Harden's survey result
Summary
“Allied to the magazine of the same name”, Mark Andrew and Daniel Keeling’s Bloomsbury four-year-old took over the “lovely”, if “slightly cramped” premises that were previously the marvellously old-school wine bar Vats (RIP). It has a “brilliantly curated” wine list “featuring something for everyone: from small, natural and biodynamic producers using grapes you’ve never heard of (from areas you didn’t even know produced wine), to the grand marques of the first growth Bordeaux. There is something for everyone and the staff are ridiculously knowledgeable and keen to help guide you through as much or as little as you want”. The “simple” fare that accompanies it is better-than-incidental too (“sometimes outstanding”), and prepared with “an assured touch”. “It’s not a place for loony foodies of the Instagram persuasion, thank God. Just really good fun!” And “all without it being daylight robbery” too.
Summary
“Allied to the magazine of the same name”, Mark Andrew and Daniel Keeling’s Bloomsbury three-year-old took over the “lovely”, if “slightly cramped” premises that were previously the marvellously old-school wine bar Vats (RIP). It has a “brilliantly curated” wine list “featuring something for everyone: from small, natural and biodynamic producers using grapes you’ve never heard of (from areas you didn’t even know produced wine), to the grand marques of the first growth Bordeaux. There is something for everyone and the staff are ridiculously knowledgeable and keen to help guide you through as much or as little as you want”. The “simple” fare that accompanies it is better-than-incidental too (“sometimes outstanding”), and prepared with “an assured touch”. “It’s not a place for loony foodies of the Instagram persuasion, thank God. Just really good fun!” And “all without it being daylight robbery” too.
Summary
An oenophile’s dream – Mark Andrew and Daniel Keeling’s “jolly” Bloomsbury two-year-old is, for the second year running, in strong contention as “London’s best wine option, bar none”. “Old-fashioned (in a good way)”, it occupies the endearingly “dingy” ’70s site that for many years traded as Vats (RIP) and “aside from being a bit noisy, the place itself is wonderfully atmospheric”. “Staff are friendly with an expert knowledge of the wines” and the list itself is “extensive, but even for the non-connoisseur or financially constrained customer there are quite a lot of bottles coming in at less than £30”. The “well-crafted” food is “much-more-than-serviceable” too – a selection of “very tasty and reasonably priced small plates”.
Summary
The “ridiculously comprehensive and thoughtful wine list” has established Mark Andrew and Daniel Keeling’s “knockout” Bloomsbury yearling as London’s No. 1 destination for œnophiles. Housed in the “buzzy”, “dark-wooded” premises which traded for decades as Vats, the variety of vintages is “fascinating”, with “some exceptional rarities, many in per glass portions”. “They take pride in the food too”, but it’s relatively “simple” and no criticism to say this is “more a wine bar than a restaurant”. Top Menu Tip – fish dishes in oxidized white burgundy.
For 30 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Noble Rot?
Owner's description
Located on Bloomsbury’s historic Lamb’s Conduit Street, Noble Rot Restaurant & Wine Bar was originally built in 1700. Chefs Stephen Harris and Paul Weaver from the Michelin-starred The Sportsman in Whitstable oversee a full à la carte menu of fine Franglaise style cooking in the restaurant, and a selection of small dishes in the bar. The wine list ranges from deliciously undervalued wines by the glass to hard-to-find gems from the worlds leading winemakers; expect to find mature bottles from legendary domaines such as Guy Roulot, Jacques Selosse, Armand Rousseau, Château Palmer, Lopez de Heredia and Guiseppe Quintarelli at reasonable prices.
We’re thrilled to be able showcase the spirit of Noble Rot Magazine in our atmospheric townhouse on one of central London’s most attractive streets, and hope to welcome you soon. We take reservations for the restaurant online and by phone, whilst tables in the front bar section are allocated on a first come first served basis.
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £18.00 | £22.00 |  |
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Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £11.00 | £26.00 | £9.50 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £25.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Bread | £4.50 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Restaurant details
51 Lamb's Conduit St, London, WC1N 3NB
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
