Entertaining. For many, this mean having a space where friends and family visiting from near and far can feel at home while you wine and dine them. Unfortunately, my first year in London was spent living in a box, with a windowless kitchen that could uncomfortably fit me and my two flatmates. Often, I just tagged along to the homes of friends with larger dining spaces throughout London.

It's hard to host a party

Normally, the mantra is bring your own booze and we’ll take care of the rest. The best part of these nights is the conversation and laughs as the wine and beer flows.  As we’ve all gotten busier, these dinner parties have become fewer and farther between. Of course, as a guest I’ve been less privy to the planning and time spent cooking and cleaning after the event to understand what a pain entertaining can also be.

There are also spaces in London with that homey feel, where a group of friends, couple, or double date can sit for a couple hours dining and drinking in comfort. Often, it only hurts at the end, when the bill comes and you notice that the wine you just bought at Tesco for 10 quid is going for 30 on the menu..oh and whilst enjoying everyone’s company, you bought three!

Unless, of course, you BYOB. London has tons of bring your own booze restaurants throughout the city, some charge a corkage fee per bottle or person, while others simply just let you be. It’s all the benefits of a dinner party, without the hassle of set up and clean up.

Here are a taste of some of the gems I’ve found in London. I’d like to say that once I have a real space, I’ll be entertaining all the time. But, with these options, I’m not sure I’ll have to!

We came prepared

Tayaab’s No Corkage Charge. Pakistani.
You can’t utter BYOB and London in the same sentence without mentioning Tayaab’s. A hop, skip and jump away from the many restaurants adorning Brick Lane, they all stand pale in comparison. Tayaab’s is the restaurant of choice whenever I have a group of friends coming to town. Perfectly situated in the popular East End, you can grab a satisfying bite and then hit up one of the many cool bars lining the side streets of Brick Lane and Liverpool Street.. Reservations are an absolute must unless you want to stand in a line that can at times run down the street. I suggest the mixed grill to start and don’t go home without visiting the bakery for some sweet traditional treats.
Nearest Tube:Aldgate East

Olives and Figs No Corkage Charge. Turkish.
Nestled into one of the Jack the Ripper hideaway street, the atmosphere walking here gives you some of that Old London feeling. The hot and cold mezze provide the perfect starters to share among people, with lighter or heavier main meals ranging from kebabs to steak. The desserts are homemade and the traditional turkish coffee, mint or apple tea provides the perfect finish. I come here once a month with the same group of friends. We normally shut the place down and with the BYOB policy, we can choose whose turn it is to bring the raki.
Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street.

Kandoo Restaurant No Corkage Charge. Persian.
A short walk from Edgeware road in Northern London, the last time I visited Kandoo was to celebrate a friend’s birthday. They gave us the whole back room to ourselves and even decorated a cake picked up for us from a local bakery to surprise our guest of honor. The starter mezze here is hard to beat and the main courses can be eaten as meals in and of themselves or shared among friends. In the summertime, the restaurant has its own back patio so you can enjoy one of London’s nicer days outside, while sipping on your own choice of brew.
Nearest Tube: Edgeware Road

Mohsen No Corkage Charge. Iranian.
We came across Mohsen’s attempting to find the halfway point between my place and my friend’s in Richmond. We settled on Earl’s Court and I was given the job of finding an affordable, but delicious place to meet. On entrance to Mohsen, one is greeted with the sweet smell of fresh dough being rolled out in a corner. With the feel of a home run establishment, the service was terrific, as our waiter helped us choose which dishes would satisfy the group. We shared mezze and some main courses while d rinking the wine recommendations of my friend’s French boyfriend. He had a whole selection to chose from, first stopping at the market to pick it up.
Nearest Tube: Earl’s Court.

That’s all for now, folks, but there are many many more.  Stay tuned….!