This is the most famous of the US adult club giant Spearmint Rhino’s British locations, but despite its prime central London positioning it manages to offer value for money, a touch of glamour and a restaurant with generous American portions.

The Venue
Enter at street level (door charge: £15), then descend the stairs to a world of fake leopardskin opulence. Check in your coat at the cloakroom then head inside, where you can sit at a table on the main floor close to one of the podiums where a handful of topless ladies are dancing to R&B, pop and house music. The lighting is low, but once your eyes adapt you’ll see that there are literally dozens of ladies hovering in the shadows, waiting to come and chat to you.

The Atmosphere
Well-heeled men, on the whole, and well-dressed too – there’s a dress code so no jeans or trainers. If you meet someone you like you can disappear off for a lapdance in a side room (normally £20). It’s secluded but not totally private; there may be one or two other girls already at work with other clients at the same time. There are other options, including having a lady accompany you to the VIP floor upstairs, for those with bigger budgets.

The Food
At the far end of the room is a spectacular multi-tiered bar and tables for 20-30 diners. The menu is surprisingly varied – in fact, the waiter boasts that within reason the chef will cook literally anything that a diner wants. Pick a quick snack to munch on, like the nicely crispy mozzarella sticks (£6.50), when you’re waiting for your bigger dishes to turn up. The steaks (around £20) come highly recommended; they’re juicy but crisp and are cooked perfectly according to the diner in question’s requirements, and backed up with a selection of vegetables much more substantial than the usual afterthought. The nachos (£12) are big enough to feed three people, and they’re fresh, zingy and laden with tasty ingredients. There’s only a handful of mainly American-style puddings though (£6.50), from cheesecake to ice cream and chocolate fudgecake.

The Drink
A fair variety of bottled beer, including Heineken, Corona and Budweiser, and a cocktail bar stocked with dozens of different poisons of choice. But the wine list is the piece de resistance, with a decent selection of French, New Zealand, Spanish and other wines (£30 upwards). Those in search of a cooling, subtle but lively white could do a lot worse than a bottle of the Italian Gavi di Gavi, from the region of the same name (£30).

The Last Word
Spearmint does deliver what it says on the tin, and although they haven’t exactly reinvented the lapdancing experience, it does deliver it with some style. With its massive food portions, free entry and two for one deals on dances during weekday afternoons, and a bar tariff that isn’t excessive by West End standards, it has plenty to offer.

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