Despite being a members’ club at certain times of the day, Seven Dials will make you shed any preconceptions you may have about these kind of venues being exclusive and haughty.

The Venue
Inconspicuous from the outside, Seven Dials Club hides past a glass door but you will need to take the lift up to the second floor and then follow a winding corridor before you are actually in sight of the venue. At first you are greeted by a desk, where you can sign up for your membership, and beyond this there’s a large area, loosely divided into two rooms by a recent wall separation. The walls are painted a strong but not shocking shade of green and the space receives a lot of light from the wide windows on one side. Ever changing art pieces and photos make the walls very interesting to look at. The venue is simply furnished with dark, chunky but streamlined leather couches, booths, stools and chairs, positioned around high and low tables in a light wooden shade. The overall feeling is of normality although someone with a design-orientated mind may find that the chosen shade of leather and the chunky shapes are not fitted too well to this space. Around the corner from the entrance, there is a bar, simple but functional.

The Atmosphere
Far from the exclusive facade many other members’ clubs put up, Seven Dials Club almost has more in common with a social club. The space truly reminds you – for its atmosphere rather than for its look – of a large living room where an extended family gathers in small groups to read, eat, play pool or table football.

Membership is only £20 per year and, at the moment, the space is open to non-members between 11am and 5pm. The members’ list is quite substantial despite the club being rather new, and tend to be those working in Covent Garden: shop owners who have been trading in the neighbourhood for years and years, shop managers attached to the charm of the area, a few office dwellers and many others who just love Covent Garden and really appreciate the relaxed, friendly and welcoming nature of the Seven Dials Club.

The Food
Exclusivity and its high prices are given no space here. The menu is cheap and it comprises of honest, uncomplicated food. Stone-baked pizza (£3.50-£5.50 for a 9 inch pizza or £5.50-£7.50 for a 12 inch) is their forte and they several different types, all named after an area of London. They also serve paninis (£4.50 including chips or salad), burgers (£5-£6 including chips and coleslaw), a couple of salads (£5-£6) and a sharing platter (£8). The specials (£4.50-£6) may include fish pie, chicken and tarragon pasta bake, roasted vegetable risotto with garlic bread and more. The food may be inexpensive but it is pretty simple stuff and it is not always as you would like – the Sunday roast pork or chicken, for example, may occasionally not be tender enough. You can’t argue with the prices though, it’s just £10 for 3 courses on Sundays.

The Drink
The social club pricing extends to the drinks. Lager from the Shephard Neame brewery starts at £2 a pint and pints of Spitfire ale also cost around the same mark, whilst your other options include Staropramen (£2.70), Abbot Ale, Guinness (£2.80), Kent’s Best and a couple of others.

A dozen or so wines, evenly split between new and old world, are available by the glass (from £3 for a small and £4-£6 for a large one) or by the bottle (£12-£27). Soft drinks start from £1.50, and peak at around £2.50 for Luscombe organic juices. And you can also order a decent selection of hot drinks after your meal.

The Last Word
Seven Dials Club has the potential to become your second home – welcoming and easy going, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and is recommended to those who have a similar outlook on life.

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