Covent Garden’s many restaurants.  The Mayor of London’s Summer Streets scheme will, by summer’s end, have seen four neighbourhoods turned into outdoor eating and drinking areas, with the West End reportedly now launching on August 22. The areas are spread across the city, with Brixton, Leyton and Shoreditch having already launched. St Martin’s Lane will be made car-free from 11am to 11pm, and alfresco licences have been made available for up to 34 businesses. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (via My London) the scheme will start this Friday and run until the end of October.  The LDRS has visited St Martin’s Lane and spoken with several restaurants and cafés, all of whom said their licences are to become operational on August 22. It is understood they are to run until the end of October. They confirmed that Fumo, Côte Brasserie, the Real Greek, La Roche, Pizza Express and Browns are some of the restaurants that will be taking advantage of the scheme. However, they added that a number of the outlets thought the scheme should have kicked off earlier in the summer.  Antonio Simonte, general manager of Fumo, told the LDRS: ‘It's been a number of years I have tried to get tables outside. We should have started earlier I believe. It's the end of August.’ The best restaurants in London for outdoor dining. Get the l

On the hunt for your next great Indian meal? We feel you. If you’ve already worked your way through our list of the best Indian and south Asian restaurants in London, then you’re probably in need of extra inspiration. Step forward the English Curry Awards. Run by Oceanic Awards, the annual competition exists to ‘celebrate the rich tapestry of flavours that the curry industry brings to the English culinary landscape’, and was held on August 11 in Birmingham. Worthy work, we think you’ll agree. While London didn’t scoop the top prize of overall national champion – that went to Sherkhan of Alnwick, a locally beloved restaurant and take-away in Northumberland – there were a bunch of regional winners and London’s greatest Indian restaurant was named as Masala Inn, which you’ll find on the fringes of south London in Bexleyheath. A ‘contemporary Indian restaurant and grill’, Masala Inn’s menu features a number of signature dishes, including Goan fish masala, creamy malabar, and lamb kaalia, as well as a host of biriani and balti dishes.  Masala Inn fans have been showing their love of the restaurant on TripAdvisor, with a not too shabby 4.7 rating. One wrote: ‘Everything we ordered was fantastic, especially the Malabar chicken; so rich and creamy!’ Another added: ‘The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the food is outstandingly good. I’ve tried many of the items on the menu, the railway curry is excellent, full of tender lamb and flavour.’ More food news: Hyped pizza chain Yard S

More London pizza news?! Yes, actually! Following reports that the best pizza chef in the world is opening up a new restaurant in Soho, we bring you sizzling hot information on the mighty Yard Sale, who will be launching their 15th site in London next month. The lucky location this time is on Lavender Hill in south London, with Yard Sale Pizza Battersea opening in late September. It’ll offer both delivery and collection, but this won’t be an eat-in restaurant like some of Yard Sale’s other shops. The delivery area will encompass Battersea Park, Nine Elms, Queenstown Road, and Clapham Junction, as well as parts of Clapham, Wandsworth and Stockwell.  The new Yard Sale will join branches in Clapton, Finsbury Park, Walthamstow, Leytonstone, Hackney Road, East Dulwich, Balham, Crystal Palace, Crofton Park, Tottenham, Hither Green, Earlsfield, Tufnell Park, and Bermondsey – meaning their ruthless domination of the city’s pizza scene is nearly complete.  The menu will include Yard Sale greats such as Holy Pepperoni with smoky pepperoni and nduja), as well as the TSB with tenderstem broccoli, pine nuts, garlic oil and parmesan. Keep your eyes open too for regular collaborations with London’s best restaurants and chefs as well as comedians, musicians and all-round cool people who like pizza.  Yard Sale Pizza Battersea will be at 55 Lavender Hill, SW11 5QN. The best pizza in London, according to Time Out. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events

In search of cheap drinks in London? Then may we point you in the direction of Happy Places, an interactive map which tells you about every happy hour taking place in London, across a whole host of pubs and bars. The app, devised by City-worker Andrew Myers, is currently only available on the web, but iPhone and Android versions are on their way.   ‘Last weekend I pulled this together for me and my mates after realising (again!) the complete devastation a night out can have on your bank balance,’ says Myers. And we thank you for your service.  The app lets you see happy hours happening right now, as well as giving you the option to slide forward in time to spot upcoming deals. ‘Down the line, I’d love to roll it out across the UK, add bottomless brunches and food deals, and even bring in community features so people can share tips and finds,’ adds Myers.  Happy Places The app encompasses venues across London, from Boxpark in Wembley, to London’s best dive bar Blondies in Clapton, and all the remaining branches of Simmons, which is about to close four of its cheap and cheerful cocktail bars. Check out Happy Places for yourself here. The best bars in London, according to Time Out.  A game-changing new London pub map shows which boozers are currently in the sunshine. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter

