One of the legends of Little Venice, the good old Raoul’s shuttered this Christmas. For decades, an institution and a landmark of the area, it could not compete with the host of vulgar chains that have moved in. It was expensive and service patchy at times, but the quality it offered was unmatched. The coffee was the best in the area, the baguettes and a great selection of gourmet Italian products. Biscuits, cheese, chocolate, jams, ice cream, and truffle oil, residents were spoilt for choice when looking to indulge. And who can forget the deli stuff (smoked salmon, bresaola) and homemade patisserie, especially the Florentines, polenta cake, and rose and pistachio cake.

For those of you who know Little Venice in London, its personality would be incomplete without the faithful, familiar though haughty Raoul’s.