London Cocktail Month Sidecar Masterclass

My partner and I had high hopes for a magical New Year's Eve celebration at The Last Talisman in London Bridge, having booked the silver package for the occasion. However, our evening was far from the enchanting experience we anticipated; instead, it turned out to be a series of disappointments that ultimately left us regretting our choice. The first misstep occurred as we were left unattended for a frustrating 15 minutes before receiving any acknowledgment from the staff. After finally requesting a welcome cocktail, the drinks arrived with a taste so repulsive it resembled smoked meat – a sentiment apparently shared by the neighboring tables, as evidenced by their untouched beverages. Though we managed to have it replaced upon request, the initial impression had already set a negative tone for the evening. The culinary aspect, while decent, was marred by a rushed and poorly coordinated service. The three-course meal was served in quick succession, denying us the opportunity to savour each course and leaving us finished by 9:30 pm, far from the midnight experience we had envisioned. The steak I ordered, served blue without inquiry about my preference, was not only challenging to eat with chopsticks but also disappointingly chewy. It was sent back, resulting in cold side dishes and a disjointed meal with my partner finishing his duck before my corrected steak arrived. Service continued to disappoint as we had to actively seek out waitstaff to take our drink orders. Our chosen expensive red wine, meant to complement our main courses, was unceremoniously placed on our table with empty glasses, without any customary tasting or proper serving by the staff. This lack of attention to detail diminished the overall dining experience. The promised "magic show" turned out to be a brief and underwhelming affair, consisting of only three successful tricks (out of a total of four) in a cramped basement room that lasted a mere 15 minutes. Returning to our tables, we discovered the kitchen lights were turned off, signaling an unexpected end to the evening's ambiance. To our astonishment, at 11 pm, a waitress presented us with the bill, informed us our account was closed, and sked us to finish our night in the overcrowded bar area, despite the package we had booked was scheduled until 2pm. Adding insult to injury, a discretionary service charge of £10 per head was included in the bill. While the surrounding tables voiced their dissatisfaction, we reluctantly paid – an unfortunate end to an evening that had already fallen short of expectations. The whole experience left us so disgruntled that we headed home before midnight and we never served the "bubbles for midnight" we were initially promised. Instead we celebrated the twelve strikes of midnight in an empty central line tube carriage. In conclusion, our experience at The Last Talisman was a costly letdown, with a combination of subpar service, rushed dining, and unmet promises. At a total cost of over £250, we can't help but feel cheated, and I, for one, won't be easily fooled into returning.

Unfortunately, the NYE Silver Dinner Package was underwhelming for the price and not quite as advertised. The meal was average and had very small portions. We had to ask for the steak to be heated up as parts were cold and there was a small bit of shell in my almond panna cotta. The wine list was below average and overpriced given the quality. The magic show was entertaining but really short (15 - 20 mins or so) and only happened once throughout the night but the event was advertised as 'a night filled with astonishing feats and captivating illusions that will leave you in awe'. Would've been lovely to see more of the talented magician. The waitress was doing her best however and was helpful. It's a shame as the concept behind it is great and well done to the waitress who created the champagne tower too. But honestly we wouldn't recommend it for the price and felt disappointed. Hopefully the team can take this onboard for next year as the venue itself is beautiful and the concept for a NYE night is original.