The best restaurants for big groups

Having to reserve a table for a group of six or more is enough to send shivers down the spine.

Whether it's a birthday, family celebration, hen-do or work night out, finding a restaurant that will host a large party is a notoriously tricky task.

London is brimming with restaurants that cater for more intimate groups, but there’s a selection of excellent spots that are built to cater for sizeable squads too.

We’ve rounded up the best spots that guarantee no elbow bashing.

Caravan King's Cross

This spot takes industrial chic to a whole new level, with an enormous warehouse-style dining space that is far from intimate. Housed in a Grade II listed former Victorian grain store, Caravan King's Cross boasts all-day dining treats. Food-wise, it’s a sharing plate affair. Popular crowd-pleasers include the corn breads and blue cheese and peanut wontons. It has a buzzy, relaxed vibe which is great for a whole host of dining occasions.

1 Granary Square, N1C 4AA, caravanrestaurants.co.uk

Berners tavern

Anything from chef Jason Atherton is going to be good and this Fitzrovia spot is no different. The menu is quintessentially British with treats such as the pork pie with piccalilli and roasted Cornish cod. The dining room itself is grand and incredibly spacious - in-keeping with the rest of the elegant Edition hotel. There’s also ample space for large groups along the sides of the main room. Insane picture walls surround the space — which makes for a pretty surreal dining experience (it’s like eating in the National Portrait Gallery). The eclectic artwork is also an excellent talking point for dinner chat, if you're sat next to someone you don't know very well.

10 Berners St, W1T 3NP, bernerstavern.com

Hixter Bankside

This Mark Hix restaurant lies somewhere in the middle of Southwark and London Bridge. Meats dominate the menu here (reminiscent of its sister site Tramshed) and most of the dishes have been influenced by Hix’s travels. Order the chicken, it’s somewhat of a showstopper, primarily because it's served hanging upside down by its feet. It’s also incredibly accommodating for larger parties as tables are large and comfortably spaced apart.

16 Great Guildford St, SE1 0HS, hixrestaurants.co.uk

Humble Grape Fleet Street

Cheese and wine is a match made in French heaven and this unassuming spot on St Bride's Passage is the ideal for setting for a rendezvous of any size. There’s even a private dining space, if you’re after a slightly more intimate affair. The vibe is relaxed yet classy and has a homely feel to it when the lights are dimmed in the evenings. Cheesy offerings include a burrata with heritage tomatoes, baked camembert with rosemary and garlic packed into it and a pungent taleggio. There’s also a butcher's board which feeds two to three people, featuring Bavette steak, Cotswold chicken breast, grilled chorizo and belly of Orchard farm pork - order a few for the table, you won’t regret it.

1 St. Bride's Passage, EC4Y 8EJ, humblegrape.co.uk

Hawksmoor Seven Dials

Nothing quite beats a celebratory steak with friends. Located in the Old Watney-Combe brewery the dining space here is a long hall that features the original vaulted-brick ceiling. It’s airy and roomy, plus it has the classic wooden and leather combination that’s reminiscent of its sister sites. Since opening back in 2010, it’s been a go-to spot for meat lovers.

11 Langley St, WC2H 9JG, thehawksmoor.com

Hotbox

Hotbox has been on the Shoreditch scene for four years, delighting east Londoners with its meaty barbecue creations. It’s proper, lip-smacking grub that will leave you feeling both satisfied and heartbroken when it’s over. The brunch menu is the thing to try here, with standout dishes such as the breakfast burger with Iberico pork and the St Louis pork ribs with a fiery scotch bonnet glaze. The venue caters for larger groups by having longer tables in the middle of the space.

46-48 Commercial St, E1 6LT, hotboxlondon.co.uk

The Riding House Cafe

This all-day dining spot, which lies on Great Titchfield street, is the perfect place to relax with pals. The long wooden tables make for a roomy dining experience and the comfy orange sofas offer plenty of room for larger groups to nestle into. For a more secluded meal, it also boasts luxury private dining options, like the stables, which can host up to 16 guests. In terms of food, brunch is the thing to try. The menu has most of the classics but also offers unique variations like the Burgerdict; a beef patty burger with hollandaise topped with a poached egg.

43-51 Great Titchfield St, W1W 7PQ, ridinghouse.cafe