A new concept, check.  A stunning view of London, check.  A perfect theme for Christmas, check.  What could go wrong?  Well for a start, everything.

I’m usually put off by restaurants that don’t take a booking at all, being quite organised I don’t enjoy the idea of just turning up and hoping I’d get a table.  I asked what the waiting times were like, I guess I could make an exception and queue up like everyone else.  4-6 hours she said.  4-6 hours!  Who are these people who are loitering outside the restaurant for this long just to sit in a makeshift igloo?  Or am I purposely being put off?

I decided to give it a miss.  Couple of weeks later when passing Tower Hill I thought I’d humour myself by witnessing this queue only to find there was none. It was a dreary morning and we were out for breakfast anyway so thought it was a perfect opportunity.

On arrival we were taken inside and it looked lovely enough, with scandi chic furnishing, fur throws and a dome covered in ivy.  Then it began.

We asked for the menu and were told we would have to wait for the lunch menu, bemused I looked at my watch and said it was 11, surely they would still be serving breakfast.  They explained breakfast will be over in 30 mins so they won’t be taking any orders.  How long does it take to poach an egg I wonder.  I asked if there were any pastries or anything ready to eat, they said there were croissants in the restaurant but if I wanted to order I would have to eat in the restaurant.  I started thinking if the waiter was intentionally being difficult.  I gave up and asked for the lunch menu, I guess I might as well see what’s on offer and just wait till 12.  ‘No’ he said.  No?  ‘Lunch is at 12.30 so we will give the menu’s out then’ he claimed.  I laughed at his logic and explained what reason I would have to stay for an hour just to glance over the menu and decide I didn’t like the options, surely they should just give me the menu so I can just make up my mind about staying or going.  He shrugged his shoulder and repeated the same thing, lunch menu comes out at lunch.

It started to pour outside so we ordered two hot drinks thinking we’ll down those quickly and then go to some nice place for breakfast.  15 mins later, nothing.  Being trapped in an igloo meant the waiter could pretend he didn’t see us at all regardless of how we tried to get his attention.  I finally got up to get the waiter myself.  Walking in to the restaurant the maître d’ didn’t seem interested that I was disgruntled and just ushered me back to the igloo saying I shouldn’t come out and they will come to me.

So I sat back down playing the waiting game.  There we were privy to the conversations of people we shared the table with.  A young couple were finally presented with a bowl of granola and scrambled egg on toast; the toast was burnt.  The man looked disappointed and complained to his partner for dragging him to the ‘hyped up igloo’ and having waited forever for some overpriced breakfast which was burnt.  I feel you brother.  How does one burn toast? And then think its ok to serve it in a restaurant??

Another pair, a mother and a young boy were waiting solemnly for their two hot chocolates.  The waiter arrived with two teas, the woman explained they asked for two hot chocolates.  The waiter rolled his eyes as if they had given him the wrong order, because surely he can’t possibly get it wrong and headed back out.  We finally got our drinks, there was no packets or canister of sugar and I was too resigned to wait all over again, so I drank my lukewarm coffee (God knows how long my drink was left out before someone realised we’d ordered them) unsweetened cup of coffee, paid and left.

London always has something new and interesting to offer and for Christmas I thought dining in an igloo was ingenious.  However, in reality you are just sitting inside a plastic tent, shaped like a dome.  If the waiters were more attentive, then people wouldn’t find it necessary to keep stepping outside the igloo to get their attention.  Stepping out means unzipping the igloo and letting the gust of wind in to those sharing the table, awkward!

No doubt after the ‘success’ of the igloos Coppa Club have decided to cash in on their next venture by converting their terrace to a summertime theme of Coppa Cabana.  I’m sure the pictures will be Instagram worthy, and foodies and trendsetters alike will be flocking your way but with such horrendous service no amount of Wisterias will drag me back.