Kettner's Townhouse, Soho, London

Georgian townhouse Soho institution Kettner's has been given a lavish makeover by the Soho House team bringing the gorgeous old building back to life as French restaurant using locally sourced ingredients, late night champagne bar and boutique hotel. Best news is that it won't be a private club, it is open to all.

As one of the first restaurants in London to serve French food, Kettner's illustrious guests included everyone from Winston Churchill to Oscar Wilde and King Edward VII. One of the longest-running rumours in London restaurant history is that there is a secret passage that the king used in order to nip into Kettner's to dine with his mistress Lillie Langtry. They haven't found it. Yet.

Besides the restaurant, there will be a separate Champagne bar with a late licence for drinking fizz into the wee hours and the 18th century illustrations found during the restoration will be displayed in all their splendour. As the place is Grade 11 listed, all of its appealingly louche ambience remains, it's just been given a splurge of TLC.

Up an 18th-century spiral staircase, there are 33 French boudoir style bedrooms, all different. The absolute gem we'll really want to book is the Jacobean room with its own dining room which can be catered by the restaurant downstairs and has its own side entrance to the street, so no-one will know who is there with us.....

Click here for more information or to book