Jerwood Space

An unusual lunch spot on a quiet section of Union Street away from the bustle of Southwark or Waterloo. There's a big airy exhibition space with a cafe at one end, with an attractive conservatory to sit in.

The food is tasty with aspirations be posher than the usual local lunch offering. There are always fish and vegetarian offerings.

The building is used as rehearsal space for big London shows and you are almost guaranteed to spot a star or two. My last two visits have seen Andrew Lloyd Webber, Arlene Phillips, and an actress from Chicago whose name escapes me.

There are also lots of young and beautiful people in legwarmers, like an upmarket Fame canteen.

The Jerwood Space also has a rather nice cafe/restaurant. You order your grub from the counter, then go and sit in the conservatory which is very white and calm (and a little chilly in the winter). You can then keep an eye out for the various famous types who always seem to be using the rehearsal space (Ewan McGregor and Darius Danesh have been recent spots) or perhaps flirt with the handsome young (Italian?) waiter that my female colleagues have all taken a shine to.

Celebs and heart-throbs aside, the food is very tasty. It's light and well-cooked and seems to tune in with the decor, and it doesn't hit the wallet too hard.

In summary, this is a great place to slide in to in the middle of a leisurely walk through the always-fascinating Southwark.

The work of the five winners of the 2007 Jerwood Photography Prize is being exhibited at this smart space in Borough until December and is really worth a visit. They are all very talented recent graduates who have explored typically contemporary issues such as sexual exploitation, pollution and electronic waste in a sassy and sensitive manner. One very original and perceptive project stands out, it's called "Puppet Love" and it's a delicious peep into the quirky world of ventriloqy. Sure to fascinate. And it's always nice to be fascinated.