It’s always tricky deciding where to eat in London – you’re spoilt for choice but places can be pricey and you probably want to avoid the more obvious tourist traps.
We wanted to have a family get together during Mlle’s lunchbreak (my dad had come up with me from Yorkshire for the day). So the easiest thing was to put Mlle in charge of the arrangements! She came up with an excellent choice – Percy & Founders just round the corner from her workplace in Fitzrovia.
A casual bar and restaurant tucked away in Pearson Square, halfway between Oxford Street and Warren Street, we wouldn’t have come across it if we hadn’t been in the know. The surrounding square is dominated by tall office buildings but the quirky and charming feature of Percy & Founders is that it is built into the side of the old Fitzrovia Chapel, a lovely Grade II listed building (now restored and preserved for functions including weddings).
Initially we were seated in the rather noisy bar area but the staff were very helpful and we were soon relocated to a quaint little corner adjacent to cosy display shelves and with a nice view towards the old arched window of the chapel.
Percy & Founders describes itself as “British European” cuisine – an interesting concept! I didn’t take any photos of the food and drink as we were busy chatting but I would describe it as traditional food with a modern twist and an excellent wine list. Our wait staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive.
The interior is very chic and stylish and the arty theme continues down to the toilets which so intrigued Monsieur that he photographed them for posterity.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable time. It was the perfect spot for a lazy extended lunch though plenty of people just popped in and out for a quick bite to eat. Overall Percy & Founders is a great find! Afterwards we came across another old church now dominated by the trappings of modern life – All Souls Langham Place sitting at the top end of Regent Street in the shadow of the BBC building!
All Souls Langham Place Regent Street London
Copyright © 2017 Rosemary Thomas Le Chic En Rose. All rights reserved
Le Chic En Rose 
This seems like an awesome place! Your post was a great read!
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Thanks Agness! It was a good place to relax and have lunch in – always good to get off the main streets in London!
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What a gorgeous place Rosemary, will definitely be noting this down for future reference!! I love quirky places like this, like you say a place you’d never find unless you had insider knowledge of the area. Loving the loos too!!
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Thanks Joy – it is certainly useful having Mlle in London as she knows all these little places! I loved the way that they had kept so much character in a modern setting. There are lots of other eateries in this area too – Charlotte Street (not far away) seemed to have a lot of places and go down any side street and you come across pubs and cafes! Certainly no attention had been spared with detail even in the loos!!
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I must give this restaurant a try next time I am in London. It is good to eat at a quirky place, central and that it will not cost a fortune. Thanks for the tip 😄
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You’re very welcome Gilda! Certainly you could just pop in there for a quick bowl of soup or salad if you haven’t got too much time or else have a full meal. We loved the decor and the little adjacent chapel. There are also plenty of other cafes, restaurants and bars in the side streets of Fitzrovia – quite a few in Tottenham Street and Charlotte Street if you are ever down that way! 🙂
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Another brush with fame, Rosemary. I also visited All Souls, as the marriage venue of one of my great grandparents! Can’t believe how we were so close to bumping into each other 🤣🤣
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We may well have walked past each other in the street Ken! All Souls is a lovely church – must have been a very different setting when your great grandparents got married!
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According to the lady in the office, the replacement of pews with tables and chairs is obvious. She believed the interior was otherwise as 150 years ago! (apart from the obvious maintenance and restoration)
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I didn’t get to see the interior though some day I will do my own tour round all the London churches that my ancestors were associated with. I was pleased to see that St Botolph’s Aldgate (where my 3 X great grandparents were married back in 1826) had retained the pews! 🙂
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How strange that we’ve both featured converted chapels in the last week, Rosemay! 🙂 🙂 It’s great that these places can retain their roots and yet have a new life.
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Yes synchronicity Jo! Yes retaining their essence but with new life is good to see 🙂
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