You’re not entirely sure how it happened, but somehow responsibility for organising that annual family get-together, birthday dinner or hen party has landed in your lap. Whoosh. That’s the sound of 16 people, hungry for a good meal (‘don’t forget, I’m a vegetarian’) and buzzy atmosphere (‘aw, but not too loud’), all turning in your direction. Where are we going?
So, the bad news is that many London restaurants have a maximum table size of eight people. This might come as a blessed relief if you’re attempting dinner à deux, but with a big group to house: irritating. However, there is good news too. Because an ever-increasing number of the city’s restaurants can offer you a private dining space. Chances are if a restaurant has opened in the last three years, it has at least one such room. You might not have clocked these clandestine spaces – even if you’re a regular – but they’re there, tucked away, and generally seat from eight people upwards.
Besides offering you the dining space you need, a private room is, well, private, which means you can do anything – legal – that you like in there: show a film, make a speech, wear a novelty Christmas hat. Maybe you want to eat an entire tiramisu with your hands? No problem. Just don’t upset your own guests.
Unlike when booking a regular table, you might be required to front a credit card deposit, meet a minimum spend or pay a booking fee to secure the space. These, however, are generally negotiable, particularly if you’re booking during the week.
If your chosen restaurant doesn’t have a private dining room, don’t fret. Ask them what they can do. Most restaurants are loathed to turn away a large party and can often accommodate you in a semi-private space, which gives you the atmosphere of the dining room but the freedom to express yourselves. They’re often bigger too, and don’t attract the same fees.
All you need to do is find a location that suits. And we’ve made that pretty straightforward with our encyclopaedic lists of London restaurants with private dining.
If that’s too much hard work, our mighty concierge team will dig a selection out for you.