Jason Atherton takes the former Aquavit site for British brasserie Sael
On 1 Carlton Street just south of Piccadilly Circus, Sael is set to open this summer and will 'celebrate all things British' with a menu that features only ingredients sourced from the British Isles.
The 9,088 sq ft restaurant - which Atherton will run in partnership wife his wife and co-director Ihra - will focus on domestically-sourced furnishings that will ‘pay homage to the restaurant’s location in the heart of the Capital’.
Details are limited, but Atherton describes the offering as affordable and says the new project will see him "get rid of the shackles of traditional fine dining".
The kitchen will be led by chef Dale Bainbridge, who has worked with Atherton for a decade and is currently the executive chef at the chef’s Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant Pollen Street Social, which is set to close this summer after a 13 year run.
Atherton is understood to have at least a further two restaurant projects lined up for London, including a venture in Mayfair with Spencer Metzger, who stepped away from his role as head chef at The Ritz in August last year.
“St James’s Market is an iconic British landmark in the heart of London. Originally the site of a medieval cattle market, it is steeped in a rich history that makes it the perfect location for our new concept, Sael," the Athertons say.
“To be able to work with The Crown Estate in such a location on a quintessentially British-style brasserie is a dream of ours, delivering affordable, no-holds-barred cooking to the British public and international visitors."
"By celebrating our fantastic ingredients in an innovative way, we can get rid of the shackles of traditional fine dining and create a place for people to relax and enjoy not only the excellent food and drink, but the whole atmosphere, with a carefully designed fit out and artwork showcasing British music icons past and present."
“We feel that, after four unsettled years during and following the pandemic, Sael will provide a much-needed celebration of all the amazing culinary delights from our Isles.”
