The new edition of Secret London – Unusual Bars and Restaurants is out now and it does not disappoint.
Co-written by Hannah Robinson and Rachel Howard, the book offers rare insights to places you won’t come across in any other travel book and it’s really entertaining.
This wonderfully illustrated guidebook describes over 140 places with their peculiar interiors, eccentric owners, and alternative menus. I have been living in London since 2009 and most the places mentioned I had never even heard of. I can’t wait until 2019 when I can experience these places for myself.
What I love about the book is how they write. They have a lovely way of
The Artiscape spoke with author Hannah Robinson about the new edition.
Why did you decide to write the book?
“I was asked by Rachel Howard who wrote the first edition because she had moved back to Athens and couldn’t do
“And I had written ‘Secret Edinburgh, an Unusual Guide’ for Jonglez so they knew my style of writing was going to fit well. And it looked like a lot of fun!” she adds.
What do you wish you’d known when you started to research the book that you know now?
“All the new places I’ve found since going to print!” she says. “I am going to post them on our facebook page @secretunusual, so keep an eye on there for more places. And I’d love it if people would send in their tip-offs for
What did you enjoy most about researching the book?
“It was great to meet the owners of the places and hear their tales – some of the best places in the book are almost extensions of their characters, like the magical toybox explosion of décor in the Oxymoron, or the bizarre Italian rockabilly 1930s Trilogie Marseillaise fondu joint that is Walluc. Many of them contain amazing collections of memorabilia which have gotten out of hand, like the bar in the Museum of Comedy or the shelves of Princesse D’Isenbourg et Cie, and so hearing the stories of how they acquired them was fascinating.”
What was the biggest challenge you found in putting the book together?
“The fact that London is so huge!” says Hannah. “And trying to figure out what is secret and unusual enough. Lots of people kept telling me about fantastic speakeasy bars, which are very hidden and have amazing vintage décor, so they seem to fit my remit.”
“But in fact, they are intentionally marketed this way and many of them are very famous. So I decided to include just a few and then write an overview of the scene where I could name check a lot without over-running the book with them.”
What do you think a reader will take from this book?
“Apart from finding lots of interesting places to visit”, she says “I hope readers will find the stories of my visits entertaining – especially some of the stranger nights like the wild evening at Hester’s Hideout, or vintage dressing up for Cahoots, or the high-security visit to The Clink, a restaurant inside Brixton Prison.”
Finally, we asked Hannah what type of people will enjoy this book?
“Londoners who think they know the city, foodies who have a taste for adventure, and anyone who enjoys exploration and the unexpected,” she says.
“Often the journey to find the venue in some back street of an area you’ve never visited is as fun as the place itself. And the book contains some hidden ‘Easter Egg’ pieces to discover, on subjects like London’s Secret Salsa Scene and Shops with secret Refreshments, so the pages themselves are worth exploring.”
Princesse d’Isenbourg 
The Oxymoron: photo by Rachel Megawhat 
Hester’s Hideout – DeuxElles: photo by Jan Pearson 
The Clink 
Museum of Comedy: photo by Steve Ullathorne
With witty and engaging anecdotes, this beautifully illustrated
The book can be purchased on Amazon or any good bookstore.
