Curfews and socialising restrictions don’t have to mean the end of your nights out – you can still make the most of winter at these eateries which come complete with rentable dining pods.
The rule of six might mean that our social gatherings are a bit more limited now, but that presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy some pod dining as the weather grows colder.
Pod or igloo dining sees people enjoying their al fresco meals in cosy and often circular structures with see-through walls that allow you to see the views around you.
Not only are they good for keeping warm, but they have the added benefit of privacy which is pretty handy for social distancing between groups.
If that floats your boat, then here are some of the prettiest pod dining eateries to choose from…
Aviary – The City, London
Finsbury Square’s Aviary boasts four pods with some pretty stunning rooftop views.
The pods are on the restaurant’s ninth floor Palm Terrace, and you can pre-book them either for a meal or for snacks and drinks.
Usually, the pods are able to fit 10-12 people, but in the year of our lord 2020 the maximum capacity is six, and the terrace is shut at 10pm in accordance with the current curfew.
For groups of two and three, there’s a £200 minimum spend, but for groups of four and up, the minimum spend per person is £50. Food, drinks and a 12.5% service charge can all go towards this.
Ponsbourne Park Hotel – Newgate St Village, Hertford
At the Ponsbourne Park Hotel, the pods are situated on a deck which overlooks the lush greenery and courtyard surrounding the restaurant.
The pods are heated and have windows that you can open if you need as well as cosy cushions and blankets if you start to feel a chill.
A booking gets you access to a pod for two hours, and all reservations have a £100 minimum spend is per booking, not per person.
London Secret Garden – Kensington, London
The London Secret Garden has five dining pods available to hire.
The pods are all air conditioned and can be booked from 9am until 10pm seven days a week.
In addition to dinner reservations, you can also book the pods for afternoon tea.
No hard and fast booking price is listed on the website, but it does say: ‘Charges applicable to secure your dome experience’.
The Anchor Inn – Nayland, Suffolk
The Anchor Inn is situated on the banks of the River Stour, and their pods can let you take in the scenery from the comfort of one of their three their heated pods.
You can order everything from an app in the pods, so there’s no need to leave for anything other than the bathroom.
The pods are hired for two and a half hour slots and for bookings that are just for drinks, there’s a £200 minimum spend. You’ll also have to pay a hire charge for the use of the pod.
Jimmy’s Lodge – Southbank, London
Jimmy’s Lodge on London’s Southbank have private ‘snow globes’ that you can rent which have views overlooking the Thames.
These heated globes, which are designed to fit a maximum of 10 people, will be plenty roomy for you and five others.
You might want to considder bringing at least a couple friends with you, as the minimum spend for a reservation is £600.
CoppaClub – Tower Bridge, London
Also situated close to the river, Coppa Club has pods which come complete with sliding doors and your own speakers.
You can book the pods for two-hour slots, and off-peak bookings (Monday – Friday before 5pm) of three guests or fewer will have a minimum spend of £30 per person, while for bookings of four to six guests won’t have to worry about a minimum spend at all.
Peak reservations (evenings from 5pm onwards Monday – Friday and from 11:30am at the weekend) will have a minimum spend of £180.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/26/make-the-most-of-the-rule-of-six-in-these-private-dining-pods-13324519/
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