Masters of Affordable Luxury Plan Massive Seafood Restaurant in Soho

Leading luxury operators Corbin and King’s next London restaurant looks to be in Soho. The restaurant group — which owns seven London grand cafés and restaurants, with an eighth in St. John’s Wood on its way — plans to open a seafood restaurant just off Soho Square, along the length of 1 – 8 Bateman’s Buildings, which will also incorporate 55 Greek Street. The tenancy between the restaurant group and landlord is confirmed, with details of the specific layout of the restaurant not yet decided. The operators are awaiting approval on new plans with Westminster Council, which will change the layout of the proposed site.

Existing planning permission accounts for two restaurants, but Corbin and King’s new planning documents, filed on 11 January 2019 (and confirmed this morning by MCA) plan out a single restaurant spread over three floors. The restaurant will front on to Bateman’s Buildings, currently used as a thoroughfare between Soho Square and Bateman Street.

The operator “believes strongly that one restaurant would be the preferred option on this site,” citing improved control over entry and exit, as well as “a more comfortable and leisurely scale for both customers and staff.” It proposes a 241 cover restaurant, with 44 additional covers on an outdoor terrace; a basement kitchen will support a ground floor bar and dining room, and another, “more formal” dining room above, together with a private dining room. Design documents plan for “a high quality and good value fish restaurant,” with “approximately 155 full and part time employees, [who] wherever possible would be drawn from the local community.”

In sum: “In taking the above tenancy within this run-down part of Soho, Corbin & King are planning a seafood concept providing a high quality product with great service and value for money.”

Huge, if true. Corbin and King — Chris Corbin and Jeremy King — is one of London’s most well-established and highly regarded restaurant operators. Most famous, now, for operating The Wolseley on Piccadilly, the restaurant group’s commitment to accessible luxury is perhaps most clear in its £13.75, three course menu at Brasserie Zédel, also in Piccadilly. King, in particular, has publicly and repeatedly decried Brexit’s potential impact on hospitality, advocated for the acknowledgment of over 50s in hospitality, and, consistently, delivered quality, affordable restaurants in finely designed rooms alongside Corbin.

The restaurant group did not immediately return a request for comment; more soon.