Thank you @simplynatural - that is interesting. I hadn't considered using that bedroom as a pantry, I'd assumed I'd have to carve it out of the kitchen space (by putting some different walls up).

The revised floorplan is a nice simplification. I'd suggest more development of the kitchen. The peninsula with sink is unnecessary.

@dan do you mean it could / should just be L- shaped? (With an island?)

L shaped can offer good work zones and functional appliance and sink location with an island. The island can be clear or may need a prep sink. We don't know details like number of people garage or normal family entrance, views or outside space use, E-W orientation and general climate. The window height in the revised idea layout might influence the option of dining and kitchen space at that end of the house.

Totally agree with more kitchen revisions, but as pointed out, we have little to go on regarding owner's wishes there. Here's the above plan with possible beam locations and with furniture added for a sense of scale.

This is all really helpful. The property is in London. The garden is south facing (badly drawn arrow showing north).

I'm generally undecided between open plan and closed - I don't want cooking smells in the whole house, but I like the social aspect of open plan. This is the version I've attempted to draw. I would like a lot of kitchen cupboard space (dark blue), i don't like sinks or hobs on an island, I want to use it as more cupboard space and prep space. I was thinking of cupboards only at the bottom so there are shelves for display / walls for art (and hence why pantry would be useful). When I was looking for a house, I viewed one which had a single wall kitchen which looked amazing - but I'm unsure how practical that would be re kitchen triangle.

I was thinking of glass doors between the dining room and gathering area but am still undecided on this. Mainly from a noise / cooking smells perspective, but also how do you keep such an open plan space warm?

You certainly could close off the different spaces if you wish. Here's a more closed-off plan. (I left the kitchen open to the dining area for light because the kitchen is shown as a window-less space, but you could keep that dividing wall too if you want, and/or one between the dining area and the back hall leading to the garden).

I'm a bit puzzled by the question about how to keep an open space warm. A house is warm not because it's divided into separate spaces but because (a) it's insulated; (b) its windows are double or triple glass; (c) its openings are well sealed to prevent drafts; and (d) it has an adequate heating system. (Solar gain from south-facing windows also helps.) If this house is lacking any of those elements, I would correct the lack if possible rather than close off spaces. But that's me, and (sadly!) I'm not in an historic English house.

By the way, I don't think there's room for an island in the kitchen as shown in the marked plan above. The kitchen is the same width as the office (11 ft 10 inches). Two-foot counters on each side would take up 4 feet of that. Two aisles of a minimal 3 feet each would take another 6 feet, leaving only 22 inches for the island. One possible alternative is shown above, with storage opening into the hall pushing the kitchen work surfaces closer together.