The Culpeper
PHOTOGRAPHS: DOMINIC DORRIN
The ground-floor pub
PHOTOGRAPHS: DANIEL MORGAN
Long overshadowed by the frenetic assortment of bars and clubs around Brick Lane and Old Spitalfields Market, the southern end of London’s Commercial Street now has another reason to stand out – the addition of rooms to renowned pub and restaurant The Culpeper. Named after 17th-century local herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, the establishment opened in 2014 and instantly won praise for its fresh, no-nonsense approach to British cooking and stripped-back Scandi-meets- industrial style. The bedrooms follow a similar design aesthetic, complemented by such fine details as Dualit coffee machines and the supreme comfort of Hypnos beds. The menu at the restaurant below is short, but the cooking is a triumph; if you get the chance, don’t miss the beef with pommes Anna and, for breakfast, poached eggs and harissa. An added bonus for a summer visit is a drink in the roof garden, home to herb beds and views of the ever-changing London skyline.