Head-to-Head

THE GUN vs THE PALMERSTON

Q: How much do THE GUN and THE PALMERSTON cost?

THE GUN sits at $$ ($60–120 per person); THE PALMERSTON at $$ ($60–120 per person). Add 30–40% for pairings.

Q: Which is harder to book, THE GUN or THE PALMERSTON?

Both sit in London's top tier — same-week tables are rare. Prime weekend slots fill within minutes of release at either; weekday and earlier-seating slots are the realistic targets. Set booking alerts on whichever platform each restaurant uses.

Q: Can I do both THE GUN and THE PALMERSTON on the same trip?

Yes — both are in London. Pace at least one full day apart; at this price tier each is a full-evening commitment. If you're optimising for one over the other, the per-occasion verdict in this guide is the right tiebreaker.

THE GUN for the kitchen; THE PALMERSTON for the room.

THE GUN

London · British Gastropub · $$

Food 9.5 · Ambience 9.5 · Value 9.5

View full review →

THE PALMERSTON

London · British Gastropub · $$

Food 9 · Ambience 9 · Value 9

View full review →

The Verdict

THE GUN for the kitchen; THE PALMERSTON for the room.

THE GUN runs the stronger kitchen, food at 9.5 vs 9 on our scoring. THE GUN takes the room (9.5 vs 9); the verdict is between a kitchen-first room and a room-first kitchen. Value reads better at THE GUN (9.5 vs 9), worth knowing if the bill matters.

Both kitchens cook British Gastropub in London, but the rooms read differently. THE GUN works for impress clients, first date; THE PALMERSTON works for impress clients, first date.

Both sit at $$ ($60 to 120 per person). At identical price tiers, the choice is about format, not budget.

Which One for Which Occasion

Occasion	Editorial Pick
First Date	THE GUNambience scores higher (9.5 vs 9).
Close a Deal	THE GUNedges on the combined kitchen + room read that closing-the-deal demands.
Birthday	THE GUNambience scores higher (9.5 vs 9).
Impress Clients	THE GUNedges on the combined kitchen + room read that closing-the-deal demands.
Proposal	THE GUNambience scores higher (9.5 vs 9).
Solo Dining	THE GUNthe kitchen reads stronger for the bar-seat / counter intent.
Team Dinner	THE GUNbetter value per cover for group spend (9.5 vs 9).

The Numbers

Our scoring puts THE GUN at 9.5/9.5/9.5 (food / ambience / value) and THE PALMERSTON at 9/9/9. Pick the dimension that matters most to your evening and follow it.

How to Book

Both restaurants sit in London's top scoring tier, neither takes same-week walk-ins for prime weekend slots. Set booking alerts on the platform each uses (check the practical-info card on the linked detail pages above). Weekday and earlier-seating windows are the realistic targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, THE GUN or THE PALMERSTON?

On our editorial scoring, THE GUN leads (9.5/9.5/9.5 vs 9/9/9 for food / ambience / value). That said, the better pick depends on the occasion, see the table above for the per-occasion call.

How much do THE GUN and THE PALMERSTON cost?

THE GUN sits at $$ ($60 to 120 per person); THE PALMERSTON at $$ ($60 to 120 per person). Add 30 to 40% for pairings.

Which is harder to book, THE GUN or THE PALMERSTON?

Both sit in London's top tier, same-week tables are rare. Prime weekend slots fill within minutes of release at either; weekday and earlier-seating slots are the realistic targets. Set booking alerts on whichever platform each restaurant uses.

What's the best occasion for THE GUN vs THE PALMERSTON?

The occasion table above maps each of the seven RFK occasions to the editorial pick. In short: pick the restaurant whose room and format match the moment, not the higher absolute score.

Can I do both THE GUN and THE PALMERSTON on the same trip?

Yes, both are in London. Pace at least one full day apart; at this price tier each is a full-evening commitment. If you're optimising for one over the other, the per-occasion verdict in this guide is the right tiebreaker.