The Ivy restaurants - do they all decorate like the Chelsea one?

[Mom2teens2tweens]

On a google search The Ivy Chelsea came up and the decorative front caught my eye.

Do all the Ivy restaurants decorate similarly or is just the Chelsea one?

I'm trying to make out a plan for a day and thought it would be a nice festive end to eat someplace as festive!

I have been to the original Ivy and the one at tower bridge. The interior of the original is lovely but not a lot outside. Tower Bridge has great views and a few plants. Chelsea one does seem to have a lot of decoration but if i was doing a festive meal i would head to tower bridge just because the location is great at christmas and alot going on along the river. but that is just me

They do beautiful outside decorations in Bristol

York and Bath do I think

I've been to the ones in Chelsea, Marylebone, St John's Wood, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Tower Bridge, Victoria, City Garden, Covent Garden and Ivy Asia. I really need to ring the changes (my kids are obsessed with it)...

If you want the leafy look, the Chelsea and City garden ones are the best. I love the Marylebone one for the maitre d alone but it's quite squashed.

Do you know if the Cambridge one gets all Christmased up? My teens would love that.

Norwich does

Brighton one has a load of tacky faux flowers at the entrance

The St John’s Wood one has a lot of baubles around the doorway and wreaths going on

Leeds and Manchester is similar. Manchester looks lovely around Xmas time!

I called up the Cambs one and they said they do have Christmas decorations etc. I am going to book ;)

What's the dress code like? I don't plan on us being very dressed up on a day out in the city...jeans, comfortable shoes, shirt/jumper...is that too casual?

The photos seem to be more dressy - we don't want to look out of place but if dresses / heels / shirts and chinos are the norm it's not for us given the day we are planning!

Some people get dressed up, others don’t. It’s just like any other restaurant, just nicer decor.

Jeans and trainers is fine. I'm going to the Covent Garden one tomorrow and will wear exactly that as will most people I expect.

The Ivy is controversial on Mumsnet for dress code - some view it as a destination to get dressed up and others as just another chain so no need.

Dress code - anything goes really! It’s a winner because you can go there at the end of a day’s sightseeing, after work, pre theatre, before a ‘BIG NIGHT OUT’ and it’s dependable so never disappoints. So I would say don’t feel pressured to dress up if you don’t fancy it, but if you want to wear special then by all means do!

I always dress up for the Ivy. Most people I've seen in there do I've seen the odd person not dressed up and I thought it looked a bit out of place. If it's the Ivy Asia you definitely need to dress up IMO.

Think it depends on the type. Most people are wearing jeans, a few suits and dresses. Ivy Asia is slightly smarter but you won't look out of place in jeans and decent trainers at the Ivy Cafes.

I don't find The Ivy a dressy place at all but saying that if I am going out for a nice lunch then I'll dress up regardless of where I am going, why not!