If you've been eyeing up Charlie XCX's Hackney wedding videos and fancy tying the knot in London too, then let us help. Here's a shortlist of the best restaurants in London to book for a wedding, if you and your partner-to-be are as serious about the food on the table as your future together.
The Hero
Maida Vale - 55 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JD
Depending on the size of your wedding party and budget, the top two floors at The Hero in Maida Vale are at your disposal. On the top floor The Loft can seat up to 33 for dinner. It has a dedicated bar making it a perfect spot to enjoy a pre-wedding breakfast martini. But if you take over The Library too on the second floor, you've then got a spot for drinks and dancing for 'afters', and that has room for 45.
We like... the record player and vinyl collection for late-night dancing
Sessions Arts Club
Clerkenwell - 24 Clerkenwell Grn, London EC1R 0NA
Definitely not a budget option (you're not looking at change out of £10k for a day wedding) Sessions is probably one of the most aesthetically beautiful spots for a London wedding. In addition to the general look and feel there's also the option to add in outside space if you take over the terrace, making this a particularly good pick for a summer wedding. If you're getting married in nearby St James's, it's an easy walk from the church to the restaurant.
We like... the ambience in the evening when all the candles are lit
Drapers Arms
Islington - 44 Barnsbury St, London N1 1ER
The upstairs dining room at The Drapers is a gorgeous, sun-filled room that's a short walk away from Islington Town Hall, making it the perfect venue for any North London foodie getting married there. Dishes are served family-style and you can be assured of getting something gorgeous and seasonal for your wedding party.
We like... the fact that you can opt for a Sunday feasting style menu if you fancy, roasts all round for the wedding party.
Bistrotheque
Bethnal Green - 23-27 Wadeson Street, London, E2 9DR
This perennially popular East London restaurant offers either a sit-down dinner option or you could opt for a buffet table (the menu is entitled the Phoebe Buffay) groaning with treats like chanterelle mushroom vol au vents and Peruvian spiced chicken. Pretty much all the packages included cocktails too. The main room is a gorgeous space and big too with room for 110 seated.
We like... the inventive menu. No sides of poached salmon here.
Town Hall Hotel
Bethnal Green - Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
As the name suggests, this used to be Bethnal Green Town Hall and, as such, it has plenty of impressive-looking rooms to house both your ceremony and the party afterwards. The luxe package includes everything from canapes to Champagne for the toast along with use of the early 20th-century council chamber for the ceremony itself. The happy couple get to stay in a suite at the hotel afterwards, and those hotel rooms make this a good pick if you want friends and family to stay over.
We like... that this is an all-in place, from the ceremony to the party and overnight too.
Petersham Nurseries
Richmond - Church Lane, Off Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7AG
If there's a more romantic spot in London for a wedding, we've yet to find it. For couples looking for somewhere in London that also has that really rustic feel to it, the foliage-draped tables in this bucolic part of Richmond nail the brief. While she didn't marry there herself, Princess Eugenie once called it a dream wedding destination. Choose from either the main restaurant or glasshouses. And you can use their in-house team to make sure your wedding flowers are amazing.
We like... the wedding cakes come festooned with seasonal British flowers
More about Petersham Nurseries
Camberwell Arms
Camberwell - 65 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8TR
Aimed squarely at "couples whose main goal is for their wedding is to have exceptional food and wine", the upstairs room at the Camberwell Arms is regularly transformed with flowers and trestle tables into a lovely nuptials venue. Want a stack of cheeses instead of the usual tiered wedding cake? This is the spot for you. There's room for 50 seated for the main meal with up to 65 after for drinks and dancing.
We like... that daytime weddings get the use of the downstairs bar for a post-lunch cocktail party.
Ognisko
South Kensington - 55 Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2PG
The Polish Hearth Club offers plenty of glamorous photo opportunities from the ornate, sweeping staircase to the upstairs ballroom and tented outside terrace for summer weddings. This is a great venue if you want to line your guests' stomachs with gorgeous dumplings and pavlova with chantilly cream before plying them with drink.
We like... the idea of wedding toasts with vodka rather than Champagne.
Hawksmoor Guildhall
The City - 10 Basinghall Street, London EC2V 5BQ
With the City so quiet at weekends, this branch of Hawksmoor turns out to be a perfect wedding venue. As you might expect, the menu is red meat-focused with sharing platters of steaks (although veggie options are obviously also available). And if you're after a proper party, there's a late licence here till 2am.
We like... the late-night snack option of lobster rolls and grilled cheese sandwiches.
More about Hawksmoor Guildhall
St John
Smithfield - 26 St John Street, London EC1M 4AY
Having been to parties at the original St John in Smithfield before, we can attest to this being a great venue. They hire out the entire restaurant and bar for a sit-down meal for up to 120 guests. Or, if you prefer, they also do a more casual canapé-based reception for 150. The only problem? It gets booked up at least a year or more in advance. But if you're desperate to serve bone marrow and parsley, one of their amazing pies and eccles cakes to your guests, it's surely worth waiting for...
We like... the fact that the separate bar makes a perfect dance floor.
Photo: Gourmet Guy
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