XU, the new Taiwanese venture from the trio behind BAO (Shing Tat Ching, Wai Ting Ching and Erchen Chang) – and, of course, their backers JKS Restaurants (the Sethi siblings behind Hoppers and Gymkhana) – is to launch two private dining Mahjong games rooms on 2 October. The rooms will be available to hire for eating, drinking and play at the two floor restaurant on Rupert Street (on the cusp of Chinatown and Soho).

During the launch week, a Mahjong expert will be on hand to guide guests through the game, which is a popular staple in Taiwan, China and parts of Asia.

Hidden at the back on the ground floor at XU, each room is available to hire from £75pp for a minimum of four people (the minimum number number of people required to play Mahjong) or alternatively both together to seat eight guests. Decorated with mahogany panelling, hand painted murals depicting mountain scenes and marble chandeliers, the rooms represent a stylish take on the teahouses you might find in the back alleys of Taipei some hundred years ago.

The price includes three hours exclusive hire of the room to play the game and enjoy the special Mahjong feasting set menu, which showcases a selection of XU’s most popular dishes as well as some new dishes only available in the Mahjong room. The Mahjong menu includes a total of nine starters to share, including ‘Tomato & Smoked Eel’, ‘Beef & Marrow Pancake’ and ‘Cuttlefish Toast’, as well as four main courses to share including ‘Shou Pa Chicken’ and ‘Mapo Tofu’, followed by dessert.