Randomness Guide to London

Welcome back to a new week of RGL!



The featured article this week is Orange Peko, SW13 0PX, which I had been convinced for some reason was a breed of dog, but actually no it's a tea. I should have known that. So anyway this is a tea shop, not a dog shop. It gets quite busy, even on a Monday morning. The food is pretty good, and they're excellent at tea, which you'd expect, or at least you'd hope for that. No word on dog friendliness, but it's in leafy Barnes, so they can handle prams.

Lots of new additions! We have Searcy's, a restaurant and champagne bar in St Pancras International Station (friendly service, good food, but steep prices). We have Grao de Cafe, a Portuguese cafe and shop in sunny South Croydon (more friendly service). We have Divan in London-adjacent Borehamwood, a Turkish restaurant with abstract art and chill-out music, a good lunch deal and observant service (so I'd class that as good service). We have The Alfred Arms, a pub in Borehamwood, smart traditional, but still not in London. And finally we have Kiyoto, for all your Borehamwood Japanese food needs (good rice, but the food is a bit stodgy, but perhaps that's what you get when you leave London and are not in London, outside London).

Reported temporary closure for The Bear, one of Camberwell's finest pubs and due to reopen in 6-8 months' time.

Finally, three reported permanent closures. There's The Still and Star in Aldgate (boo hiss developers), The Peacock not far away on Minories (may yet reopen), and The Good Ship in Kilburn. I remember many gigs at that pub back in the day, what a strange stage arrangement it had.