A Hot Dinners exclusive
We're all about hositality folk doing their best in these tough times, so we have to applaud Mayfair's Guinea Grill which today expands across the road for a festive popup.
The pub has taken over the old Pizza Express site opposite them on Bruton Place as the Guinea Express popup in the run up to Christmas. The idea is the extra space will allow them to have 60 more diners and make up for the space they've lost due to covid restrictions.
According to the pub's landlord Oisin Rogers, the experience will be almost exactly the same as the Guinea restaurant. So despite being in a former pizzeria, there'll be linen tablecloths, silver service and all the steaks and full wine list you'll find in the main restaurant. Or, you could simply book in for a pint and a scotch egg.
As Oisín Rogers, landlord of the Guinea, the Windmill and now Guinea Express, explained to Hot Dinners. "We lost 40% of our capacity when we reopened in summer in order to keep social distancing in place. That is totally correct but to keep a large team, keep the chefs busy and make sure we can take as many reservations as possible, it's a really good solution to keep the business somewhat profitable and sustain it through this pandemic."
"It means that people who might be disappointed because we couldn't fit them in the restaurant - we are pretty much fully booked up to Christmas - can have the Guinea experience across the road."
More about the Guinea Express
Where is it? 23 Bruton Pl, Mayfair, London W1J 6ND
When? 10 December 2020 (around 1pm-ish)
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @guineagrill
More Christmas fun to be had in London
Check out the Hot Dinners guide to eating and drinking in London over the festive period.
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