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A la Colthard / The Ivy in the Lanes

The Ivy in London opened in 1917. Beloved by Noel Coward and the theatre set it became enormously popular once again in the 80s and 90s and is now part of the Richard Caring Restaurant empire (Scott’s, Annabels). Many a naughty afternoon in West End hotel began with champagne and Lobster Thermidor at the Ivy in Covent Garden  though as the relationship  deteriorated  it became fishcakes and house wine !!! Would the Ivy in the Lanes  at the site of the old postal office  work in Brighton? It’s a different milieu and market to London as the trade is chiefly Thursday to Monday and filling a restaurant in the early week is not that easy, all the more as it’s a large restaurant.

I went there for the first time on Friday with my godson and we were impressed. The decor of colourful tropical plants and murals works and the place hash distinct buzz. We ordered the set menu priced at £16. The white onion soup was delicious but my godson’s had a fly in it. We were offered a complimentary drink.

For mains we had a well cooked salmon in a creamy sauce with spinach. We each had a glass of  Prosecco  and the final bill was reasonable at £57. It’s best to keep prices sensible as they find their feet and they are only opening up 70% of the space.

The circular bar will be popular too for a drink or eating on the hoof.

The service was professional but a tad intrusive and pushy. I wondered if they were trained to push the wine or olives to increase the profit margin on the set menu.

I can see it a popular venue for locals and visitors looking for high end dining at a tried and trusted restaurant name.

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About Daphne Colthard

After graduating at RADA but finding no roles Daphne went into magazine journalism with Good Housekeeping. Widely recognised as one of the country's leading restaurant and hotel reviewers, particularly by herself, Daphne is the author of "Bedded and Breakfasted", a light hearted chick novel and Grand Hotels DC: the Daffers Dictionary. Daphne lives in West London and is married to an investment banker Oliver. They have 2 boys Humphrey and Tarquin. More Posts