The area around the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Shard is one of the most fascinating areas of London. A new Hilton hotel has opened there, and as well as offering an ideal base for exploring vibrant Bankside , it is serving up a unique and delicious ‘bottomless Sunday lunch’ which could be the ideal Mother’s Day treat before a trip to the gallery or a stroll down the Thames.
The Hilton Bankside is what management call ‘the new generation of Hiltons’ and it does have a distinctive feel blending the area’s industrial heritage (the hotel itself was built on the site of an old perfume factory) with a contemporary urban buzz. Wall art mimics graffiti and carpets and tiles mirror the River Thames.
The OXBO restaurant on the ground floor is a spacious, bright place. The walls are adorned with papier mache animal heads and a distinctive mural which is a replica of a sign at a former neighbouring Rose Tea factory. The ‘Bottomless Sunday Lunch’ is proving popular and the day I visited the restaurant was lively, but not packed to the gills. There is live music on Sunday too which adds to a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Starters and desserts are taken from a buffet and the mains brought to the table. Produce is sourced locally where possible or from within the UK with specialities including iberico chorizo from nearby Borough Market and rib of Gloucestershire beef. I enjoyed the grilled Grimsby cod with soft roe and took my time selecting a medley of little deserts including raspberry vacherins chocolate profiteroles and baby lemon meringue pies. The ‘bottomless’ 3 course Sunday lunch at £28 per person includes a glass of bubbly and guests can also enjoy unlimited champagne (for up to two hours) for an extra £12
The Distillery Bar with its Penny Wall covered in old penny coins is popular with guests and after work drinkers alike and serves cocktails specialising in local London gins, as well as coffee and tea
The Hilton Bankside, 2-8 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 OUGTel: 0203 6675600Nearest Tube stations are Southwark (Jubilee line) Blackfriars (District line)
www.londonbankside.hilton.com