Golden

So, I clearly wasn't having a good day when I wrote my last post. More fork-grating-on-plate than platelicking. But there's nothing like a few crisp autumn days to brighten my mood. There's little not to like about this time of year apart from the shorter days. I mean, how good is the smell of autumn leaves, let alone how resplendent they look? Not to mention the promise of glowing pumpkins, bonfires and sparklers.

Restaurants are also cosier at this time of year, and there are two particularly convivial new arrivals in Soho. Mark Hix has opened Hix on Berwick Street which serves the sort of hearty British food made for this weather and is attracting all of London's restorati, who are particularly fond of Mark's Bar downstairs, where Joe Warwick recently launched his new mag Galley Slave. And then there's Polpo on Beak Street which is a buzzy little Venetian Bacaro run by former Caprice Holdings director Russell Norman, that oozes charm and character. Both well worth wrapping up for, making winter seem a rather pleasing prospect.