Hackney Chef Kicks Off New Dining Series in West End Hotel

In a surprise move, chef Magnus Reid, owner of C.R.E.A.M. in Shoreditch, and Legs in Hackney, will be kicking off an ambitious "dining series" at Leicester Square's W Hotel this autumn/winter. Served nightly from Friday 27 October until the New Year in its brand-new bar, The Perception at W London, his first menu will combine Mediterranean, Australian and Modern European ideas, in dishes such as burrata with chilli jam and fried garlic; gilthead bream crudo; and pappardelle with crab and chilli, all offered as snack, small, medium or large plates.

“I'm excited to bring a super casual [east London] approach to the kitchen and dining room there, as too often a hotel can feel too much like a hotel,” said globetrotting Reid, a self-taught chef and former tattoo artist. "The menu will showcase my passion for quality ingredients, bold flavours and sharp plating perfectly paired with the head barman’s new killer cocktail menu."

Asked why he though the hotel had made the choice to run with a more daring, avant-garde chef, he told Eater London: “I guess the W are just smart, they want to triumph food, and realised that to do so needed to take some chances, in the first of a ongoing project that I'm sure will see more and more established chefs taking part. So far it's been amazing working with a big team again, they all have a great attitude towards food, which makes it easy to pull off!”

The Perception will deploy top DJs and producers working with Mixcloud to create a music programme. Dining will take place around a long sharing table, or in leather booths overlooking Wardour Street. To reserve, email popup@wlondon.co.uk, or ring 020 7758 1060. News regarding Reid's next menu, and which chefs will follow his residency, will come later this year.