Nostalgia is a big part of Soho’s character, and Nessa Soho is launching Dining Through the Decades, a supper club series that explores Britain’s food history one era at a time.
These monthly events showcase how British cuisine has changed since the 1950s, mixing stories with classic recipes that are updated with modern techniques. Each decade will begin with a one-night supper club hosted by a cultural figure, and a reimagined ‘Dish of the Decade’ will stay on Nessa’s menu for the rest of the month. The setting is perfect for this theme.
Nessa, located at 86 Brewer Street in Soho, is known for its creative take on modern British food, using seasonal ingredients and familiar flavours. The restaurant’s design reflects Soho’s artistic spirit and is inspired by artist Vanessa Bell, whose nickname ‘Nessa’ gave the restaurant its name.
A Taste of Post-War Britain
The series starts with the 1950s, a time marked by post-war resilience and a food culture defined by shortages, and focused on nourishing through seasonal, accessible ingredients. As the nation recovered from war, British cuisine saw new innovations, food rationing continued into the middle of the decade, so families made do with simple ingredients instead of luxury imports.
The main dish at the first supper club is Woolton Pie, a vegetable-based meal created during World War II when meat was scarce. First made in London during World War II, the pie uses root vegetables in pastry to make a filling meal. At Nessa, the dish is updated for today’s diners, but keeps its humble roots. Their version, served to share, layers classic root vegetables with richer flavours like Marmite and soy, plus vegetable gravy and buttered cabbage.
The result is a comforting dish reimagined in an elegant light, showing that British cuisine can still surprise. Dr Eleanor Barnett, a British food historian, will host the evening and guide guests through the traditions, ingredients, and stories that shaped Britain’s post-war dining.
Dining Through Memory
Alongside the main dish, there are side dishes inspired by classic British flavours, such as smoked salmon crudo, oat soda bread, and a playful rhubarb and custard trifle. This dessert is a nod to generations who remember school puddings and custard treats.
Ramsbury Gin, the event’s beverage partner, is also launching a cocktail programme called Drinks Through the Decade to go with the food. Try iconic 1950s cocktails like the Pink Lady, a Hollywood favourite made with Ramsbury Gin, Bellamie Cherry Apéritif, grenadine, and citrus, topped with a smooth froth. Nessa will also offer a new take on the lesser-known Gloom Chaser, a Martini-style drink with Ramsbury gin, Cocchi Americano, Bellamie Cherry Aperitif, a touch of grenadine, and absinthe. Ramsbury’s distilleries on the Wiltshire Estate are distinctly British.
Despite its nostalgic feel, the show aims to explore more than just that. Nessa hopes to start a larger discussion about how British tastes have changed over time, from the inventiveness of the ration era to the global influences that have shaped today’s eating scene.
A Culinary Time Capsule
Dining Through the Decades will run monthly through 2026, exploring the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s with special supper clubs exploring the decades that shaped many Michelin-starred restaurants and the British food scene.
On 18 May 2026, the 1960s supper club will offer a more intimate and conversational setting, inspired by a classic gin parlour and created with Ramsbury Gin. Guests will enjoy a guided tasting paired with Nessa’s feasting menu, along with cocktails that reflect the decade’s gentle elegance, such as a mint-laced Grasshopper and a perfectly chilled Freezer Martini.
By contrast, the 1970s edition, on 8 June, adopts a more playful and culturally reflective tone. In collaboration with the Museum of Brands, the evening coincides with the launch of Brand Britain, exploring how everyday objects and household names have shaped British identity. Nessa’s dining room will host a curated pop-up from the exhibition, paired with a supper club menu and era-defining drinks such as the Harvey Wallbanger and White Russian — a nostalgic nod to the decade’s bold, indulgent spirit.
It will provide an opportunity to congregate around the table and rediscover the flavours that shaped Britain’s culinary identity, something uncommon in London’s hectic restaurant industry.
For more information, please visit: nessasoho.com
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All Images Courtesy of Nessa Soho.