Test Drives

Checking into METT Marbella - a luxury new beachfront hangout on the Costa del Sol

Information: 26 September 2024

Right on the beach between Marbella and Estepona, you'll find the METT Marbella - a five-star hotel where everyone is having fun in the sun. We checked in to see if the food and hospitality lived up to the luxe look and feel.

Test Driving Sesta - Pidgin's replacement is an extremely accomplished neighbourhood affair

Information: 24 September 2024

A former Pidgin chef and GM have teamed up to take the old Pidgin space in a new direction. We went down to see what Sesta is all about.

Bar crawl: rainwater martinis and glorious London views at The Emory rooftop bar

Information: 20 September 2024

One of the world's best bars is popping up for a month at The Emory in Knightsbridge. We went to check out Tato Giovannoni's cocktails and bar food at their rooftop bar.

Test Driving Sol's - a cool new wine bar for Bayswater

Information: 19 September 2024

The arrival of Sol's in Bayswater is the latest interesting opening for the area. We went down to see what this deli by day, wine bar by night had to offer.

Test Driving Mary's - Jason Atherton's Pollen Street grill revamp

Information: 17 September 2024

Part of Jason Atherton's very busy 2024 has been replacing Pollen Street Social with Mary's, a much more laid-back grill restaurant. We went down to check out all the changes.

Test Driving Leydi - Selin Kiazim's new modern Turkish restaurant in the City

Information: 12 September 2024

Selin Kiazim (previously behind Oklava) returns to the London restaurant scene with a large Turkish restaurant right in the heart of the City. We went down for a first look at Leydi.

Test Driving Lolo - José Pizarro continues his takeover of Bermondsey Street with this all-day diner

Information: 10 September 2024

Next door to José and down the road from Pizarro is where you'll find José Pizarro's latest Bermondsey restaurant, Lolo. We went to see what this new all day spot has to offer.

Test Driving Kolamba East - the Sri Lanka restaurant comes to the City

Information: 05 September 2024

Five years after opening in Soho, Kolamba have gone east for their second restaurant, bringing Sri Lankan food to the City. We went down to try Kolamba East.

Test Driving Stem + Stem - a triple threat in the City of wine bar, restaurant and florist

Information: 03 September 2024

With an experienced team behind it, this florist, wine bar and restaurant in the heart of the City is offering something fresh and new to Londoners. We went to check out Stem + Stem by Mansion House.

Bar crawl: mezcal martinis and top-tier tostadas at No.23, the new bar at Carousel

Information: 29 August 2024

Bringing a taste of Mexico to Fitzrovia the new permanent bar at Carousel, No.23, feels like a sure-fire hit.

Test of time - Lyle's in Shoreditch turns 10 and still has the wow factor

Information: 27 August 2024

Lyle's in Shoreditch is celebrating its 10th birthday, which gave us the perfect excuse for a return visit to see how this brilliant British restaurant was faring.

Test Driving Marceline - a floating French brasserie in Canary Wharf

Information: 20 August 2024

A huge French brasserie has arrived in Canary Wharf's Wood Wharf, floating in the water beside Hawksmoor. We went in to try some classic French fare.

Test Driving Cornus - a sophisticated second album from the Medlar team

Information: 15 August 2024

New rooftop restaurant Cornus is the first opening in over a decade from the team who brought us Medlar. We took a trip to Belgravia to check it out.

Test Driving Whyte's - Hackney meets San Sebastian for a Basque takeover

Information: 13 August 2024

Whyte's in Hackney completely changes its menu every month and has gone Basque for August. We haven't been to San Sebastian in way too long, so we couldn't resist a trip to Hackney for a taste of northern Spain.

Bar crawl: taking to the terrace at Bar Antoine on Park Lane

Information: 09 August 2024

We didn't want to gatekeep this bar terrace just off Park Lane, so here's what we thought of Bar Antoine's Twilight Terrace.

Test Driving Goodbye Horses - a groundbreaking new wine bar in Islington

Information: 08 August 2024

An old pub in Islington has been transformed into something really rather special. We popped along to new wine bar Goodbye Horses to check it out.

Test Driving The Waterman's Arms - excellent riverside dining in Barnes

Information: 06 August 2024

The Waterman's Arms is a riverside pub in Barnes with an excellent team behind it. We went for a lunch overlooking the Thames to try it out.

Test Driving Chalk restaurant at Wiston Estate - where everything from the produce to the wine is local

Information: 03 August 2024

On one of the largest pieces of family-owned land near the south coast, Wiston Estate has an extensive winery and a great restaurant in Chalk, which specialises in local Sussex produce. We took the train down for a day trip.