There’s nothing better than a sunny, lazy Sunday and our trip to Parrillan in the newly opened Borough Yards will take quite a bit to beat. Not only was there great food and a relaxing space, but there was also a visit to the nearby Neal’s Yard Dairy, a great unexpected sculpture and of course, time to check out the loos.

Painted sign on brickwork - black text on a white background saying Soap Yard this way and an arrow pointing right

It wasn’t until we were through the bricked arch that I turned round and spotted the painted sign to the Soap Yard - the brickwork, and the neon signs pulled me towards them, but I soon backtracked to admire this too. Both are from different times, but both are equally design classics aren’t they?

A brick archway looking through to a new building with decorative brickwork and neon words in a grid (some of which are lit) on the corner

Once through the arch and after taking a photo of almost every brick, I noticed the globe sculpture titled The World Reimagined - Stolen Legacy: The Rebirth of a Nation, which is by Alison Turner. It’s one of 103 unique globes across the UK which explore the history, legacy and future of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans.

Alison Turner is a mosaic artist who uses recycled vintage bone china, broken and discarded pottery, glass, ceramic tile and porcelain ornaments to create unique artwork. Her globe at Borough Yards was fantastic, and it’s the sort of piece that not only has deep meaning, but one that every time you look at it you’ll spot something different, and be enchanted again.

A large sculptural globe made from mosiacs at Borough Yards — The World Reimagined - Stolen Legacy: The Rebirth of a Nation – Artist: Alison Turner

We were early for our lunch reservation so took some time to wander around the space admiring yet more brickwork, and the structures they formed. I couldn’t help but notice and admire the curved reception desk at Parrillan which I’m sure was chosen to echo its surroundings.

The entrance to Parrillian which is under the arches, with a curved reception desk complementing the smooth lines of the arches curves

The courtyard is softened by olive trees and other plants all of which have a backdrop of brick buildings which surround the area

It soon became clear though, that texture had been given a lot of thought. Even the lemon meringue pie - which was as tasty as it looks - adopted the brief.

A portion of lemon meringue pie with a scorched meringue top, alongside is a sorbet resting on a biscuit crumb

And in the loos it was once again evident, with the panelled metal sheet on the ceiling, the smooth sink surrounds and the curves and symmetry of the mirrors and wall lights, demonstrating again that you can be adventurous with texture in a relatively small space.

In the loo, the sloping almost corrugated ceiling covering painted an olive green

A snip of the symmetry of wall lights between two curved wall mirrors

Black taps inset in the wall above the sink, the sink inlaid into the same cream stone top

A toilet selfie also showing the curve of the thinly edged black mirror

Back outside we moved from our table to a less formal space to end our meal. There were a few discoveries there, not least the heated seat pads (not pictured). Who knew, what an invention though sadly we had no need for them on our visit, but definitely something to try on a future, slightly chillier visit!

The modern wooden bench also caught my eye for its simple elegance, and the texture it too brought to the space. Alongside it the planting introduced more, the needles of the pine and the underplanting of soft mossy mounds. That’s how you do texture.

A birch 3 seater bench with decorative detail - slits - adding texture to an inviting spot to sit

Alongside the bench is a large pot containing a large evergreen, the photo focuses on the surface of the plant which is also potted with mounds of soft, bouncy pale green moss

Looking down on a pot of succulents potted up with a softer almost clover-like leafed plant

But also, succulents and small frothy ferns. What a combination.