London food trips do not always need an elaborate plan. On this February day in 2016, Barry’s route began with a walk through Soho, continued with a burger and milkshake at Patty & Bun, and finished with a pint near Trafalgar Square. It was a compact journey through two very different West End interiors: a small, energetic burger restaurant and the richly decorated rooms of The Chandos.
The film is an archive record of that particular visit. Menus, prices and individual dishes may have changed since it was recorded, but it captures the atmosphere of a casual London lunch followed by one of the city’s classic pub stops.
Walking through Soho
Barry approached Patty & Bun through the narrow streets of Soho. The restaurant’s red frontage stood out immediately, with its name glowing above the doorway. Inside, the room was intimate and informal: closely arranged wooden tables, exposed brick and an open view towards the counter and bar.
The short menu kept the choice focused on burgers, sides and drinks. Barry ordered the Ari Gold, one of the restaurant’s best-known burgers at the time, along with chips seasoned with chicken-skin salt and served with roast chicken mayonnaise. A hazelnut milkshake, made with Gelupo gelato, arrived first.
A hazelnut milkshake before lunch
The milkshake came in a tall glass, thick enough to need a little patience through the straw. Its nutty flavour made it feel more like a dessert served before the main event. Against the restaurant’s warm timber and brick interior, it also looked every bit as indulgent as the burger that followed.
There was no attempt to make the meal neat or restrained. The food arrived wrapped in paper, with sauces and condiments close at hand. That informality was part of the experience: unwrap the burger, pick it up and accept that the plate would soon be covered in juices and sauce.
The Ari Gold burger
The Ari Gold combined a beef patty with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions, ketchup and smoky P&B mayonnaise inside a glossy brioche bun. The close-up in the film shows the layers clearly, from the soft bun to the melted cheese and crisp lettuce.
Barry’s first bite confirmed that this was a full, messy burger rather than something designed for polite eating. The beef, cheese, pickles and sauce worked together, with the onions providing sharpness against the richness. It was the kind of lunch that demanded both hands and plenty of napkins.
Chicken-salt chips and roast chicken mayonnaise
The chips were a separate attraction. Served in a simple paper cup, they were seasoned with chicken-skin salt and paired with roast chicken mayonnaise. Barry tried them both alone and with the dip, which intensified their savoury flavour.
Together, the burger, chips and milkshake made an unapologetically rich lunch. Once the table was cleared, Barry returned to the street and headed south-east through the West End towards Trafalgar Square.
From Soho to The Chandos
The second half of the film changes pace. Busy Soho streets give way to the open space around Trafalgar Square before Barry reaches The Chandos on St Martin’s Lane. The pub’s entrance leads upstairs towards the Opera Room, with dark wood, red walls and decorative glass creating a much more traditional London setting.
The Chandos is a Samuel Smith pub, and Barry ordered a pint before looking around the interior. Brass rails, mirrors, illuminated pump badges and rows of bottles behind the bar gave the room a distinctive period character. It was an effective contrast with Patty & Bun: modern Soho informality followed by a historic-looking West End pub.
This 2016 outing works because it records an achievable London afternoon rather than a grand itinerary. A walk through Soho, a memorable burger and a pint near Trafalgar Square were enough to reveal two sides of the West End within a few hours.
