Time For Tea: Bob Bob Ricard

Tucked away on a teal leather banquette, complete with velvet drapes and a button marked "press for champagne", Gail and I felt like we'd been transported to a more glamorous era. One where afternoons were spent eating tiny posh sandwiches and being plied with champagne by dapper waiters. No girls, we weren't dreaming, we were at Bob Bob Ricard, a glamorous art deco gem in the heart of Soho.

Bob Bob Ricard is a rather splendid place to while away a boozy afternoon, especially if like me you're fond of the 1930s. Our charming waiter was dressed in powderpuff pink (waitresses wear turquoise) and started by bringing us a delicate rhubarb G&T (£7.50) in the same hue.

Afternoon tea comprised a tower of mini sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and a selection of dinky sweet treats for £23.50.

The tiny battenburg cake was stickily delicious, the cream horn was delicate and light, and we almost came to blows over an intense little chocolatey slab of cake.

Champagne cocktails were consistently delightful - a particular highlight being the English 75, made from Earl Grey sugar syrup infused in-house.

The menu also has plenty of tempting non-alcoholic options, with homemade lemonades at £4.75. My cucumber and mint limeade was refreshing and summery, however Gail's pink lemonade was slightly less successful, being so tart it made her eyes water.

If you don't fancy afternoon tea then BBR has an extensive all day menu. Better still, blag yourself into the members' bar in the basement for more cocktails. Reminiscent of a carriage in the Orient Express, with booths for snuggling up with a secret squeeze, it's one of Soho's hidden drinking gems.

Bob Bob Ricard
1-3 Upper James Street, London W1F 9DF