I first ate at the Lantern during Christmas 1989. 10 of us went there for our annual 5-a-side jolly. The place was packed, the guitarist/singer (Joe?) was brilliant, everyone chose one of the musical instruments hanging from the ceiling and the entertainment was raucous and so much fun!We still talk about (virtually) the entire restaurant joining in with American Pie, Wonderwall and Wild Thing. Epic. I felt really sorry for 2 or 3 couples who looked like they'd been expecting a romantic Saturday night meal and were confronted with what must have looked like a baying mob. The food was ok, not outstanding in any way and the wine was really poor. Of the 10 of us, 5 were physically sick overnight, including me.Despite that, we returned at least once a year until it closed around 2012ish, not simply for Christmas but for birthdays and general celebrations. To my knowledge, no-one was sick again. As Nigel says, it became less outrageously good fun over the years but the food generally improved. In that time period, I never saw it as posh, even during the period when they took over some of the neighbouring building. They started packing people in like sardines, which made it difficult to do congas round the restaurant!When they closed, we moved to the Clay Oven on The Mall but they closed down too, a year or so later. We still haven't found a proper replacement venue! Has anyone got any constructive suggestions?!
Phil Kay ● 528d