Dominic Jacobs, James Knappett and JKS to launch second central London pub
On Great Portland Street, The George follows the trio’s successful relaunch of The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea earlier this year.
The historic Fitzrovia pub has undergone an extensive restoration and will reopen in two phases.
From Thursday 25 November, the ground floor will offer ‘a quintessential British pub experience’ serving cask ales, craft beers, seasonal cocktails, tapped wines and an extensive collection of Irish whiskey alongside a ‘traditional’ pub menu that includes classic ploughman’s; pheasant and pistachio terrine; scampi with chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce; and rhubarb crumble with custard.
Upstairs at The George, meanwhile, will open in February 2022, offering a dining experience ‘led by culinary director James Knappett’. No further details are available but it’s likely Knappett – whose Kitchen Table restaurant on nearby Charlotte Street holds two Michelin stars – will offer something more upscale and ambitious.
The reopening seeks to resurrect the old pub ‘returning it to the local community and paying homage to its history as a hub for the political, cultural and social movements of the late 18th century, a home to writers and poets in the 20th century and, in recent years, a hideaway for local creatives’.
“The sympathetic restoration of the ground floor has focused on enhancing the venue’s rich listed architecture, paying homage to its 18th century roots through art, design and architectural features,” says Jacobs, who is also behind central London pubs The Running Horse and The Whip.
The Cadogan Arms relaunched in July offering a refined menu of pub-inspired dishes created by Knappett and former The Ledbury and Harwood Arms chef Alex Harper.
