Take a carving class at Simpson's-in-the-Strand

Simpson's-in-the-Strand, beside the Savoy Hotel, was opened in 1828 as a chess club and coffee house called The Grand Cigar Divan. It went on to establish a reputation as the "home of chess", attracting everyone who was anyone in 19th century chess. Famous customers have included Vincent Van Gogh, George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Disraeli, William Gladstone and, of course, the man who seemingly ate at every London establishment at one time or another, Charles Dickens.


The restaurant specialises in traditional British fare, and joints of meat are delivered to tables on silver-domed trolleys and carved there. In fact, so much part of Simpson's is this that they offer weekly 'carving classes', admittedly at a hefty cost £150, on Sundays throughout the year.

Under the tuition of chef Gerry Rae, student carvers receive a 90 minute lesson, practising on a variety of joints, and are then given a presentation carving knife and fork, a certificate of competence and lunch. Following this, friends and family of the student are encouraged to come for post lesson lunch where the carver can show off their new skills.

For more information, visit http://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk/classes.php

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