Sounds like the name of a stately home and looks like you’re entering a garden centre but it’s neither: this is the cool and curious café to spend the whole weekend with friends in. Housed in an old Georgian terrace it sits elegantly on the otherwise pretty ugly Vauxhall roundabout. Outside has garden tables and benches for sunny days and the large oak doors will lead you into the bar. The massive mirror on one end reflects everyone there whilst lamps and signs, posters and clocks hang from every hook. They play good tunes and the people are an eclectic and easy mix. Everything is for sale so there is always the chance your bill may be a bit larger than just a couple of cocktails by the end of the night. BarChick nearly bought the traffic lights that still worked… a step up from returning home with a traffic cone right?

Through the marble columns is the restaurant that is equally fantastically decorated with chandeliers, low lit lighting and romantic tables among all sorts… but we say skip that and hang out at the bar. Their cocktail list is good and pretty classic, we loved the Blood and Sand: Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky, Cherry Heering, Punt e Mes and orange juice… short and to the point. They have Meantime Beer on tap and the wine list will please any punter who knows their grapes. Café by morning with fresh pastries and great coffee, and a good spot for lunch in the afternoon with an easy to share menu… we could have stayed here for days.