Easter – a time of chocolate, eggs, chocolate eggs and egg-related puns. Well, we promise we won’t make any as we roundup London’s best Easter events and offers – no eggsceptions. (Sorry, we couldn’t help it).
For a traditional Easter Sunday Lunch…
“Ramsay does it right!” – his “slick” Battersea newcomer debuts as one of the highest-rated in the GR empire, winning praise for accomplished cooking and often-“excellent” value; good wine list too. Head chef Anna Haugh has laid on an Easter feast celebrating lamb. Start with lamb carpaccio served with kale pesto and celeriac purée, followed by a full shoulder of lamb to share with traditional trimmings and chocolate tart with Jerusalem artichoke ice-cream to finish.
With its “buzzing bar on the ground floor, upstairs dining room and dining conservatory”, this Maida Vale gastropub wins all-round praise, including for its gourmet food at “neighbourhood prices”. On Easter Sunday this popular pub will serve up smoked English lamb leg and braised shoulder with garlic & rosemary infused lamb sauce, honey roast veg, spring greens, roast potatoes and (gluten free) Yorkshire Puddings.
“Excels in every way”; this “enterprising” and “pleasant” favourite, near Balham station, is a “wonderful” and “sensibly priced” operation – “more relaxed than Chez Bruce, but snapping at its heels in terms of quality”. On the Easter Sunday menu: leg of herdwick lamb, wild garlic, roast potatoes, onions, mint sauce and rare roast rib of dexter beef. Two courses for £24 or three courses for £28.
For something not so traditional…
Studio Kitchen @ K West Hotel W14
How about this for an egg-centric Easter creation? The burger lab at Studio Kitchen has come up with a sweet crème egg burger. The mini slider burgers are made from a sweet brioche bun dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with hundreds and thousands. The ‘burger’ is a melted crème egg, mascarpone cream, and strawberry jelly.
This Easter one of Mayfair’s oldest pubs will pay homage to London’s favourite spirit with a Sipsmith gin tasting experience at the venue’s Club. Enjoy a classic G&T as well as two variations, a VJOP & mediterranean tonic and sloe gin & lemon tonic, while learning about the history of gin. There will also be a delicious Easter feast available in the dining room, as well as classic British bar snacks.
Over Easter weekend, newly opened Chelsea restaurant, Rabbit and their sister restaurant, The Shed in Notting Hill, will offer diners a traditional Russian Easter delicacy – Paskha. This egg custard treat is served with The Gladwin’s home-made hot cross buns.
“Views to die for” and “one of the most interesting breakfast menus in London” are twin-peak attractions of this 40th-floor City eyrie; it’s open 24/7 (although prices can seem “stratospheric”). Easter special for chocolate lovers: golden egg filled with Nutella mousse, hazelnut and milk soup.
Craft beer powerhouse BrewDog and Scottish pop-up Dram & Smoke have teamed up to offer a special one-off Easter Sunday lunch with a hoppy twist. Hosted at the brewer’s eponymous Shepherd’s Bush bar on 5 April, the six course feast will be complemented by a different beer accompanying each dish. Dishes include rabbit braised in Punk IPA and deep-fried Mars Bar. The event kicks off at the BrewDog Bar on Goldhawk Road at noon and tickets are £35 per person. Book your place online at: www.dramandsmoke.com.
For Easter themed-fun…
Hop on down to Harrods where gold bunny dumplings will be available at Mango Tree from 26 March-12 April, priced at £10 per dish. Their deli counter will have a vegetarian option to take-away for £1.35 each (buy four and get fifth free).
Easter Egg Hunt @ The Royal Horseguards Hotel
On Easter Sunday this historic Embankment hotel will hold an egg hunt from noon, with chocolate treats courtesy of Hotel Chocolat. The first 30 applicants will have the opportunity to take part in the hunt while parents relax with a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival. If you would like to take part email your name, address, phone number and the number of tickets you would like with the subject heading FAMILY EASTER HUNT to: invite.rhg@guoman.co.uk
Every Sunday in April Happy Endings Dessert Nights are in residence at Pond in Dalston with A Month of Sundaes, a five course dessert menu. Chocolatier and pastry chef Terri Mercieca kicks things off on Easter Sunday. Five courses with a cocktail £40, or £55 with a four course wine pairing.
Absolute Taste (various locations)
Sheep cupcakes and bunny biscuits will be available at The Terrace in Fenwick Tunbridge Wells, Dome Café and Design Café at Chelsea Design Centre, The Orangery and The Garden Café at Burghley House. Bunny biscuits are £1.75 each and sheep cupcakes are £2.50 each.
“Mind-blowing and unique!” – Tom Sellers’s “Scandi-style” dining room, not far from Tower Bridge, offers multi-course meals that most reports say are just “out of this world”; for the occasional critic, though, it is all is a bit too “post-modern/bonkers”! For Easter (and beyond) Restaurant Story will offer a digestif and chocolate pairing, with chocolate bars crafted by Cocoa Runners.
For those who love their dogs just a little bit too much…
When this piece of news first dropped into our inbox we thought it might be an April fool! Martin William’s City newcomer will hold a Pedigree Pooch Brunch Party this Saturday (28 March) including a canine Easter egg hunt, a dog behaviourist and an artist to paint your pet’s ‘paw-trait’. There will be a two course brunch for the humans (with doggy bag) – £25 per person plus one dog.
