Review: A stylish evening at Cosy Club Canterbury

August 20, 2022

What I loved about it:

I loved the stylish, quirky decor and the relaxed yet sophisticated feel of the restaurant. It’s the ideal spot for date night or girls’ night out.

Location:

Canterbury, Kent

Suitable for:

Friends, Couples, Dates

Value for money (out of 10):

Website:

CLICK HERE

This week saw the opening of Canterbury’s latest restaurant offering, and I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch evening to sample some of their food and drink.

Part of a growing group of bars and restaurants across the country (other locations include Bath, York, Chester, Bristol and Liverpool), the Cosy Club brand promises “relaxed dining and drinking with a touch of timeless glamour” at each of its individual sites. As we walked into the striking entrance of the new Canterbury restaurant with its expansive cocktail bar, elegant decor and buzzing atmosphere, it certainly lived up to this description.

We were welcomed warmly and showed to our table by our waitress. It felt slightly American as we were introduced to our ‘server’ for the evening, but equally nice to feel that one person was taking care of us for our meal. We ordered drinks (I had a glass of Prosecco Rosé and my husband went for a pint of the Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout), and relaxed to take in our surroundings.

With a strong Art Deco and 1920s style, the walls of Cosy Club Canterbury are adorned with ornate wallpaper and painted portraits in bold gilded frames. Think Great Gatsby meets a really classy haunted house. Filled with a mixture of traditional tables, velvety, cushion-clad booths and dramatic lanterns overhead, the decor is immaculately theatrical and immediately gives the ‘wow’ factor as you arrive. Alongside the candle-lit tables and warm lighting, it feels intimate and romantic but without any sense of stuffiness.

For our food, we were offered three sharing dishes from their ‘Small Plates’ section, accompanied by one of the Cosy Club’s warm sourdough sharing loaves (£4.50). These dishes would work well as starters, or if ordered as a group, make for a great, tapas-style meal. We started with the Asian fried chicken (£6.95) which was served in a deliciously sticky soy, ginger and chilli sauce alongside a pickled slaw. The meat was tender and burst with flavour, with a gentle kick from the chilli.

Next up, we tried the tomato arancini with mozzarella, coated in Twineham Grange and served with a garlic aioli (£7.25). I often find arancini a bit bland, but with a perfect crunch and seasoned well, this dish was delightful. Finally, we sampled my favourite small plate which was the fried halloumi in panko crumb (£6.75). Served with a red pepper aioli and chilli jam, I would’ve happily ordered seconds of this to graze on all evening if my waistband had allowed!

I’d be keen to go back and try some of their main meals on another visit. The menu has a wide array of options – from harissa lamb shoulder and confit duck leg, right through to dirty chicken burger and primavera salad – which all sound delicious. We also missed a trick by not trying one of their cocktails, so we will be returning at a time when neither of us are driving to fully enjoy Cosy Club’s extensive list of martinis, mojitos and gin cocktails. There is one called a Cherry Bakewell that particularly caught my eye!

We had a fabulous evening at Cosy Club Canterbury and look forward to returning. As a trendy, stylish and relaxed destination for dinner and drinks, it’s an ideal spot for a date night or cocktail evening with the girls.

REVIEW

This is a Girl About review. I was invited by the management free of charge in exchange for an honest and frank review. All my opinions are my own and in no way have they been swayed by their kind invite. Girl About reviews are always 100% honest. We only publish reviews that, for the most part, are positive.