In a Grade II Victorian townhouse in Belgravia, The Elizabeth is the newest launch from Lunar Pub Company (The Hunter’s Moon, South Kensington and The Apollo Arms, Clapham). Rooted in history but designed for the here and now, it’s a bistro that feels warm, classic and just a little regal.
The site previously operated as Ganymede, a pub-restaurant that Hubert Beatson-Hird’s Lunar Pub Group opened three years ago. Tapping into the area’s rich history and London’s shifting hospitality scene, Beatson-Hird saw a chance to give the space a fresh identity and pay homage to the neighbourhood’s regal ties.
The name is a playful nod to tradition. Beatson-Hird shares that there are unwritten rules in the biz – like the superstition that naming an establishment after a living monarch or painting a pub’s interior blue is bad luck. As Queen Elizabeth II no longer reigns, the superstition no longer applies to her name.
Chef Anthony Demetre – who’s behind Michelin-starred Wild Honey in St James and is considered a pioneer of British bistronomy – is overseeing the menu with Ganymede’s longtime head chef David Halewood. Expect classic British fare with a slate of signature dishes unlikely to leave the menu, including a duck, pork and guinea fowl pâté en croûte and a Cumbrian beef tartare with ’nduja aioli and beef dripping toast. Beatson-Hird calls the rabbit, prepared three ways, “easily the best I’ve worked with”. Plus, there’s a Herefordshire beef chop côte de boeuf with peppercorn sauce to share. And the three-course set menu? It’s yours for less than £30 – proof that good, traditional cooking can still be affordable in SW1.
Her late majesty was a fan of a good Martini, and The Elizabeth is following suit. The Regular Regencies cocktail selection includes a nod to Queen Elizabeth’s favourite cocktail: the QEC, a mix of Lillet, Sapling gin and chartreuse. There’s also a “razor-sharp, velvet thin” Bloody Martini. “I’ve taken all the good things of a Bloody Mary and gotten rid of all the bad things,” says Beatson-Hird. The wine list is curated by distributor Liberty Wines.
After a refurb by Novo Design (Luca), helmed by Abbie Smith, the space mixes classic British charm – dark wood panelling, rich burgundy tones and racing-green leather banquettes – and modern comfort, making it the kind of spot you’ll want to settle into and stay a while. It now “reads like a brilliant book”, says Beatson-Hird, “flowing seamlessly, filled with cosy nooks and crannies perfect for intimate drinks”.
The Elizabeth
139 Ebury Street, SW1W 9QU
02039710761
Hours:
Mon to Sat 11.45am–11pm
Sun midday–7pm
