L'Escargot hosts private lunches and dinners for up to 40 guests and drinks receptions for up to 80, in four private rooms on the upper floors of its townhouse at 48 Greek Street, Soho, London. The restaurant was founded in 1896 and has been at this address since 1927, and it calls itself London's oldest French restaurant.
Seminars and company events
The private rooms are booked for business lunches, client dinners and corporate events as well as personal celebrations. The Blue Room on the second floor seats 12 around one table, a size that suits a board dinner or a small team meal away from the main dining room. The Library on the first floor takes 30 seated or 45 standing and is used for larger dinners and corporate gatherings. For a launch or a networking evening, the Snail Bar under its skylight on the top floor holds 60 standing. The whole house can be hired for a larger event.
Weddings and receptions
Salon Vert, an antique room on the first floor with its original ceiling, is offered for wedding dinners and receptions of up to 40 seated or 45 standing. Birthdays and anniversaries are also regular bookings, and the house takes standing receptions with canapés of up to 80 guests across its rooms.
Rooms and capacities
The Snail Bar sits on the top floor, bright under a skylight ceiling, and takes 60 for an informal standing reception. The Blue Room, on the second floor, seats 12. The Library, on the first floor, seats 30 or holds 45 standing. Salon Vert, also on the first floor, seats 40 or holds 45 standing. Across the house, seated private meals go up to 40 and standing receptions up to 80. Exclusive hire of the whole restaurant is available on request.
Catering
The kitchen cooks French food, and private events use set seasonal menus: an autumn private dining menu runs from early September to late November, followed by a Christmas menu through December 23. The restaurant also serves a pre-theater prix fixe, an à la carte, Sunday and late-night menus, a cocktail list and a wine list. Dogs are welcome in the restaurant.
History and setting
L'Escargot opened in 1896 and moved to Greek Street in 1927, making it one of the longest-running restaurants in Soho. The house keeps period rooms on each floor, which gives each private space its own character, from the antique ceiling of Salon Vert to the Library.
Getting there
The address is 48 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4EF. Tottenham Court Road station, on the Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines, and Leicester Square station are both a short walk away, which puts the West End theaters within reach for pre-theater bookings.
