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11 best places for lunch in Covent Garden

With the West End being one of the busiest parts of London, graduate jobs in Covent Garden are extremely common – meaning that there’s also no shortage of things to do, see, and eat in the area. Renowned for its luxury fashion, theatres and rich culture, Covent Garden is also home to a number of world-famous restaurants and eateries, to suit those looking for a sit-down meal right through to on-the-go takeaway options. So for those who have landed graduate jobs in Covent Garden, here’s 11 of the best places to eat lunch in the area. 11 best places to eat lunch in Covent Garden Wild Food Café – Head down to bustling Neal’s Yard, and you’ll find a number of enticing food options, suited to every palette, dietary requirement and food trend you can think of. One of it’s most popular eateries, Wild Food Café, serves up a variety of vegan, organic, and predominantly raw dishes – including veggie pizzas, salads and vegan burgers, alongside an array of fresh juices and superfood smoothies. Where? 1st Floor, 14 Neal's Yard, Covent Garden WC2H 9DP   Wahaca – For those looking for a sit-down meal in Covent Garden that won’t break the bank, you can’t go far wrong with Wahaca. Serving up a range of Mexican street food dishes, including tacos, croquetas, and churros, Wahaca Covent Garden is a bright, colourful restaurant with an equally vibrant atmosphere – perfect for a longer lunch or an after work dinner. Where? 66 Chandos Pl, London WC2N 4HG   Drury 188-189 - In the heart of the trendy West End, Drury 188-189 is situated accordingly on the famous Drury Lane. Offering a range of British and European cuisine, including lots of vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free dishes, Drury 188-189 is also well-known for serving locally-roasted coffee. For a quick bite to eat, it’s a cosy little eatery with a range of fresh, healthy dishes and first-rate service. Where?188-189 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5QD   Mamie’s - No graduate job in Covent Garden is complete without a trip to Mamie’s, a renowned French restaurant and creperie. Prices aren’t cheap, but the reviews are outstanding – and with an array of savoury ‘galettes’, as well as a number of indulgent desserts on offer, their unique eatery is a must-visit on payday. Where? 19 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JS   Sticks ‘n’ Sushi - Situated in the centre of bustling Covent Garden, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi has made quite the name for itself over the course of the last few years. Just a stone’s throw away from The Strand and Leicester Square, their unique menu offers a huge range of Japanese dishes and cocktails – making this restaurant in Covent Garden ideal for a luxury lunch break or an after-work wind-down. Where? 11 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8PY   Kastner & Ovens - If you’re looking for a hearty lunchtime meal without a hefty price tag, Kastner & Ovens is the perfect spot. With rows of salads, pies, tarts and hot dishes on offer, you can grab a consirably-sized box from this takeaway-only café for around £5. Where? 52 Floral St, London WC2E 9DA   Bungatini - With a 5-star Trip Advisor review, Bungatini restaurant is a traditional Italian eatery serving everything from breakfast and brunch to late-night drinks. At lunch time, they offer a selection of pizzas to suit every taste – ranging from the classic Margherita, to the Fun-Guy, served with mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, percorino and white truffle oil. Where? 167 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5PG   Koshari Street - The West End isn’t known for its cheap eats, but Koshari Street’s unique offerings might suggest differently. As the name would indicate, they are best-known for their signature dish – Koshari – an authentic Egyptian street food comprised of rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, onions and tomato. The restaurant have also expanded their menu to include a selection of Egyptian dishes, both sweet and savoury – so if you’re looking for a bargain lunch that packs a flavour punch, head to Koshari Street restaurant! Where? 56 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4EA   Cinnamon Bazaar - If you’re after some Indian fare on your lunch break, feast your eyes on the menu at Cinnamon Bazaar. With street food dishes ranging from curried popcorn to masala pork belly, the restaurant also offer both a tasting menu and a set lunch – perfect if you’re looking for somewhere to spend a long lunch with colleagues. And with an abundance of hanging plants and beautiful décor, you’ll be transported from the West End to the heart of India! Where? 28 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7JS   Farmstand - Situated on Drury Lane, Farmstand is a healthy dining spot that suits vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike. Their delectable dishes include avocado toast, chana masala, Cuban beef and pulled smoky jackfruit – plus a range of cold-pressed juices, kombuchas and lattes to wash them down. Sourcing the best ingredients seasonally, their entire menu is free from dairy, added sugar and artificial ingredients – perfect for a guilt-free lunch in Covent Garden. Where?   42 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5AJ   By CHLOE - A new addition to Covent Garden, by CHLOE serves a range of plant-based comfort food – including vegan burgers, mac & cheese, hotdogs and cookies. Already a big name in New York, By CHLOE has taken London by storm – and for a surprisingly small price tag, you’ll get a sizeable lunch in a super-trendy location. Where? Drury House, 34-43 Russell St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5HA For those who have landed graduate jobs in Covent Garden, there are a range of lunch options to choose from – ranging from grab-and-go cheap eats, to sit down set menus.  With so much going on in Covent Garden, you'll be spoilt for choice - and with Soho in close proximity, you’ll never run out of new places to eat lunch in the area! Find more CV writing and career advice on our Careers Advice Blog - or check out the latest Graduate Jobs!

