When the Town Hall on London’s Patriot Square first opened in 1910, it would have been alive with the clacking of typewriter keys as the clerical staff hammered away on their Remingtons, processing the paperwork generated by the Mayor’s office. In those days offices had architectural features such as parquet flooring where today there is only scratchy carpet tiles, fireplaces where now there are air conditioning ceiling vents. Compared to modern office spaces, the working environment in those days (while undoubtedly much prettier to look at) probably left much to be desired, but with the benefit of contemporary refurbishments we can enjoy the features of vintage spaces such as the Typing Room without any of the drawbacks, and enjoy some wonderful food in the process.
The old Town Hall is now the Town Hall Hotel, and we called in earlier this year to check out the venue’s Peg and Patriot bar. Designers Ariana Rees Roberts and Lucinda Johnson have continued their excellent work next door in Typing Room, where chef Lee Westcott is wowing diners amid the sensitively renovated Edwardian surrounds; oak, marble and natural textiles make for an elegant period dining area. With Lee earning his stripes at Per Se, Noma and Ramsey’s Claridges, as well excelling during a couple of years at the helm of Jason Atherton’s Hong Kong restaurants 22 Ships and Ham & Sherry, expect tables at this 40-cover restaurant to book up faster than you can type The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog.
