What Does A Covid Secure Restaurant Actually Look Like?
Still feeling anxious about getting back to ‘normal’ and dining out? You aren’t alone. This transitioning period is going to take a little while to get adjusted to, but to help ease your anxieties, we’ve rounded up a list of our favourite restaurants and bars across London who have implemented new procedures to ensure the safety of both their customers and staff.
From social distancing with a difference to beekeeping bartenders , here are how some restaurants and bars have adapted post-lockdown.
Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals
Inception Group have probably been the most innovative and adventurous with their new covid secure amendments. For those on the search for a covid secure gin experience, head to Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals where you won’t be greeted by bartenders but rather beekeepers. Instead of being in full PPE, you may find the Fogg’s staff wearing full beekeeping outfits instead, to protect both themselves and their customers.
Mr Fogg’s experiences are known for their wild and wacky cocktails and interiors so it only seems fitting to have beekeepers found inside their foliage filled Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals in Fitzrovia.
Location: 45 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1QQ
Website: www.mr-foggs.com
Fidelio Orchestra Café
If you’re missing live music, Fidelio Orchestra Café has devised a plan to bring people together once more over fine food and live music, all socially distanced of course.
The café was born out of a love of classical music and to give classical music a social spot to keep the genre alive. Now post-lockdown, the café have brought their brilliant live music evenings back in a new socially distanced format. They’ve put on a series of socially distanced nights, limiting the capacity to just 25 individuals and the orchestral performances will follow a three course menu. It’s all in an aim to rekick start London’s arts and music scene once more, a sector which wasn’t supported or funded by the government until it was almost too late.
Location: 91-95 Clerkenwell Road, Clerkenwell, EC1R 5BX
Website: www.fideliorchestra.art
Mac & Wild
If dining up close and personal with your fellow restaurant diners doesn’t sound very appealing, you’re going to love Mac & Wild’s initiative.
At their Devonshire Square branch, Mac & Wild have introduced three socially distanced hunting lodges that you can wine and dine in, all keeping in with their Scottish Highlands atmosphere. These cosy huts all come equipped with their own drinks wall, so you won’t even have to worry about heading to the bar or ordering drinks.
Delve into their tasty Scottish classics and cheers to your reunion with loved ones with whisky too. It’s definitely socially distanced dining with a difference.
Location: 9A Devonshire Square, Spitalfields, EC2M 4YN
Website: www.macandwild.com
Ormer
Like many restaurants, during lockdown Ormer embarked on its journey into the delivery world, bringing Londoner’s delicious seasonal and British ingredients through innovative dishes. They’re now back open for business and have opened with several health and safety measures in places.
All of their staff have been trained on essential hygiene, respiratory etiquette and physical distancing, as well as promoting contactless payments where possible. They’ve also limited the amount of staff visiting each table, as well as deep cleaning of the restaurant after each service. Plus full use of PPE for staff and sanitising areas.
Location: Flemings Mayfair, 7-12 Half Moon Street, Mayfair, W1J 7BH
Website: www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk
The Folly / The Parlour
Both Drake & Morgan’s The Folly and The Parlour have reopened for business, bringing with them a fun, different approach to the typical social distancing measures.
Both restaurants have introduced uplifting and welcoming messages dotted around to help promote and ensure social distancing is in play, as well as floral arrangements and foliage positioned to distance tables from one another.
The Folly also has also recently launched a rosé themed pop-up so if you’re partial to a glass of the pink stuff, you know where to head and be safe.
Location: The Folly, 41 Gracechurch Street, Candlewick, London EC3V 0BT || The Parlour, The Park Pavilion, 40 Canada Square, E14 5FW
Website: www.drakeandmorgan.co.uk
Cahoots Ticket Hall
Post-war cocktail bar Cahoots has reopened its Ticket Hall outpost, bringing with it a unique covid health and safety measurement. To coincide with the government guidance on reopening, Cahoots released a statement that you may spot a few bartenders and workers wearing repurposed gas masks to coincide with the World War II theme. It’s a different approach but it wouldn’t be Cahoots without a bit of drama and charisma thrown in for good measure.
Location: 5 Kingly Street, Carnaby, W1B 5PF
Website: www.cahoots-london.com
Sumosan Twiga
Japanese restaurant, Sumosan Twiga has transformed its downstairs club into a must-book Knightsbridge private dining room. The space has the capacity of 20pax for one table seated or 50pax lounge style,. It’s the perfect spot for those wanting to reunite with loved ones and friends for a celebration in a fun and safe environment post-lockdown.
