Chelsea Arts Club

You're walking down Old Church Street in Chelsea, past the Georgian townhouses and gallery windows, when you spot the discreet entrance that's been welcoming artists, writers and cultural figures for over a century. Inside, it's exactly what you'd hope: creaky floorboards, intimate corners lined with exhibition-worthy artwork, and a genuine sense that you've stumbled into someone's rather cultured living room. The bar stocks proper spirits, the restaurant serves honest British food, and there's an easy, convivial atmosphere that comes from members actually wanting to be here rather than performing.