22 October, 2019
The first step in planning a party is deciding on where to throw it. Once you've picked on a location (and ticked one item off your list), it's on to other matters such as guest list, playlist and revising your guest list. But first thing's first: venue hunting.
restaurant
Peckham
Housed in the former Peckham Rye train station ticket office, Coal Rooms sits amid Peckham's alternative and expanding dining scene, making it a great spot to throw a party for your foodie friends. A gutsy menu of grilled meat and fish will ensure all diners leave satisfied - though we suggest booking out the unexpectedly elegant private dining room (formerly the ladies loo) to really wow your guests.
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Covent Garden
People vocalise their birthdays in all manner of ways. If your preference is to express yourself through song, then the karaoke room (available for hire for groups of 8-12) at Jidori is a viable (and sound-proofed) option. Just £40 per person will give you a songbook's worth of Kylie, Celine and Cher from which to choose, plus a tasting menu which includes most of the Jidori classic dishes - there's also a pink foil backdrop to work with, just FYI.
bar
Soho
This subterranean Soho speakeasy is tucked away in the heart of theatreland. Formerly a boxing gym, get in "a few rounds" of Black Jacks (rye, blackcurrant liqueur, vanilla and blackberry) at this cavernous address and clink glasses to the (wo)man of the hour. Celebrate here Wednesday through to Sunday with live music, DJs and dancing until 1am. Night owls, Jack is not your guy.
restaurant
Bethnal Green
A fashion-crowd favourite, Bistrotheque is a painfully cool French restaurant in the East End. For a daytime soirée, you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere that does brunch and cocktails better (read: there's a resident pianist playing from the baby grand in the corner of an airy dining room). For something a little more secluded, avail of its private dining room, which, like the main space, sports brick walls, industrial lighting and romantic, wild blooms.
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Canary Wharf
For the mate who doesn't want a fuss, Pizza Playground at Pizza Pilgrims is great a low-key, laddish option. It's bookable by the hour, so while away your time in the Nintendo area, slouching on chesterfield sofas and pausing (exclusively) for a slab of pizza (delivered in take-out boxes straight to your sofa).
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Whitechapel
The world's oldest surviving music hall, Wilton's is a hub for live music and vibrant, adventurous theatre - it's also a charmer of a spot for a birthday bash, bat mitzvah or any occasion that requires a bit of a song and dance is made of the celebrant. It's a great big space that can host up to 400 people - we love it for its crumbling walls and romantic aesthetic.
restaurant
Notting Hill
Part private members' club, part European restaurant and part live-music venue, this place is best suited to night owls in search of a late-night hotspot (frequented by celebs and trendy young professionals alike). The apparent lack of curfew paired with interiors designed by Bella Freud makes the Laylow all too delicious a party venue to resist.
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bar
Clerkenwell
Start tame at Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings in Clerkenwell. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the outdoor terrace before tucking into a three-course meal inside a foliage-filled conservatory. Then, rev things up a gear at Below & Hidden, the restaurant's tiny basement club (it's about the size of your living room) - taking far too many selfies by the LED-lit Medieval unicorn tapestries is practically a right of passage here.
