Dinner at Evans & Peel Detective Agency

Maybe it’s the budding actress in me, but God, I do love a bit of roleplay. Especially when that roleplay involves a night out and a bit of time travel. Enter stage right, the Evans & Peel Detective Agency. Behind an entirely unassuming door on an Earl’s Court side street is this little gem of a find: the sort of quirky, you-don’t-find-it-anywhere-else place that reminds me why I live in London. Ring the doorbell for your appointment (that’s booking to the non-detective layman), and step inside to be transported to a prohibition era office, complete with typewriter and obligatory green shaded lamp. The “detective” will ask you about your case – when making a booking you’ll need to be creative enough to come up with some sort of back story – and it’s up to you how far you take the roleplay. After hashing out the main facts of your case, you’ll be asked to sit in the waiting room, which emerges when the resident detective pulls back their sturdy bookcase. Ah ha – a speakeasy!

Thankfully (for some) there is where your acting for the night ends. The decor inside the dimly-lit space is in keeping with the times, apothecary style cabinets take up space behind the bar, cut-glass beakers sit on tables and light shades and curtains are full of velvet and tassels. The cocktail menu takes reference from the era with creative names and even more creative ingredients – ranging from cardamom to beetroot. The food menu takes second place to the drinks, encompassing mainly glorified bar snacks. Nearly everything has been smoked, some dishes more successfully than others. The mac ‘n’ cheese is glorious – the pulled pork with corn chips less so.

This is the sort of place one could end up spending a lot of money. With cocktails starting at £10 a pop, and the sort of dark lighting which invites a heavy night, don’t be surprised if your bill (and your hangover) reach epic proportions.