Who doesn’t enjoy role-playing? Sailors, doctors, schoolgirls, nurses - they are all fine by me. But pirates? With the exception of Johnny Depp, I’m not so sure…



I was meeting an old friend for an early supper after a manic day juggling meetings and appointments. It was a warm evening and so the outside terrace of belowzero on Heddon Street was the perfect place to kick back and soak up some early evening rays. The Heddon Street bars and restaurants come to life during the summer months; the outside seating areas are always buzzing with a vibrant crowd and an alfresco DJ provides background beats for the whole street. belowzero, which includes the world famous ABSOLUT ICEBAR LONDON, The Wolf Bar (perfect for cocktails and light bites) and the opulently decorated Moose Dining Room, is located at the top of the pedestrianised street and has recently opened a terrace for summertime outdoor dining.



We took a seat and decided pre-dinner cocktails were needed. I was just surveying the drinks list when I looked down beyond my menu and laid eyes on a man who was donning a red bandanna, an eye-patch over his left eye and hovering around ankle height. “Oh thorry,” he said (looking as sorry as an escaped convict), “I dwopped thith.” He held up a fork. “Beweed tweathure,” he said with sincerity. Jack Sparrow he was not. I checked my bag was still there.



After some refreshing cocktails, my friend and I shared a platter of flat breads, houmus, sun dried tomato pesto, wilted vine tomatoes, balsamic dip, roasted and grilled vegetables and olives. We were hungry so also ordered a terrine of guinea fowl, asparagus and foie gras with shallot dressing - just to ‘try’. Needless to say we ate the whole thing. To follow I had seared salmon with confit fennel and pickled ginger dressing and my friend (feigning to be a resolute vegetarian regardless of having ‘tasted’ the guinea fowl terrine and sitting proudly in a leather jacket) ordered an artichoke, pepper and spinach tortilla, with a sunblushed tomato dressing, parmesan and mustard seed tuille.

Due to our now waning postures thanks to our over-stuffed stomachs, we felt it necessary to exercise some restraint in regards to pudding. And therefore only ordered one banoffee cheesecake with butterscotch sauce and banana sorbet.

 Having enjoyed a rare, warm summer evening and despite the atmosphere that was heating up for a night of Heddon-ism, I was heading home for an early-ish night. I was just weaving my way out through the tables when a distinct “Arrrr” caught my attention. “Excuthe me,” the weird pirate man said, “You look like a nithe floothy. I can tell you have thumb pirate in yer. Or if not, then I would be happy to oblige. What are my chanthes?” I’d say way below zero.