At Simpson’s, we have always believed restaurants are part of the communities they inhabit. Ours is one shaped by heritage, hospitality, and the theatreland that surrounds us. It felt only natural, then, that our chosen charity partners reflect both our place on the Strand and our long-standing connection to London’s cultural life: Acting for Others and St Mary le Strand Church.
Theatre has always been part of the fabric of life around Simpson’s.
For this reason, we are proud to support Acting for Others, the theatrical charity that provides financial and emotional assistance to theatre workers across the United Kingdom during times of need. Their work extends quietly but meaningfully throughout the industry, offering support to those behind the curtain as much as those who stand centre stage.
Earlier this year, we were delighted to welcome Acting for Others into Romano’s for a rather singular evening: One Night Only, their much-loved fundraising event.
For one evening, our lively Grand Café-style dining room took on an especially theatrical spirit. In a playful reversal of restaurant tradition, familiar faces from stage and screen stepped into the roles of hosts, maîtres d’, bartenders, and servers, creating an atmosphere that felt both convivial and delightfully unexpected.
The evening served as a reminder of something we have always known to be true: restaurants and theatres have long enjoyed a natural kinship. Both exist to bring people together, to tell stories, and to create occasions worth remembering. We were honoured to play a small part and very much hope to welcome One Night Only back to Romano’s again in the future.
Just up the road from Simpson’s, the bells of St Mary le Strand have rung throughout much of our story.
Completed in its current form in the early 18th century and long regarded as one of London’s architectural treasures, St Mary le Strand has stood watch over this stretch of the city through shifting streetscapes, world wars, celebrations, and moments of reflection.
Supporting the church felt not simply appropriate, but instinctive. It represents an important part of the Strand’s cultural and architectural story, one that continues to bring people together through worship, music, heritage, and community events.
As custodians of a historic institution ourselves, we recognise the importance of preserving places that lend London its character and continuity. Our partnership with St Mary le Strand reflects a shared belief in safeguarding the traditions, stories, and sense of belonging that make this part of the city so distinctive.
The Strand has always been a place of gathering — for conversation, culture and performance. At Simpson’s, we consider it a privilege to play our own part in its ongoing story.
Through our partnerships with Acting for Others and St Mary le Strand, we hope to contribute, in however modest a way, to the institutions and communities that have long shaped life around us. After all, restaurants, like theatres and churches, are ultimately about bringing people together.
