For those with large friendship groups, Bistrotheque's private dining-room is the perfect holding pen. With capacity for up to 96 seated or 130 standing, the warehouse-style space (where milliner Stephen Jones chose to host his 60th birthday bash) is adaptable and affordable - private dining packages start from £39 (turns out quality canapes aren't so costly after all).

George’s main restaurant spans two rooms – book out one or both spaces based on your party size. Serving up brasserie classics in a dining room flanked with Hockneys, this chic Mayfair members’ club (available for hire to non-members) is the ideal setting for intimate-ish soirée. Follow with drinks on the terrace.

A delightful riot of opulence, Bob Bob Ricard is all panache. The private dining room is styled on a dining car akin to those found on the Orient Express – think velvet blinds and train-style windows, with the addition of BBR’s trademark “press for champagne” button – and an evening here is likely to rival any party hosted by the great Jay Gatsby.

Frequented by the fashion set and sharp-suited aristocrats, this exclusive club is generally out of bounds for non-members – unless you’re looking to book out one of its private dining spaces. Interiors are timeless and traditional; The Circus Room is perfect for bespoke suppers, or try the Indian Room for a slightly bigger bash.

Gymkhana's subterranean, secretive, private dining vaults are worth the hype their buzzword description incites. The Indian restaurant was awarded a Michelin star within a year of opening - its seven-course tasting menu offered to private dinner parties will explain why.

A place for peacocking and people-watching since it first opened in 2014, Chiltern Firehouse has a private dining room tucked off the main space which offers an alternative experience for those who’d rather ogle over the interiors and Nuno Mendes’ cuisine than their neighbouring diners.

Theatrical types will delight in Annabel’s array of private dining options. Our favourite – the botanical-inspired Flower Room, lined with pink Pierre Frey wall silk, seats up to 40 guests. For something a little more muted, The Silver Room across the landing – adorned with ornate Georgian features, bespoke silver glass panelling and shimmering surfaces at every turn – is well matched to silver-tongued hosts.

Booking a private dining room at Barrafina might be the only way to guarantee a table. Relish in your ability to outsmart OpenTable or Resy and fill the hired space with friends who appreciate a hearty menu - think ham croquetas and prawn-and-piquillo-pepper tortillas - and have an unquenchable thirst for Spanish wine.

A sister restaurant to the Michelin-starred Clove Club, Luca serves Italian-style dishes that are sure to satisfy even your choosiest foodie friends. Host an intimate gastronomic feast in The Pasta Room (the room where Luca’s chefs make fresh pasta every day) or The Garden Room for an airier setup – both spaces seat eight to 10 people.