Ilford Hill residents are guaranteed generous doses of excitement with the opening of IF Bar and Restaurant where it's all about food, music and entertainment. Previously called Red Lion, it's now kitted out in leather sofas, atmospheric down-lighting and polished wood following a £3m makeover. The spectacular heated garden where you can play mini-golf, giant chess or dine al fresco is the real draw here.

The Italian food on offer will appeal to most tastes, so start perhaps with octopus poached in olive oil, tomato and garlic, or whitebait, calamari and prawns coated in a paprika flour fried and served with lemon and a garlic mayonnaise. For those wanting something different there's confit of duck legs rolled in Parma ham with a rocket and pomegranate salad and veal jus, and rosemary roasted rabbit with a paprika tomato sauce with creamy délice potatoes and steamed green beans.

IF promises plenty of entertainment right through the week with comedy and cabaret, live bands and club nights.