If you’re planning a trip to London in the long term, allow me to tempt you with a very quirky evening indeed; one that truly steps back in Old London time…

Regular readers will know the delights ofSimpsons Tavern, the oldest chop house in London–established in 1757 and still, hidden in a warren of medieval alleyways, a secret lunch venue for City businessmen–serving hearty food with a distinct nod to the past.

It is generally, though, just a lunch venue,  closed during the evenings, when the passageways are at their most Dickensian (and yes Dickens knew both Simpsons and its neighbor, the George and Vulture…)

Enter two delightful doyennes of Georgian high society: the glamorous Miss B and coquettish Kitty Pridden who, between them, have reinvented the concept of the Dining Salon, where the gentry meet, eat and converse, listen to music and discuss the issues of the day.

Simpsons is the perfect venue for the Georgian Dining Academy. Costume is by no means obligatory, though many guests do come in splendid outfits (or, as I discovered after wearing daft clothes on the train, bring their kit and change…) I guess my visit saw about 50-50 costume/non costume.

The evening begins with Georgian punch and live music of the day, before guests are seated in Simpsons’ traditional booths for a three-course meal, interspersed with entertainment and short talks, candle-lit and cosy as an 18th Century Londoner might expect…

The dates for 2016 are