Blacks Private Club

oogywawa

A relaxed haven amongst the Soho mayhem... 29th December 2008

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When you need a place to relax with friends and forget the world with a bottle of good wine in front of a roaring fire and candlelight then Blacks comes up trumps.

Samuel Johnson and Joshua Reynolds set up a dining club in this cavernous 3 storey townhouse in 1764 and it appears that little has changed since. The decor is evocative of those heady days without being anachronistic, with simple wooden tables, wood panelled walls and a crackling open fire in most rooms. There is a miscellany of soft furnishings and seating to lounge about on and the overall feeling is of a louche cosyness as an assorted clientele rub along nicely in a spirit of bonhomie.

It was commented on that people go to Black's to be NOT seen rather than the other private London clubs such as Whites or The Groucho that are the refuge of X Factor and D-List ephemera. Given that an A-List film actor was on the table next to us and remained wonderfully anonymous it certainly gives that creedence.

There is well chosen and not badly priced wine list - we demolished several bottles of a lovely fruity, spicy Gigondas at our last visit and the food is good if unspectacular.

Black's is a special place that is perfectly happy and confident in its own skin - it doesn't have an ego, it has an awareness of self-worth and it seems to attract people that are of the same mindset.

mazphd at 02/01/09

hmm but will they let the rest of us rif raf in?...

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