The Imperial Arms

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Brunch at The Imperial in Chelsea

What used to be a pub known as the Imperial Arms, is now a modern restaurant in a stunning Victorian building that has been completely refurbished by owners Alan Turtill and Kate MacWhirter.

I was kindly invited to review the restaurant’s special brunch menu so I was there with my husband on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago.

We took the Overground from Clapham Junction for just one stop to Imperial Wharf and walked less than ten minutes to the restaurant.

We were welcomed by the lovely front of house staff, who took our coats away and accompanied us to a table at the back of the restaurant.

The room was basking in the sun light coming through from the window wall, while in front of us was the open plan kitchen with the chefs at work.

The Imperial, Chelsea - Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Review analysis
location   food   menu   staff   drinks   ambience   desserts  

This has been done partly by dividing the restaurant into distinct spaces (the front area is dominated by the bar; the back area is dominated by the open kitchen, plus there is a covered garden/courtyard with sofas, a small herb garden and al fresco dining facilities);   and partly by ensuring that the food and drink menu caters to a variety of tastes.

On the night we visited, our group was seated at a long table beside the open kitchen to enjoy a selection of dishes from the new menu that head chef Jason Cole has put together.

We started off with the prettiest dish of the night by a country mile: confit duck yolk, hay-infused egg white, pickled wild mushrooms, pearl barley and chive puree.

The next dish was super simple and was my runaway favourite of the night: grilled mackerel fillet, pickled cucumber, onion foam and egg crumble.

I loved the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant and the clean, modern decor that still remained respectful to the building’s history, and the vision of the owners to create somewhere that is all things to all people: a pre- and post-match pub for football fans; a gastropub for foodies; and a family-friendly all-day dining space that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Imperial Arms | Pub and Restaurant | Chelsea Design Quarter ...

Review analysis
ambience  

The Imperial Arms is situated on the King's Road in the heart of the Chelsea Design Quarter.

One of the last remaining original Victorian pub buildings in Chelsea, we are a community pub, welcoming locals with delicious food, classic drinks and a warm atmosphere.

Dining is informal in a relaxed environment reflecting the best in British design with a warm friendly welcome.

We are proud to offer quarterly seasonal menus with dishes cooked from fresh British ingredients handcrafted by our skilled chefs.

The Imperial Arms Chelsea | London Bar Reviews | DesignMyNight

Review analysis
food  

I have high expectations of this venue and had been there only a couple of weeks earlier for a late lunch which was great.

All in all a pretty disappointing experience given the high expectations.

The Imperial - restaurant review | London Evening Standard

Review analysis
food   ambience   drinks   desserts  

ES Food Newsletter The Imperial Arms used to be a bit rowdy — posh rowdy, with back-slapping and exaggerated laughing and really tall blokes in white chinos loudly regaling pretty blonde girls about how much their bar tab came to last night.

Gastropub this may be but champagne flutes, not pints, sit on every table, so we order the Sussex sparkling wine (Cuvée Cavendish) to keep up appearances.

Restaurants beloved of ladies who lunch can, in my limited experience, be snooty and quiet, as if everyone is whispering about everyone else’s terrible clothes and table manners.

Credit to The Imperial for being the opposite — the friendliest of its smiley staff is our husky Spanish waitress, who says: “The fans of Chelsea have come in and say: ‘What’s this cauliflower tart?

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