Simpson's in the Strand

Simpson's in the Strand dates to 1828, when it opened as a coffee house and chess haunt known as the Grand Cigar Divan, settling into its present home at No.100 Strand in the early twentieth century. It closed in 2020 and reopened in March 2026 under Jeremy King, its Grade II listed rooms restored to their Edwardian character. This is the home of the English roast, the silver carving trolley and, still, chess.

Behind the revolving door sit five distinct rooms. The ground-floor Grand Divan is the main dining room, panelled in dark wood beneath its chandeliers, with Ed Ross (formerly of The Wolseley) heading the kitchen. Upstairs, Romano's takes a lighter register, its chequerboard carpet and marquetry tables nodding to the site's chess legacy. Simpson's Bar and the late-night Nellie's Tavern hold the after-dinner hours.

For private events the first-floor Assembly Room is the draw: a 160-square-metre ballroom in the Adam style, with grand sash windows, a working fireplace, original chandeliers and a neo-classical painted frieze. It seats up to 100 for lunch and holds 130 for a reception, taking banquets, weddings and company gatherings with equal ease. Note there is no lift to the first floor, in keeping with the listed building.