Back in July, a friend of mine from Sydney was in London for a few days. I had last seen Nicole briefly in Dubai in January when I went as part of a trip to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, but before that we hadn’t seen each other since March 2020 due to the travel ban in and out of Australia.
While she was in town I wanted to take her somewhere special for lunch, so when an invite from St Martin’s Lane hotel dropped in my inbox, inviting me to try their new summer terrace, I knew she would love it!
Covent Garden’s St Martin’s Lane Hotel, and especially their terrace, is a total Nicole vibe. Think beautiful healthy food, cute surroundings, and for 2022, the brand new Chandon Spritz. We also took my pup Frank with us, as the terrace is dog-friendly!
The New Chandon Spritz Terrace
The Chandon Spritz is a brand new drink, combining sparking wine with a handcrafted liqueur made from entirely natural extracts of orange peel, herbs and a secret mix of spices. Chandon have spent four years perfecting this spritz, so we were expecting something pretty special.
Served over ice with a sliver of orange and a sprig of rosemary, it really is the perfect summer drink and kept us more than refreshed on this very hot day! Unfortunately Frank couldn’t have any, so he stuck with water with a few ice cubes in it to keep cool.
The Food at St Martin’s Lane Terrace
The Chandon Spritz was absolutely perfect for the heatwave, but I was keen to see whether the food at St Martin’s Lane Hotel matched up to it. I was not disappointed in the slightest.
I started with Watermelon tartare while Nicole chose the Salmon tartare.
Both were exceptionally good – my Watermelon tartare was one of my favourite dishes I’ve had so far this summer. It was very light, fresh, and just tasted like summer on a plate. Can you believe how much it looks like a steak tartare yet it’s made from watermelon!? I was so impressed!
For mains I chose the Chicken caesar salad, and Nicole opted for the Ras el Hanout Lamb. Nicole adored her Ras el Hanout Lamb and commented on how ‘divine’ it was.
The Chicken caesar salad was slightly strange in that it wasn’t ‘tossed’, but instead was prepared ‘whole’, if that makes sense?
It was delicious though, and surprisingly filling, so when I was starting to get full and wanted to save myself for dessert, Frank was treated to a little bit of the chicken!
After very satisfying starters and mains, we were surprised that dessert really was the stand-out and managed to surpass all expectation. Nicole went for the Caramelised White Chocolate, while I chose the Mango Cheesecake.
Both, again, were just really tasty, and super refreshing and light.
The entire meal couldn’t have been more perfect for the weather and time of year. We were really impressed and I highly recommend the St Martin’s Lane Hotel terrace for a relaxed lunch on a sunny day.
Frank also had a great time and was thoroughly fussed by everyone!
Check Out The #Pride365 Video Wall Installation
As well as the terrace, we also loved the incredible new video wall display at the front of the hotel, celebrating Pride 2022.
High-definition screens have been installed on the lower third of the façade where the biggest Pride party transports you into St Martins Lane London.
The video, which was produced by Be The Fox using a green screen studio shoot, plays on a continuous staggered loop, with eight prominent members of the LGBTQIA+ community having ‘donated their legs’ to feature as dancers in the campaign joined by ‘party animals’ including a flamingo and zebra showcasing true diversity.
Alongside the symbolic installation, as part of the hotel’s ethos and mission throughout the year, the team are also committed to raising money and volunteering for AKT, a charity who supports LGBTQIA+ young people in the UK facing and experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.
St Martin’s Lane Hotel have said that they wanted to ensure authenticity and to feature real people from within the LGBTQIA+ community in the work, and to highlight the work they do on standing with the LGBTQIA+ community 365 days a year instead of just for the month of Pride.
Our meal was complimentary, but I was not obligated to post on my blog about the experience. I genuinely really loved our lunch!
Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of SEO at Havas Media Group by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.
