Starland Social Club

Dine at Johnathon (Milk & Honey) Downey’s Bayswater baby bro’ to Clerkenwell diner Giant Robot and, if you ask nicely, chances are you’ll be admitted to the clubby pre-Profumo-style drinking den below, an intentionally shabby throwback to the 1950s - only with way better cocktails. Old record sleeves contain a list of suggestions that include gin swizzle, grasshopper, penecillin, final word (gin maraschino, green Charteuse and lime) and coffee cocktail (brandy, port & egg white - an acquired taste?) served in vintage stemware, all at £9. Staff are up to any challenge - an accurate history of the drink’s origins volunteered with an off-menu espresso martini of distinction. Wines start at £4.50, or a fiver for fizz, and there’s Hogsback T.E.A, Little Creatures pale ale as well as bottles, juices and mixers from a not unreasonable £90. Local membership (advised) works out at around £3 a week; a bagatelle when repeat visits are a cert.