If you've spent the summer attending other people's nuptials and been minded to start planning your own, then let us help. Here's a shortlist of the best places in London if you and your partner-to-be are as serious about the food on the table as your future together.
Bistrotheque
23-27 Wadeson Street, London, E2 9DR
This perenially popular East London restaurant offers either a sit down dinner option with dishes including mushroom bourguignon pie and marinated pineapple carpaccio with crispy coconut. You could also have a buffet table groaning with treats like pulled chicken and aioli along with aubergine caponata with golden pickled raisins and basil. Or, you could keep things really simple with Brunch & Fizz which is served family-style.
We like... the option to add cockatoo performers to the evening entertainment.
Town Hall Hotel
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 standard package includes everything from canapes to Champagne for the toast along with use of the early 20th-century council chamber for the ceremony itself.
We like... the luxe package includes taking over the Silk Weaver bar at the hotel for an intimate after-party.
Petersham Nurseries
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 enjoy menus that include dishes like lemon sole fillets with girolles, beurre noisette, sea vegetables and Amalfi lemon. There's also the option for a more central London wedding if you opt for their Covent Garden restaurant.
We like... the wedding cakes festooned with seasonal British flowers
More about Petersham Nurseries
Camberwell Arms
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.
We like... that daytime weddings get the use of the downstairs bar for a post-lunch cocktail party.
Ognisko
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
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).
We like... the late-night snack option of lobster rolls and grilled cheese sandwiches.
More about Hawksmoor Guildhall
St John
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's currently booked up till 2024. 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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