Princess Margaret’s Favourite London Restaurant Has Reopened

Back in the ‘60s, a young Princess Margaret and her then-husband Lord Snowdon enjoyed many late-night dinners at a Kensington restaurant known as Nan’s Kitchen. According to reports, the couple would slip in at around 9.30pm, nab one of the discreet booths and order the chicken and artichoke pie. They became such regular customers that, in the early ‘70s, the eatery changed its name to Maggie Jones’s – a homage to the alias the late Queen’s sister used when booking.

Over the years, Maggie Jones’s has solidified its status as a London institution, beloved for its rustic decor, kitsch farmhouse aesthetic and menu of traditional British fare. But in summer 2023, the restaurant was forced to close following an electrical fire – one of just two occasions Maggie Jones’s has shut in six decades, the other being during the pandemic. However, on 10 November 2025 the stalwart reopened its doors, with bookings available now. 

London Institution Maggie Jones’s Is Back

Tucked away in a cul-de-sac between Kensington High Street and Kensington Church Street, Maggie Jones’s has long been beloved for its cosy charm and quirkiness, which it has retained in the recent refresh. The space is decked out with old wooden floors and eccentric bric-a-brac: wicker baskets hang from the ceiling, cupboards are filled with vintage crockery and mismatched china, and tables are lit with candles in wine bottles. It feels romantic, with a convivial feel and informal, friendly service. 

With its low lighting and plenty of nooks and crannies to settle into, Maggie Jones’s is the perfect place for intimate dinners, which no doubt explains its royal connections. As well as being a regular haunt of its namesake Princess Margaret (who lived just down the road in Kensington Palace), Prince Michael of Kent was spotted dining there with his wife, and it’s thought many other royal family members visited over the years. In homage, portraits of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon have long been hung on the walls – although it’s unclear whether these survived the fire.

What’s On The Menu?

The menu at Maggie Jones’s has always been about hearty British comfort food. Many of the long-standing signatures remain in the restaurant’s new era, including the fish pie, roast rump of lamb, calf’s liver with bacon and onions, sirloin steak and chips, and apple crumble. There’s also a decently priced set menu where you can enjoy two courses for £36.95 or three courses for £43.95, with dishes on offer including cheese and leek tart, roast pork belly with apple sauce, sausage and mash, with a chocolate pot or lemon sorbet for dessert.

 

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Maggie Jones’s also serves Sunday lunch, kicking off with starters of soup or avocados with prawn followed by the main event: French corn-fed chicken, roast pork belly, Welsh rump of lamb, steak or a veggie nut roast, served with vegetables of the day. 

The wine list, meanwhile, includes an eclectic mix of red, white, rose and sparkling bottles from all over the world, both old and new world.

Princess Margaret & Lord Snowdon’s Relationship

Before starting their tradition of dining at Maggie Jones’s, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon (known then as Antony Armstrong-Jones, nicknamed Tony) met at a dinner party in 1958, hosted by one of Margaret’s ladies-in-waiting, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish. They quickly became one of Britain’s most glamorous couples, and married in 1960, going on to have two children: David and Sarah. However, in 1976 it was announced that the royal couple were getting a divorce, which was finalised in July 1978. Lord Snowdon remarried a few months later, while Margaret never remarried.

BOOK IT

Bookings are available now at maggiejones.co.uk

You can find the restaurant at 6 Old Court Place, off Kensington Church Street, London W8 4PL