When an invitation to an experiential supperclub in a tube carriage landed in our inbox, we could not resist. The idea sounded so bizarre we thought “How can we not?” If there is a place for crazy ideas, it’s London, the home of endless surprises and unique experiences and people.

As I journeyed from West London on the Victoria line, I found myself wondering why, in November, it was so uncomfortably hot in the carriage, and what hell would this journey be in the height of summer.  A tinge of regret began bubbling to the surface. London’s tube lines rarely deliver the best public transport experience of a lifetime. The thought of leaving one tube carriage only to enter another for dinner was quite frankly not sparking joy.

As I exited at Walthamstow Central station, I double checked Google Maps realising that a delayed bus would make me unacceptably late, so I opted to walk. This decision backfired quickly as my shoe choice for the evening proved unwise and with every step I took as I neared the venue, I was getting increasingly more blisters.  “Dear Lord, this better be worth it.” I muttered to myself.

Navigating through dimly lit residential streets, which unexpectedly featured some fantastic street art, I eventually arrived at the Walthamstow Pumphouse, a small museum in a Grade II listed building housing the museum's collection of engines and pumps, a working pair of original Marshall steam engines and two 1960s Victoria line carriages one of which transforms into a supper club three nights a week. The carriage glowed warmly in the night and as soon as I satdown, the evening began with the prompt arrival of a glass of champagne, music and the pleasant light chatter of the other diners. Meanwhile my previous doubts and concerns about the evening began to fade away.

The seating option include tables of two to three or a communal table which seemed lively and fun. One is seated where you would normally be sat in a row opposite another row of people when on the tube, but a big table is placed in between creating the communal table. I will now forever imagine a table there as I travel and wonder what kind of dinner companions my fellow London commuters would make. The carriage, though slightly worn exudes a cosy vintage charm. Tables were laid with crisp white linen tablecloths, meticulously laid silverware, and wine glasses. With a little imagination, you could perhaps imagine you are on the Orient Express.

The Latin American inspired menu, curated by chef Beatrisz Malondado Carreno began with her brief introduction to the menu and the first course and tells diners that in the sacred book of Maya, humans are made of corn – the theme for the restaurant menu. “The gods first tried making humans with clay,” she said. “It didn’t work, so they moved to wood. That didn’t work either. Then they decided to make a dough out of corn and make humans. At this point in my life, I’m probably half made from corn, with the amount I’ve eaten so far.”

Fear not, the six-course menu is not interrupted by explanations at every course. Diners can scan a QR code near the window to view the full menu and drinks list with wonderful details for every course for those that wish to know more. Cocktails are reasonably priced by London standardswith options like a Peachy Paloma and a classic Negroni, while the wine features selections from across LatinAmerican. We chose a bottle of Bodegones de Sur Albarino 202, Estableciniento Juanaco from Uruguay, a delicate winewith a gentle acidity, pear and apple undertones and a long finish. For teetotallers, mocktails and alcohol-free beer are also available ensuring everyone’s needs are catered for.

My dining partner, a vegetarian (a vegan menu is also available) found her dishes held their own and were as delicious and beautifully presented as the main menu with both of us enjoying a menu filled with intriguing ingredients.

We started with the Tamal de Muerto – Blue corn dumpling, sweetcorn, butternut squash salsa, guajillo sauce and Lancashire cheese served in the corn husk followed by Pan de Bono Con Chorizo - Cassava Bread, Colombian style chorizo, pickled red onion. For my dining partner there was a substitution of vegan chorizo. 

Latin American cuisine is influenced by their significant Asian population, and this came through in the Ceviche Nikkei de Atun – Tuna, spring onion, crispy quinoa, tamarind and soya ponzu, chipotle mayonnaise. The flavours where sensational and perfectly balanced. The quinoa added a lovely, delicate crunch to the dish.

Adding an unexpected touch of glamour, the main course of corn-fed chicken breast arrived under a glass cloche. Although not my favourite dish of the evening, it was flavourful, though I wished the dauphinoise potatoes were creamier and served hotter.

We ended with a dessert of Churros – a crowd-pleaser which rounded off the dining experience nicely. Served with dulce de leche, chocolate sponge, passion fruit and mango sorbet, huacatay (Peruvian black mint).

While I never imagined I would want to spend this much time stuck in a tube carriage we managed to nestle in and make ourselves very comfortable indeed for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. We were surprised by how long the Supper Club has been operating unbeknownst to us but this supper club seems here to stay, serving regulars as well as adventurous diners. It’s an excellent choice for a date night or birthday surprise; in fact, we did burst into song for someone’s birthday on the evening we visited.  This unique London experience is worth trying and reminds us how much there is to love about the city.

The supper club operates every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, offering a six-course menu starting at £67. Vegetarian and vegan options are available upon request. Seating includes a large communal table for a sociable dining experience, as well as private tables for a more intimate setting—ideal for a date night or a celebration with friends. The menu changes frequently, and current offerings can be viewed on their website.

Location: Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum, 10 S Access Rd, London E17 8AX.Website: supperclub.tube Instagram: Instagram.com/supperclub.tube.

Review by Natascha Milsom