The Punch Tavern
99 Fleet Street, London
0207 353 6658
When Fleet Street was the country's media hub, journalists buckling under the pressure of an imminent deadline would seek solace and distraction at the Punch Tavern.
The role it played as a social common room for hacks will forever be immortalised by the satirical magazine, Punch, which was founded at this outlet. Pages from the magazine adorn the walls as a nod to the past, but now city workers fill the seats once occupied by writers and printers.
The Victorian decor and friendly service remain as key draws, as does the extensive lunchtime buffet menu, which was boosted when Sunnil Panjabi took on the Punch tenancy just under two years ago. Exploiting his experience in the restaurant trade, which included stints at Le Petit Blanc with Raymond Blanc and Chutney Mary, Panjabi set about refreshing the food to give it greater appeal to the 'suits working in the area.
'Our customers are very demanding, says Panjabi. 'One day they'll be eating with us, the next they'll be at Nobu and the day after that they'll be at some chichi restaurant in New York, so we have to have very high standards.
Finding new ways to appeal to the lawyers, accountants and other businessmen who make up the bulk of the customers, 90% of whom Panjabi says staff know by name, is a challenging task. 'We have grown our turnover, not just by encouraging people to come to us, but by being quirky and innovative.
Offering hot lunchtime take-aways for up to 50 customers a day and a sandwich delivery service for a further 100 are among Panjabi's many brainwaves.
Hosting cocktail parties, quiz nights and wine tastings have also attracted trade from the big corporations based nearby. Looking to the future, Panjabi plans to introduce poker nights and is also hoping to expand by buying one of the neighbouring buildings.
