Randomness Guide to London

Another week, another round-up of RGL updates for you!



Our featured article this week is Bob Wines, SE26 5EU, no relation to the bob of this parish. Instead, it's a very handy shop for those living in Sydenham who have need of alcoholic sustenance, offering local 'craft' beers, as well as fine wines, including English ones and a tasty viognier. You can get refillable wine bottles too.

Two new articles are: The Masons' Arms, a pub in Kensal Green which has real ale; and Bread Ahead, a small bakery in Covent Garden with some excellent sweet things.

There's an update to The Thatched House pub (really a restaurant) in Upminster.

Temporary closures are reported at The Lucky Rover in Chessington, and The Crown on Blackfriars Road.

Closed more permanently are: Doukan, a Moroccan restaurant I have enjoyed in Wandsworth; Si Mangia Italian in East Dulwich; and McLaren's Cafe Bar and Grill in leafy Honor Oak Park.

Finally, just a note that The Armoury pub in Wandsworth has reverted to its original name of The Crane, with a refurb to boot.

Hello friends. This week your correspondent is sitting at Heathrow waiting for a flight out of this place, but for those of you staying behind you could do a lot worse than our featured article this week...



It's Dar Marrakech, E15 4QZ, a Moroccan/Lebanese restaurant in sunny Stratford. Load up on their Lebanese mezza, where they're happy for you to chop and change to your greedy heart's desires.

We have two new pages. One is for Granger and Co. in Clerkenwell. It does incoherent fusion food in a nice, sort-of-gastropubby way. Most importantly, the food is tasty.

We also have FARM:shop (sic) in Dalston. It's a cafe though, not a shop. Also, it's a cafe, not a farm (although it does have a garden, some chicken coops and a 'mushroom farm') so I guess we can allow that bit. No food sampled on this visit, but will be interesting to try their local Dalston produce.

There's one updated article, on Mapps Cafe, a basic caff near Hackney Wick. Decent grub, good for local workers needing to load up before a heavy day.