Latest opening: The Campaner
What: The new centrepiece restaurant of the Chelsea Barracks development just off Sloane Square, The Campaner offers an all-day menu and embraces an elevated style of Spanish cuisine. Meaning ‘bell ringer’, the restaurant takes its name from the Catalan tradition of the town bell ringer announcing important events by ringing the bell of the local church and reflects its positioning ‘at the heart of the neighbourhood’.
Who: The Campaner is the first international restaurant from Los Reyes del Mango, the Barcelona-based group behind Terraza Martinez and Frankie Gallo Cha Cha Cha. Mar Martin, the founder of Los Reyes del Mango, is leading the opening.
The food: The Campaner says it 'refuses to adhere to the traditional Spanish restaurant formula' instead serving a more varied menu that's split across several sections. Despite its range, the offering is tight, with a selection of small sharing plates available alongside the bigger main dishes. Smaller plates to feature on the opening menu include oyster gratin with bearnaise sauce; roast leek with pickled tomatoes, goat cheese and hazelnuts; steak tartar served on bone marrow; and scallops with celeriac and caviar. Larger options, meanwhile, include a selection of charcoal-grilled meats, shellfish, vegetables and whole fish cooked in the Josper oven; and a centrepiece rice dishes for two to share. The restaurant also offers the signature dish of the group's Terraza Martinzez flagship: a monkfish and lobster casserole, which is served in two stages: first the lobster, monkfish, and potatoes are served, before the casserole is returned to the kitchen where the remaining sauce is mixed with poached eggs, more potatoes and fish stock, and then returned to the table. Across the board, the prices are unapologetically tailored to the SW1 clientele with a bowl of olives costing £6, rising to £150 for the 45 day-aged côte de boeuf (for two).
The drink: Looking at the wine list, most probably would not guess that The Campaner is a Spanish-owned restaurant. Though there are a fair few wines from the country - including a few cavas and some interesting sherries - the selection is international in outlook. Prices start at £29 per bottle for white and £36 for red (the list tops out at £400 for a bottle of Cristal). Cocktails include Floral Sour Gin (lavender, violet and lime); and Pineapple Mezcal Margarita.
The vibe: Housed amongst peaceful landscaped gardens in a new building designed by architect Ben Pentreath, The Campaner is the centrepiece restaurant of the Chelsea Barracks development. It's a vast space - it holds at least 100 covers - with comfortable furnishings and tasteful décor of natural, warm materials and colours. Guests enter through double height doors into the dining room, which features high vaulted ceilings and large arched windows. A central island bar with high stools sits in the heart of the room. There's also a wraparound outdoor terrace with seating under the cloistered walkway that's surrounded by greenery and has a direct view to the Garrison Chapel.
And another thing: While the focus is on Spanish cuisine, The Campaner team have put a lot of emphasis on working closely with local UK-based suppliers including Wright Bros, Natoora, Neal’s Yard, HG Walter, and Walter and Sons. Fresh herbs and vegetables will also be harvested directly from the kitchen gardens outside the restaurant.
Chelsea Barracks, 1 Garrison Square, London SW1W 8BG
thecampaner.com