Location: 165 Sloane Street, Belgravia, SW1X 9QB
Website: www.sumosan.com
The Piano Works
Basement live music venue, bar and restaurant, The Piano Works is preparing to reopen in September following the government’s guidance. Right now preparations are underway but they’re hoping to reopen with customer temperature checks by a thermal imaging camera before allowing guests to enter. Following these guests will walk through a tunnel that sprays antiviral dry mist from head to toe in seconds, as well as writing down track and trace details too. Musicians will be shielded with Perspex screening and sanitising spots will be situated around the venue. It’ll be a new way of enjoying live music but we can’t wait to be dancing once more.
Location: Farringdon / West End
Website: www.pianoworks.bar
Coppa Club
London’s all important winter igloos are returning for a summer season and they might just be one of the most covid secure spots…
If you’ve missed London’s breathtaking skyline, dining out and sipping on cocktails with your friends but you’re worried about getting back out there, book into one of Coppa Club’s private igloos. Coppa Club reopened on 4th July, bringing with it an extended terrace allowing you to enjoy their famous igloos. Wine, dine and catch some sunny rays in a whole new way.
Location: 3 Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames Street, EC3R 6AH
Website: www.coppaclub.co.uk
Dalloway Terrace
Floral hotspot Dalloway Terrace have implemented extra health and safety procedures to help ensure a safe environment for guests and their workers going forward. Rather than handing out menus, guests can view the food and drinks menus via a QR code on their phone or tablets. Social distancing measurements are also in place, as well as alcohol-based hand sanitiser stations throughout too.
Location: 16-22 Great Russell Street, Fitzrovia, WC1B 3NN
Website: www.dallowayterrace.com
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences have transformed The Courtyard into a luxury dining area for all to enjoy a light lunch or to spend the evening sipping on cocktails. All of the tables are spread apart, taking advantage of the outdoor area, which is just perfect for summer time.
All of the menus are digital using QR codes and have been designed to ensure there’s a range of summery dishes while also offering security to the chefs with distancing in the kitchens.
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences have transformed The Courtyard into a luxury dining area.
Location: 51 BUCKINGHAM GATE, WESTMINSTER, SW1E 6AF
Website: www.taj51buckinghamgate.co.uk
Fortnum & Mason
If you’ve missed indulging in bite size sandwiches, tasty treats and endless tea, you’ll be ecstatic to know Fortnum & Mason have returned and they’ve got a special offer for you too. Alongside all of the regular safety measurements in place, Fortnum’s is offering tea lovers the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones over a spot of tea with two-for-one on their afternoon tea at The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Running until 31st August, have a lovely reunion with your loved ones and friends with a splash of Britishness thrown in.
Website: www.fortnumandmason.com
Nobu London Old Park Lane
Mayfair hotspot known for tantalisingly good sushi, Nobu London Old Park Lane has gone above and beyond to ensure all of their staff and customers are safe and have an enjoyable time while dining.
When you dine at the Japanese restaurant you can rest assured you’re in safe hands. Some of their implemented health and safety procedures include protective equipment and masks for their whole team, exclusive one touch menus and QR scan codes for contactless menus, social distancing and all guest and service areas cleaned rigorously every 30 minutes using EPA Approved products. The restaurant is also card only.
Location: COMO Metropolitan, 19 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1LB
Website: www.noburestaurants.com
Maggie’s Club
Pack your swimming trunks, we’re off to Club Tropicana!
Never one to do things by half, Maggie’s Club has mustered up a few social distancing techniques themselves. The Margaret Thatcher themed late-night bar is set to be transformed into a Club Tropicana paradise. But we’re sure you’re wondering how you’ll be able to dance socially distanced? No worries, the bar has been filled with inflatable rubber rings for anyone who wants to get up and boogie safely, as well as metre-long litter pickers that you can use to cheers with your friends.
Location: 329 Fulham Road, Chelsea, SW10 9QL
Website: www.maggies-club.com
ROBATA
Japanese restaurant ROBATA has introduced new health and safety measures in line with the government’s advice. Capacity has been reduced by 40% and temporary dividers have been implemented while social distancing is in place. ROBATA is running on a card payment basis only, and will not be accepting groups of seven or more.
Location: 56 OLD COMPTON STREET, SOHO, W1D 4UE
Website: www.robata.co.uk
