One of the original gastropubs, The Chapel, appropriately enough in Chapel Street NW1, with its stripped wood floors, wooden furniture and well-prepared food seems to provide a winning formula. This once old, dark English pub has now turned into a light, inspiring place that soothes the senses and the buzzy atmosphere brings along much joie de vivre.

The crowds are attracted by almost everything The Chapel has on offer, from tapas and vegetarian dishes to the traditional Sunday roast and modern European fare. The menu is chalked on a board daily depending on the produce that the kitchen has purchased, with some unusual raw materials like Bayonne ham, and they turn out adventurous dishes like springbok Wellington with truffle mash and French beans or char-grilled rib eye steak with potato wedges, mix green beans and Bordeaux jelly!

The wines at The Chapel are also of interest, quite reasonably priced, with thirteen available by the glass.