Simpson's in the Strand

Simpson's in the Strand is one of the great historic dining rooms of London, first opened in 1828 as the Grand Cigar Divan and established at its present home on the Strand since 1904. Famous for the Grand Divan, for roast beef carved at the table from silver-domed trolleys and for its long association with chess, it reopened in 2026 under Jeremy King Restaurants after closing in March 2020.

The history is remarkable. Samuel Reiss opened a cigar and coffee room that became the home of British chess, where Adolf Anderssen played the Immortal Game in 1851. Caterer John Simpson joined in 1848 and introduced hearty British dining and the silver carving trolleys, devised so that chess players would not be disturbed. Richard D'Oyly Carte of the Savoy bought the business in 1898, the building was rebuilt by T. E. Collcutt in 1904, and regulars over the years have included Gladstone, Disraeli and Churchill, whose settle is still marked. P. G. Wodehouse wrote that there is only one Simpson's.

Historic British restaurant on the Strand

Today the revived restaurant unites the traditional Grand Divan, described as the definitive English dining room, with Romano's, a lighter take on English dining served with continental flair, a classic cocktail bar and a private ballroom, the Assembly Room. Breakfast has returned, including the Ten Deadly Sins, a monumental English spread of sausage, eggs, bacon, black pudding, lamb chop and kidney, with lighter options too. Lunch and dinner run all day, and Romano's offers a late supper menu from 9.45pm.

What to expect on a visit

The Grand Divan serves breakfast from 7am on weekdays and 8am at weekends, then lunch and dinner until 10.45pm, with last bookings at 9.45pm on Sunday. Simpson's Bar takes no bookings and serves until 11pm. It is the grandest of the fine dining rooms in Covent Garden, and for another piece of Continental grand-cafe tradition nearby, The Delaunay on Aldwych is a short walk east. A roast carved at the table here remains one of London's defining meals.