Employment contracts - 11 things to consider

If you’re reading this, chances are you've landed the job of your dreams, and are about to sign an employment contract. Congratulations! When a job offer has been formally accepted, you will usually receive an employment contract over email, in the form of a written contract. The common misconception is that employment contracts are purposefully confusing, filled with legal jargon and complicated processes - and this simply isn't true. An employment contract is simply a signed agreement between an employer and an employee, which establishes the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Before you sign on the dotted line, it’s important to understand what goes into an employment contract, and your rights and responsibilities as the employee. So here are 11 things to consider before you sign an employment contract. Start (and end) date At some point throughout the job application process, you and the employer will have agreed upon your start date, so check that it as you expected on your employment contract. The contract may reflect ongoing employment, a FTC (fixed term contract), or sometimes a minimum duration, with the possibility of extending it. Read this carefully to check that everything in the agreement is as you thought.   Job title, job description and responsibilities Your job title and job description should be exactly the same as the role you applied for. Make sure that the key responsibilities are as you understood – you don’t want to realise in your first few weeks that the role is not as you originally expected. The contract might also include the team you will be working in, and the line manager or employer who you will report to.   Salary and bonus An employment contract should include the salary that you will receive for your work. The salary shouldn’t come as any surprise, and through your discussions with the employer you should already be aware of what you will be receiving. It may also include additional incentives like bonuses (which could either be guaranteed – usually the case in sales graduate jobs or business development graduate jobs, or discretionary, where the terms of the bonus are not disclosed in advance). Make sure that everything on the employment agreement is as you thought.   Benefits package Your employment contract will also include all the benefits of the role - such as health insurance, share options, and perks. If the employer has told you about a particular benefit or perk throughout the job application process, and you can’t see on the contract, mention it to the employer – chances are it’s been missed off by accident.   Hours of work Your employment contract will also include the hours and days you’ll be expected to work. If the role requires you to work unusual hours such as weekend shifts or particularly early starts, you will already have been informed about these at some point throughout the application process. In this case, the employment contract should include the time-in-lieu policy. You might not have already been informed about the working hours if they are more typical (such as 9am - 5pm, 9.30am - 5.30pm or 9am - 6pm) – so read these carefully and contact the employer if you have any questions.   Holiday days and holiday pay This may be something you don’t already know about the role, so it’s important to read clearly. When reviewing your employment contract, look to see how many days holiday you are entitled to, when the holiday year starts and ends, and whether you can carry holiday over to the next year. Your holiday allowance may vary greatly on the role, company and sector – but for entry-level graduate jobs, usually sits around the 20-28 day mark.   Contractual sick pay The employment contract will usually also include information regarding sick pay. This isn’t a legal requirement, so if you can’t see anything about on the agreement it’s a good idea to contact the employer to ask for more information.   Confidentiality agreement Sometimes a contract will include a statement about confidentially- and be aware that you will occasionally be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, too. This might be the case in PR graduate jobs, marketing graduate jobs, and finance graduate jobs – so don’t be alarmed if this is a feature of your contract.   Restrictive clauses Sometimes, depending on the nature of the work, there will be restrictive clauses that prevent you from going to work for a competitor or poaching a company’s clients. Though it’s nothing to be worried about, make sure you are aware of any restrictive clauses on the agreement that might impact you in the future.   Probation period A probation period is a trial period, usually around 3-6 months, which allows an employer to assess an employee’s suitability and performance. There is no law relating to probationary periods, however you will usually find that most graduate employers will include them in employment contracts. Look out for the length of yours, and make sure you know your rights.   Notice period There are two types of notice period – a statutory notice period, and contractual notice period. Statutory notice period is the minimum notice than can legally be given, and a contractual notice period is the length of time that the employer has stated than an employer must give as notice of their departure – usually 1 month. Employment contracts can appear difficult to understand – but if you've spent the time applying for graduate jobs, it’s important to read the employment agreement carefully, make sure you know what the job entails and understand your rights as an employee. Tick off each of the 11 points to consider above – and make sure you understand your employment contract. Find more CV writing and career advice on our Careers Advice Blog - or check out the latest Graduate Jobs!