A friendly, neighbourhood bar full of 20-50-year-olds, families, couples – but now with a much more eclectic décor; think 1970s Greek taverna bricking, pianos on the walls, tan Chesterfields, Toby Jugs and curios in every corner. 

Keith Lewis visits newly opened City hotspot Core for a cocktail or two.

Good vibes and good burgers, what more could you want?

It’s seven in the evening on a dark and cold Tuesday, and I find myself in an odd situation. I’m in a decidedly Oriental environment, surrounded by bamboo and rope-wrapped pillars. The music, however, consists of track after track from the videogame Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Without drink we’ve done about £70, which for the room and the food I’m happy about. Service was on point and the Indian dishes really well above average, with the European ones sound and satisfying, if not exactly exciting. If I were in charge I’d push the Indian side more.

I’m sitting in a comfortable neo-Milanese room, looking out at the torrential rain currently turning Islington from bright and sunny to soaking wet. The decor is smart and modern, with dashes of lime green breaking up the otherwise clean, white interior. A waitress places a starter of butterfly king prawns on Italian bread before me; it looks strangely familiar.

Keith Lewis reviews Yasuji Morizumi’s Michelin starred chef menu at Pacata.

You can’t fault the cooking at Amani, it really is very good, but the location is not ideal except for the people who live in Chelsea harbour. But that’s now, come summer and warm light nights and a lot of people may be tempted to stroll down to the riverside and if they do they’ll find a superior Indian straight outta Surrey

By the time we’d finished, we felt like we should be the subject of one of Gillray’s caricatures entitled’Greed’, depicting two rotund Londoners with ruddy cheeks and waistcoats bursting at the seams.

From the outside it’s little more than a rustic wooden conservatory. But The Shed is reputedly home to some of the best seafood in Wales. Keith went along to find out what all the fuss was about…