Two new London restaurants which open on the same day next week have been named in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth – Lilibet’s in Mayfair (pictured) and The Elizabeth in Belgravia – in the same month that the £20,000 a night Elizabeth House penthouse suite was unveiled at the new Chancery Rosewood hotel in Grosvenor Square.
Lilibet’s – from a family nickname for the young Elizabeth – is an extremely grand seafood specialist located in the house on Bruton Street where the future queen was born. It can accommodate 166 guests spread between a dining lounge, oyster bar, cocktail bar, fireside grill and garden terrace, all decked out in a splendidly florid take on 1920s decor by the Russel Sage design team.
The restaurant is headed by Australian-born Ross Shonhan, the ex-Nobu exec chef who founded the ‘rock’n’roll ramen’ outfit Bone Daddies – and it is targeting growth as an international brand. The project’s initial announcement last year suggested that: “A gap exists for a seafood restaurant that expertly marries tradition with global innovation, while remaining comforting and exciting. Lilibet’s will bring a refreshing alternative to Mayfair’s current seafood restaurants. This is a scalable concept, which can travel to Queen Elizabeth’s favourite global destinations.”
Also formally opening next Tuesday (16 September) is The Elizabeth, which replaces Ganymede, for three years the occupant of the site best known as the Ebury Wine Bar. Anthony Demetre of Wild Honey has joined forces with owners, the Lunar Pub Company, to mastermind the relaunch.
Lunar’s Hubert Beatson-Hird says: “We wanted to reimagine our beloved Belgravia site to reflect the fast-changing hospitality environment. When the opportunity to work with Anthony emerged, the choice became a no-brainer to work together to create a modern take on British hospitality and gastronomy.”
Dishes on the launch menu include: Whipped cod’s roe, duck, pork and guinea‑fowl terrine; Crisp pig’s head; Fish cake with bouillabaisse sauce; Crisp slow-cooked duck ‘confit’, spinach, chickpeas and wild oregano; and Roast young chicken lacquered with lemon and honey. The wine list has been created by Liberty Wines.
