Matthew Steeples visits Boisdale of Mayfair with restaurateur Nicky Kerman – and samples a marmalade infused gin cocktail (or three)
Though most will recognise Boisdale for its tartan décor, traditional cuisine and fine malt whiskies, this live music restaurant group’s most recent opening, Boisdale of Mayfair, is a place as well suited to afternoon drinking as anywhere in a locality stuffed to the brims with many a salubrious spot.
An afternoon visit late last month with the legendary restaurateur Nicky Kerman – himself involved in Boisdale of Canary Wharf but best known for his involvement in the heydays of both Drones and Scott’s in the era of Nigel Dempster and the late Diana, Princess of Wales – was a revelation. Whilst I rightly anticipated the most civilised of times, Nicky promised something he knew I’d love nearly as much: The email suggesting our meeting place, in red, enlarged capital letters was accompanied by the caption: ‘GIN’.
On arrival, we were guided to a most pleasant terrace outside this converted stable building just off Park Lane and there followed not only gin and tonics made with gins from Scotland and the South Coast but also a cocktail, pictured above, named the ‘Lady Marmalade’ (£9.50). This mix of marmalade infused Beefeater 24, Solerno blood orange liqueur, Mandarine Napoleon liqueur, fresh lemon juice and sugar was described to us as a “belting summer cocktail oozing fruity deliciousness” and boy indeed it was.
Boisdale of Mayfair, 12 North Row, London, W1K 7DF. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3873 8888.