The Welsford Bistro

Scoffing your brekkie in Britain’s largest cathedral might leave you speechless, so it’s just as well you don’t have to say grace – just drink in the atmosphere inside or take a pew in the covered Welsford Porch with its views across St James’ Garden and the Georgian Quarter.

The Welsford Bistro is an independent restaurant fronted by Damien Flynn, formerly of 60 Hope Street, and Neil Blackhurst, who in a past life owned Pistachio Restaurant and Vinyl Basement Bar on Lark Lane. We’re betting the Sunday roast is pretty popular and brunch is all in order too – they got the smashed avo and eggs benny memo, there’s muffins and sourdough a-go-go, the full English plates up bacon, sausage, black pudding from Bexleys, beans, egg, mushroom, tomato and toast, and your caffeine fix comes courtesy local roasters Joe Black Coffee. Moving lunchwards, there are mostly veggie salads, posh toasted sarnies on ciabatta, jackets and burgers (including a plant-based Moving Mountain on brioche), and of course soup of the day. Thinking big, there’s plenty accompanied by chunky chips, including fish with mushy peas and tartare sauce as well as egg-topped gammon steak, the vegan offer includes a falafel flatbread, and there’s a tempting pork and Stornaway black pudding sausage roll. There’s also Scouse, and even blind Scouse, both with homemade bread and pickled red cabbage, so Amen to that.

Special occasion? You can hire the Welsford for anything from a candle-lit private dining experience to barbecues on the porch, and from breakfast meetings to stylish canapé and drinks receptions incorporating a short organ recital.

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