London pizza parlour Napoli on the Road does pizza very, very well. It’s run by Naples-born pizzaiolo Michele Pascarella who was crowned Best Pizza Maker in the World at the 50 Top Pizza Awards in 2023, while the brand itself was named Europe’s Best Pizzeria in 2024 and 2025 at the 50 Top Pizza Europa. There’s just one issue; Napoli on the Road only has two branches; in Chiswick and Richmond. Until now.  The rest of London can breathe a sigh of relief as Pascarella has decided to open up a third pizza parlour in a slightly more convenient location than on the fringes of far-flung southwest London… yes, Napoli on the Road is coming to Soho!  Opening this autumn, the third branch of Napoli on the Road will be a two-floor restaurant at 140 Wardour Street, with an a la carte menu on the ground floor and a tasting menu offering in the basement... a pizza tasting menu? We can only dream. The ground floor space will feature chrome pizza ovens and white-washed walls. It all sounds very chic, to be honest. Speaking about the new opening, Pascarella commented: ‘Soho is full of creativity, culture and open-minded attitudes. We’re so excited to add a new approach to pizza to the tapestry of Wardour Street. Soho was where I first began working in London; returning feels like a homecoming and a dream come true.’ 140 Wardour Street, Soho, W1F 8ZT The best pizza restaurants in London, according to Time Out. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and

A central London pub is set to reopen after having almost a million pounds pumped into it. The White Horse and Bower on Horseferry Road has been closed since January 2024, but is set to relaunch next month. The Shepherd Neame pub – which dates back to 1816 and was rebuilt in 1894 – will reopen on September 10, featuring a restored tile facade, new awning, bespoke hand-painted swing sign, herringbone timber floor, rear booths with stained-glass screens and a reclaimed oak bar which has been repositioned in order to make the pub feel more welcoming.  The British Guild of Beer Writers also reports that there will also be a timber fireplace and hand-painted, Edwardian-style Lincrusta wall finish. The Pimlico pub’s operations manager Ryan Torrie commented: ‘The White Horse and Bower is a fantastic pub in an incredible location. Our aim with this project is to preserve and celebrate its unique character while introducing a stylish, new experience. With a vibrant food and drink offer, live events, and beautiful surroundings, we’re confident it will become a local favourite once again. We can’t wait to open the doors and welcome everyone back.’ The pub’s new menu will feature Whitstable Bay beer-battered haddock with chips, hot smoked salmon niçoise, and a 5oz grilled sirloin with Parmesan and garlic butter, as well as burgers and brunch served on the weekends.  As well as Shepherd Neame’s Kentish beers the drinks menu will include cocktails (margaritas, mojitos, espresso martinis a

For the past few years Crisp Pizza has held serious sway over London’s many pizza lovers.  However, its slightly far flung nature – Crisp is currently based in The Chancellors pub in Hammersmith – means that securing a slice has been a bit of a mission for anyone not based in west London.  That’s all set to change this autumn, which is sad news for Hammersmith locals, but good news for everyone else. Crisp Pizza founder Carl McCluskey has explained that Crisp has ‘outgrown’ The Chancellors, which has been run by his family for decades, and will now be moving its centre of operations to Mayfair. As of October, Crisp Pizza will be operating out of The Marlborough on the corner of North Row and North Audley Street, just off Oxford Street. The Marlborough, which has been closed since 2020 and was originally known as The Marlborough Head, is being relaunched by McCluskey, alongside the team from the Devonshire in Soho; Charlie Carroll of Flat Iron, chef Ashley Palmer-Watts and publican Oisín Rogers.  Like The Devonshire, The Marlborough will pride itself on its Guinness, as well as serving Crisp’s renowned pizza from a bespoke pizzeria downstairs. Upstairs will be more of a traditionally-styled London boozer.  The Marlborough is at 24 North Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 6WD Time Out’s top 20 list of the best pizzas in London can be found here. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp chann

