Paternoster Chop House, perhaps now more commonly known as Channel 4’s First Dates set, is one to add to your London foodie list. The minute you head into Paternoster Square, which is a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral, you notice the restaurant thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and of course, that First Dates sofa in the corner.

There’s a buzz in the restaurant which makes for a perfect, relaxed date night or catch up spot with friends. The iconic semi-circular bar is a magnet for casual after-work drinks but there’s nothing casual about their mixology skills.

The Gin Fizz cocktail, topped with pretty pink petals was refreshing and sweet in equal measure and the Old Fashioned with a twist doesn’t overwhelm in the mouth but instead had a subtle spice lingering on the palate.

Now, onto the best bit, the food. This Great British Chop House prides itself on honouring the times where ‘meat was king, portions were hearty and provenance was everything’. Perfection. To start, we tried the black pudding scotch egg, steak tartare with confit egg yolk and homemade pork pie with piccalilli. The scotch egg had a gorgeously rich, runny yolk and then black pudding casing made for a smoky aftertaste. The highlight was the outer crumb though, which added a salty, crispy texture.

If you’re not feeling like a slab of meat is your choice for dinner, there are plenty of alternatives – lamb chops, pork belly, herb smoked sea trout or a vegan dish leading with grilled Calcot onions and featuring dumplings, puy lentils and artichokes.

We, naturally, did go for the big slab of meat and opted for rib eye with red wine gravy. The meat, 300g and 42 day aged, was succulent and melt in the mouth but that was not the hero of this meal. The surprising hero, was the creamed mashed potatoes with Tunworth cheese. Silky to the point of almost runny, this potato is topped with thick slices of Tunworth, a British, camembert-style cheese which adds to the creaminess and provides a salty, thicker texture. We’re going in strong here but they actually were the BEST potatoes we’ve had. Fact.

Dessert was also a big hit and no matter which way your sweet tooth takes you, PCH has you covered. From a warmed, dense carrot cake, topped with cream cheese, candied carrot batons through to a rich, decadent sticky toffee pudding and chocolate truffles. Whatever you choose, we’re confident it will end your experience perfectly.

Prices at Paternoster are as you’d expect for a central London hotspot and steaks range from £22 (flat iron) through to £35 (fillet). For drinks, you’re looking at between £9.50 (white chocolate fizz) and £16 (Dirty Tea Time) and you can get a bottle of white wine for £30 (Novas, 2016).

To book, visit The Paternoster Chop House website. Want an insider tip? Ask for the table with the view of St Paul’s dome… a stunning backdrop for a stunning evening!

at Greenwich Theatre, London

“It flies by – almost an hour of court proceedings that are both informative and gripping”

The European Arts Company have now embarked upon a UK tour with this production – at times a verbatim performance of the two major court trials that saw Oscar Wilde imprisoned for two years. If that comes as a surprise to you, where have you been?!? I ought to mention that at the end of Titanic, there is an iceberg… Anyway, The Trials of Oscar Wilde is a repeat of a successful tour from 2014 and certainly a show worth catching if it pops up near you as it passes on a pertinent message.

When the documents of the actual court proceedings came to light a few years ago, it was a revelation to read – and now, thanks to this play, see – Oscar being argumentative, witty and contrite whilst in the dock. All in his own words, collected together by Oscar’s grandson Merlin Holland.

John Gorick

The whole tragedy began with an accusation made by The Marquess of Queensberry – that Oscar was having ‘relationships’ with young men. Oscar sued for libel and that case underpins Act One. It flies by – almost an hour of court proceedings that are both informative and gripping.

Act Two is The Criminal Case that followed. Roles are reversed, suddenly Oscar has to defend himself rather than prosecute. Sadly, the second half doesn’t quite grip as much as the first. There are witnesses called and these are played as grotesques, like pantomime characters popping up in a drama.

Rupert Mason and John Gorick

Directors John O’Connor and Eva Savage may be aware that Oscar’s speeches aren’t as delightfully pithy as an audience would perhaps hope, so they allow some minor characters to go for laughs. For me, it doesn’t sit right. It may show the actors’ versatility but I think it’s to the detriment of the drama of the play.

John Gorick plays Oscar, with an assurance and a fist on hip stance that one would expect. He allows the characters strengths and weaknesses to show. (Although, once in a while he allows his chin to protrude – giving me a quick glimpse of something else. I see Tommy Cooper in that face. That is meant as a compliment and a suggestion for a role he could look into!)

Benjamin Darlington and Patrick Knox

The rest of the numerous characters are played by costume-changing Rupert Mason (brilliant as prosecuting barrister Charles Gill and witness Fred Atkins), Benjamin Darlington and Patrick Knox.

A simple and effective set design by Tom Paris has all the action in the centre, with carefully placed chairs and props down the sides. A long curtain hangs at the back, with intermittent projections aiding the story along.

It should be noted, of course, that Oscar was found guilty for a crime that does not exist in the UK today: that of homosexuality. It is, however, still illegal to be gay in 78 countries and punishable by death in five… Food for thought, indeed.

Photographer           David Bartholemew

Playwrights              Merlin Holland and John O’Connor

Directors                  John O’Connor and Eva Savage

Set Designer            Tom Paris

Box Office                from individual theatre box offices (see tour list below) and at

www.europeanarts.co.uk/next#tour-dates

Running Time          2 hours 20 minutes (including interval)

Twitter                                 @EuropeanArtsCo, #TrialsOscarWilde

UK Tour Schedule:

April

10th-11th                  Brighton Pavilion

12th-13th                  Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

14th                          Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield

17th-18th                  The Haymarket, Basingstoke

20th                          Middlesbrough Theatre

24th                          Harrow Arts Centre

25th-27th                  Theatre Royal, Winchester

May

8th                            Key Theatre, Peterborough

9th                            Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton

10th                          Forest Arts Centre, New Milton

11th                          Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

15th                          Stantonbury Theatre, Milton Keynes

16th                          Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

17th                          Stamford Arts Centre

21st                          Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells

22nd                         Chipping Norton Theatre

23rd-25th                 Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

28th-29th                  Dugdale Centre, Enfield

30th                          Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham

31st                          The Courtyard, Hereford

June

1st                            Waterside Arts Centre, Sale