Is an old courthouse a good place for a restaurant?
You be the judge.
At least you can be with a visit to Dorothy and Marshall, which is now open in the Grade II listed Bromley Town Hall’s former courthouse.
Originally built back in 1906, the place has been fully restored to its former glory, though they’ve swapped the bench for banquettes, and the gavels for gravy boats. It now has wood-panelled walls holding aloft a soaring ceiling, with arched windows letting light flood over the midcentury furnishings.
The kitchen is being marshalled by one Ralph Jones, a Bromley native who has studied under the likes of Marco Pierre White, Chris Galvin (who heads up Galvin La Chapelle), and Eric Chavot (of Bob Bob Ricard City fame).
He’s put together a menu of upscaled classic British dishes, ranging from braised beef short rib with Guinness & black treacle, plus a bone marrow mash; to baby artichokes with heritage tomatoes & Ragstone goat’s cheese. And for dessert? There’s a treacle tart with raspberries, all topped with whipped almond clotted cream; and a show-stopping flamed baked Alaska doused in sloe gin blackberry sauce.
To top it all off, you can swing by Dorothy and Marshall for brunch on Saturdays (ie, some reasonably priced sourdough numbers and a brioche French toast), and roasts on Sundays, with three roasted meats to pick from (and some great veggie alternatives), beef dripping potatoes and cauliflower cheese, and sticky toffee pudding to finish.
Our verdict: it’s a neighbourhood gem.
NOTE: Dorothy and Marshall is open Tues-Sun. You can find out more and make a reservation on their website right here.
Dorothy & Marshall | 4 Court Street, Bromley, BR1 1AN
Staying around South-East London? Check out our ultimate guide to Greenwich.