Atomix, the New York-based experimental Korean restaurant, is coming to London for one night only. Ranked at number 12 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list – the highest placement for any north American eatery in the ranking – Atomix will be teaming up with Marylebone’s Kol (which currently sits at 49 in the list) for two seatings of an eight-course menu on August 19. It will cost £250 per person. Manhattan’s two Michelin star Atomix is run by Ellia and Junghyun Park, and it’s Seoul-born chef Junghyun who will be joining Kol’s Santiago Lastra in the kitchen for the special menu. Atomix was praised as the ‘ultimate gastronomic manifestation of the K-wave phenomenon’ and ‘Korean dining at its very finest’ with ‘dishes grounded in heritage, but distinct and innovative,’ by the World’s 50 Best organisers.  Earlier this year it was revealed that manager Ellia and Junghyun Park will be opening their first London restaurant in Mayfair in 2026. Named ‘Kiji’, the Korean BBQ restaurant will reportedly ‘take diners on an unmatched culinary journey’.   Atomix – which is the follow up to Ellia and Junghyun Park’s first Manhattan restaurant Atoboy – serves a 10 course tasting menu and offers ‘new Korean cuisine’.  The restaurant says: ‘Ato, stemming from the ancient Korean word for “gift”, is the innovative cuisine that husband and wife team – chef Junghyun and manager Ellia Park – hope to deliver to the world using New York City as their stage. ‘Atomix, a follow-up to their well-love

Lots of wonderful new restaurants have opened over the past few months, from the lovely Lupa and Lai Rai in June, to Elephant in Clapton, Shanghai Me in Mayfair and the new Notting Hill branch of Speedboat Bar last month, with loads more set for August. But let’s take a minute to pour one out for those that have left us this summer. Here’s some of the restaurants and bars that we’re going to miss. London restaurants that closed in summer 2025 Bruno's 1. Bruno’s, Islington Opened at the end of 2022 by brothers Fin and Lorcan Spiteri, you could find Bruno’s bobbing alongside its sister restaurant Caravel on the Regent's Canal, but this barge bar has sadly served its last waterborne cocktail. A fond farewell to their Starliner Martini - a turbo Espresso Martini with tequila and chocolate liqueur which left us unable to sleep until 3am.  Photograph: Chick'N'Sours 2. Chick ‘n’ Sours, Haggerston and Covent Garden  The last two remaining Chick ‘n’ Sours spots closed in May. The Korean fried chicken joint was known for its excellent sour cocktails, ultra-crispy chicken and addictive seaweed ‘crack’ seasoning. The owners explained that running two restaurants in London was no longer financially viable. But all is not lost, the brand will continue its residencies at the Roof East and Corner Corner food halls. Andy Parsons Photographer 3. Norman’s, Archway  Some loved it, some hated it, but it doesn’t really matter now, because Norman’s is no more. The gentrified greasy spoon ope

Meat lovers, this one’s for you. One of most-acclaimed BBQ joints in Austin, Texas is coming to London for four weeks of flesh-based joy. Michelin starred smokehouse InterStellar BBQ is decamping from Texas for a kitchen takeover at Electric Bar & Diner at The Ned from September 5 until October 5. It’ll be a collaboration with Hackney-based barbecue gang From The Ashes and there will just be one menu item on offer; a hearty sharing platter that includes peach tea glazed pork belly, pulled lamb shoulder, confit duck leg, beef short rib, and chilli & cheese sausage.  There’s also the option to add on Australian wagyu brisket, and a dessert of banana pudding with Jack Daniel’s caramel sauce is also included. Sides include Texas toast, slaw, beans and beef fat potatoes. The whole thing comes in at £140 per platter for two, so it’ll be £70 a head if you’re sharing - and you probably should unless you want to go home in an ambulance.  Speaking about the collab, John Bates of InterStellar says: ‘It is the first time ever that I will be bringing my BBQ style, smoke and flavour to the UK.  This is a great opportunity for BBQ enthusiasts to try authentic Texan BBQ right in the heart of the City of London.’ ‘We have been admirers of John's approach to BBQ and smoking for some time so are looking forward to teaming up with one of the best,’ says From The Ashes, who you can find at the Five Points Courtyard in Hackney every Friday to Sunday. InterStellar scored its first Michelin star in