Tried & Tasted: The Association Restaurant

The Hilton at Wembley is designed to perfectly complement the iconic stadium, writes Nicole Holgate. A Best of British theme runs throughout the eating spaces. At the main restaurant, The Association, muted reds and royal blues create a cosy ambience in spite of the floor-to-ceiling glass that lets you look out on to the stadium. My friend and I are also shown the boardroom and ballroom, with a capacity of 700, that allows the hotel to host events, making use of the in-house catering service.

There is also the Icons bar, decorated with the images of celebrities who have graced the Wembley stage and then popped in for a vital post-gig Singapore Sling or Mint Julep. Sadly, we didn’t have time to sample the extensive cocktail list. Finally, we glimpsed the roof terrace of the private Sky Bar 9; this provides amazing views of the arena and connects to the intimate executive dining area.

The Association Restaurant presents modern British cuisine, with a few fusion touches, alongside its modern British decor. With the stadium towering over us, my friend started with a duck salad with spicy rocket and rich hoisin sauce. The only note of disappointment was my tiger prawns with dipping sauce, which were lukewarm – they should have been either hot or cold. The main course blew me away, however: a shank of falling-off-the-bone lamb, creamy mash and crisp greens. Meanwhile my friend happily tucked in to a succulent, chilli-sprinkled haddock with flavourful seasonal vegetables.

Hilton has once again achieved its gold standard with the Wembley hotel, which provides a mixture of British eccentricity and stylish, modern facilities. Come for the food and stay for the iconic setting.

Table d’hôte options priced at £19.95 per head for two courses, £24.95 for three courses.

Hilton London Wembley, Lakeside Way, Wembley, HA9 0BU
hilton.com; 020 8150 8090