Kettner's Townhouse

Kettner's Townhouse
Map
Restaurant information
Established1867
Previous owner(s)Auguste Kettner
Street address29 Romilly St
CityLondon
StateUnited Kingdom
Postal/ZIP CodeW1D 5AL

Kettner's Townhouse is a restaurant in London. Dating from 1867, it is one of the oldest restaurants in the city.[1][2][3]

History

Kettner's Townhouse was founded in 1867 by Auguste Kettner, a German chef who served Napoleon III. It is the first restaurant to serve French food in London.[4][1]

The restaurant drew small crowds until a letter was published in The Times acclaiming the restaurant's cooking in 1879. However, it was the visits of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward – also known as King Edward VII – around 1890 that really began to attract large crowds to the restaurant. King Edward is believed to have taken his mistress, actress Lilie Langtry to Kettner's. There are rumors that he courted Lillie Langtry through a secret tunnel that connected the restaurant to The Palace Theatre where the actress performed. Since then, the restaurant developed a risque reputation as a place for affairs.[5][6] [7][8]

Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby, Agatha Christie and Oscar Wilde frequented the place.[2][7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b Ford, Tom (20 February 2018). "10 of London's Oldest Restaurants Worth a Visit". Eater London. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b "5 of the Oldest Restaurants in London". History Hit. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ^ "London's 10 Oldest Restaurants". Thrillist. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Kettner's Townhouse: The best dishes to eat at the legendary London restaurant". British GQ. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Kettner's Townhouse". History Hit. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Kettner's Townhouse by Soho House & Co in-house design team | Hotel interiors". Architonic. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Get to Know London's Hottest New Destination". Architectural Digest. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Kettner's Townhouse". History Hit.

51°30′47″N 0°07′50″W / 51.5131°N 0.1306°W / 51.5131; -0.1306