Simply can’t stand this witheringly cold wintry weather a moment longer? Want to go out for dinner but are afraid you’ll be even colder than you are right now, reading this, and may start to cry? Never fear, Hot Dinners has come up with a list of places to warm the very cockles of your heart, not to mention your extremities.

Try any of the eating places on our list in the sure knowledge there’ll be an open fire of sorts, somewhere on the premises, to keep you toasty while you dine.

North

The Albion
10 Thornhill Road, Islington, London N1 1HW

In Summer, the Albion's huge garden is a draw, but in the winter you'll want to sit in the snug interior with a real fire, just inside the front door - perfect to huddle around while trying out its award winning Sunday lunch. We recommend the rib of beef for two with all the trimmings followed by the steamed orange sponge and custard.

The Drapers Arms
44 Barnsbury Street, London N1 1ER

This Barnsbury gastropub has much more offer than just its fabulous beer garden. In winter there are two open fires on either side of the downstairs dining area. The menu changes daily, but there's usually some sort of pie on offer to help you keep away the chills. 

The Bull and Last
168 Highgate Road, London NW5 1QS

Avoid the upstairs dining room at this superior North London gastropub and book ahead to ensure you nab the large table on the ground floor next to the fire. Then spend the evening hogging the flames, feeling superior (and warmer) to all the other diners. Food-wise, they do a superior scotch egg, but you might be wanting something a little more substantial, so start with the trotter wontons and follow that up with game pie.

West

The Charlotte Street Hotel
37 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RR

If you fancy a break from Oxford Street then why not pop into the Charlotte Street hotel for a spot of afternoon tea on the sofas around the fire in the lobby of the hotel? The Pommery winter tea includes sausage roll, for which we give thanks, and toasted pannettone. But you can probably do without the range of iced teas and opt for a nice pot of darjeeling instead.

Roka
37 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RR

Forget the normal tables, make sure you get a seat round the robata grill at this Charlotte Street restaurant so at least the front half of your body will enjoy being a decent temperature. A white miso soup with scallop will start you off nicely while you work out which skewers you're going to have from the robata grill.

South

The Ship
41 Jews Row, Wandsworth, London SW18 1TB

This Wandsworth pub is a big favourite of foodie bloggers and reviewers, recently hosting the infamous Scotch Egg Challenge. There's a huge roaring fire in the middle of the room (pictured on the right), perfect if you've just come in from a walk along the Thames. We hear their burgers are mighty fine.

The Rookery
69 Clapham Common Southside, SW4 9DA

This new opening on Clapham Common has already proven a hit with the locals, and we were impressed on a recent test drive. So if you fancy taking some time away from the wind on the Common, try huddling around the fire here with one of their signature prosecco concoctions. They might well tempt us back with their recently introduced Seville orange marmalade prosecco cocktail.

The Abbeville
67-69 Abbeville Road, SW4 9JW

This cosy spot just south of Clapham Common has all manner of nooks and crannies so you can squeeze together to make the most of your fellow diners' bodily warmth as you eat. Or, you can sit next to or near the fire in the back section of the dining area. Lunch is strong here - doesn't a cheese toastie with chips or the pumpkin, feta and pine nut pithivier, spiced tomato sauce sound like it would do you the world of good?

East

The Gun
27 Coldharbour, Docklands, E14 9NS

This east London pub from the Martin brothers is a perennial favourite in this part of town and you can take respite from the cold by having dinner in the Red Room with its large open fire. Better still gather a group together for one of their feast menus and you can enjoy whole roast suckling pig with boulangère potatoes and sage gravy or a braised venison haunch with red cabbage and glazed onions.

Mangal Ocakbasi
10 Arcola Street, E8 2DJ

This tiny Turkish restaurant gives more space over to its ocak grill than it does to the tables, so you’re bound to enjoy a toasty evening. Better still, it’s BYO so if all else fails, you can use a nip or two of a hipflask filled with raki to numb the pain of frostbite.

Also worth trying

The Goring Hotel has fires in both the dining room and the bar and the Jerusalem Tavern in Clerkenwell can do bangers in front of the fire if you're lucky enough to nab a seat on a cold day,

Any more we've missed? Let us know...