Gastronomic give-away

Afternoon tea is always an indulgence, but the offer right now at Swissotel The Howard pushes the indulgence button a whole lot harder.

Specialist teas, homemade scones, jam and Devon clotted cream, finger sandwiches, fruit cake and French pastries all put in an appearance for £29.

But here's the good news: unlimited champagne is included in the price. And if your intake overcomes you, you can always stagger upstairs to one of the luxurious rooms to take in reviving views across the river.

For as little as £10.95, you can take a culinary roam round India courtesy of Chowki. Owner Kuldeep Singh and head chef Uday Seth have introduced monthly menus designed to showcase the very different cooking styles of the subcontinent's many regions.

March sees the launch of a number of exotic dishes from Rajasthan, Hyderabad and Mangalore, with visits to the North-West Frontier, Pakistan and Kashmir in the upcoming months.

The new initiative includes a Plat du Jour at lunchtime, £22, including a glass of champagne, and a Market Menu at £35 for three courses (including Gagnaire's signature flurry of little dishes). Or there's Menu by Pierre Gagnaire, at £65 for three courses or £80 for five; again, this comes with small taster plates. Compared with previous prices, it's a steal.

The Lecture Room and Library, Sketch, 9 Conduit Street W1. Tel: 0870 777 4488.