The most striking thing about Cosy Club is most definitely the décor. The interior of the huge space has been decked out in full art deco glamour in a nod to the building’s history as the old Curzon cinema, with 1920s inspired lamps and chandeliers providing atmospheric lighting and almost every inch of wall covered in framed posters, illustrations and pictures.

We arrived a bit early so had the perfect opportunity to enjoy a couple of cocktails before our meal, and my, oh, my, oh, boy, oh, my. We’re both suckers for a cocktail but since being spoiled by Dan’s drink-making skillz after two years of working in a fancy pants bar, we’ve got a wee bit picky, but I can safely say we were pretty taken with the cocktails on offer here. They were so specifically to our tastes and as amazing as they sounded on paper, they were even better once they passed our lips. I had the rhubarb and ginger bramble which was as sweet and tangy and spicy as you could wish for and I drank in a shockingly quick amount of time. Danman had the maple and pecan old fashioned which sounds like a glass of bournbony heaven and truly was. I could have skipped the meal and sat with cocktails all night but experience tells me that’s a recipe for disaster!

When our reservation rolled around we sat in the wonderfully atmospheric (if a little noisy!) dining area, which has the added touch of having all the tables facing different ways giving each table a little more privacy, which I thought was a brilliant idea and something I’ve not seen before. Then for the food! DanMan couldn’t resist some salt and pepper squid to start, which was lovely little starter and came with the softest warm bread. For the main event I went for the roasted beetroot and goat’s cheese salad, which came with butternut squash, baby kale, edamame beans and a balsamic and honey dressing. I don’t think that combination can really fail, and I ate it all happily and quickly. My only criticism was that despite advertising that the dish comes with quinoa on the menu, not a grain (or whatever the hell quinoa counts as) was to be found, and the salad really could have done with the extra carbs as I was left a little hungry. Regardless, I would gladly eat this again, but pray for quinoa.

Dan had the sirloin steak which was perfectly cooked and came with literally the perfect number of chips. He had no complaints and was much fuller than I come the end of the meal!

The food was solid and great considering the prices, but the real reason to visit Cosy Club is to soak in the1920s atmosphere and grab a few cocktails. I would return for food if we were in need of a quick bite, but I think I’ll be back for drinks at the next opportunity!

We got to the restaurant at about 2pm so it was fairly busy, but we were quickly seen to our table and shown the menu and their summer specials. On hearing that there were cocktails available DanMan jumped at the chance for a Disarrano sour, which swiftly came along in its own jar and was so good that he had another and barely held back from a third throughout the course of the meal!

On to the main event; the food. We decided to share a starter as we were taking into account Beefeater’s reputation for healthy portions (and we knew we were going to want a pudding), so went for their crispy chicken wings with smoky barbecue and piri piri dipping sauce. As you can see, these weren’t your typical chicken wings – more like chicken poppers on the bone – but they were still very tasty and just the right amount of crispy, and both sauces were yummy accompaniments (I’m taking Dan’s word about the piri piri as I’m a serial spice avoider). My only criticism would be that the presentation was a little plain; a splash of green from some rocket or lettuce on the plate would have made the dish a little more aesthetically pleasing, but I won’t fault it taste, which is what really matters!

There was a great choice of mains – steaks and pub classics are where Beefeater excels but there are salads and light(er) options too. DanMan went for a classic and chose the 6oz flat-iron steak which came with salad, slow roasted tomato and grilled mushroom, and he got a side of onion rings and a prawn and lobster sauce. He always asks for his steak rare and it was cooked to perfection, pink and juicy, and all the accompaniments (including the neatest onion rings I’ve ever seen!) were delicious. I will say he wasn’t a fan of the prawn and lobster sauce, especially considering it was a ‘luxury’ sauce, so next time I think he’ll be sticking to peppercorn! But that was his only criticism and he polished off everything else in no time.

I opted for the oven-baked seabass, which was served in the paper pouch it had been steamed in with courgettes, tomatoes, sliced potatoes and lemon, with a little greek salad on the side. I also got a side of their ‘veg medley’ which was a nice mix of green beans, broccoli and edamame beans, the latter of which I thought was a nice modern touch (and a personal favourite). The seabass was delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned with a just a hint of lemon from the wedge It was cooked with. The veg was similarly delicate and every element complimented the others well. Considering it was mostly fish and veg it was also surprisingly filling, which I always take to be a good sign!

Despite being pretty full by this point we were determined to try one of their puddings as they all sounded incredible. This is your place if you’re a fan of indulgent classics – unfortunately we were just too full to sample their salted toffee apple crumble (ugh, could a dessert sound more delicious?), their cheesecake or their Mississippi mud pie. But we did go for the trio of sponges, the trio being lemon drizzle, raspberry jam with coconut and chocolate sponges, all served with custard. This was probably the highlight of the meal for me; the coconut and raspberry sponge in particular oozed nostalgia and the chocolate sponge was everything I want a chocolate cake to be with fudgy, chocolatey icing. Topped off with warm custard (I’m a custard fiend), it was the kind of home comfort food I love. We left satisfied and enjoyed a sunny jaunt home to walk off all the deliciousness.

Throughout the meal we were looked after by our lovely waiter Sean, who was chatty and attentive without once ever being too intrusive, and the same goes for all the other staff who brought over bits and pieces – everyone was friendly and helpful. We also saw a cute little scenario with the family sitting behind us, as one kid was getting a bit impatient for his dessert, so Sean offered to take him through to see the kitchen and they returned with his pudding. It’s little things like that make Beefeater a perfect family place, and this is where I really think they excel; there’s something for everyone, the food is well priced and of a good standard, the restaurant is spacious with a nice family vibe and the staff are obviously good with children. I’d certainly consider coming back with family, just remind me to make sure everyone has a big appetite!

Food was given gratis in exchange for review, however all views are most definitely genuine and my own!