Searcys’ new champagne bar built on ‘glamour and luxury’
British restaurateur Searcys is set to open a new champagne bar in the heart of Battersea Power Station in October that will blend “heritage, opulence and quality”.
The Searcys Champagne Bar will be located on Level 1 in the Power Station’s Art Deco Turbine Hall A, next to the Food Arcade and Lift 109, serving an extensive list of champagne and English sparkling wine, paired with small bites and seafood platters.
Opening on Wednesday 18 October, the 76-cover bar and dining space will feature a mix of plush, deep blue velvet seating with polished brass detailing, a 15-cover marble-topped bar and a semi-private recessed booth, available to book for up to 10 guests.
The Champagne bar walls will be adorned with three bespoke pieces of art by artist Kristjana Williams, commissioned by Searcys to capture the London landscape.
Inspiration for the décor is taken from the operator’s refurbished St Pancras champagne bar, with reopened last year.
A spokesperson said the Battersea bar would blend the business’ key design pillars: heritage, opulence, quality and curated. The venue will “elude glamour and luxury” with marble topped tables, plush seating, mirrored elements and statement lights, they added.
The spotlight will be on Searcys’ extensive selection of champagne and English sparkling wine, with brass ‘Press for Champagne’ buzzers at each table – inspired by the original buzzers at sister site, Searcys Champagne Bar at St Pancras International.
The menu will feature a seasonal selection of fresh seafood, including a signature shellfish platter, along cured meats and light and healthy salad options.
Manchester ‘perfect fit’ for new Escapism Bars venues
Escapism Bars are gearing up for their first foray into Manchester, with two new sites launching under the Mean Eyed Cat and Tiki Hideaway brands.
The new bars from the Leeds-based operator are set to appeal to students, after-work drinkers, and late-night party seekers.
Escapism Bars managing director Grant Dexter said: “With our northern roots, Manchester’s Northern Quarter is the perfect fit for the Mean Eyed Cat brand.
“We think the concept will be well received by the eclectic mix of people in Manchester – from students to after work drinkers.”
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JDW announces new Heathrow Airport site
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has confirmed the opening date of a new pub at Heathrow Airport.
The Star Light will open on Monday 2 October on the site of the former Carluccio’s in Terminal 4 (airside), following a £500k investment from the pubco.
It will be the company’s second trading unit at Heathrow Airport and its eighth airport unit in the UK.
With seating for approximately 140 customers, the new venue will create up to 60 full and part-time jobs and will be open from before the first flight until after the last flight each day.
The pub takes its name from the first civil aircraft to land at Heathrow, named Star Light, towards the end of World War II after land in and around the site was requisitioned for the international airport.
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Yorkshire Pub Stuff takes on sixth Star lease
Northern England based multisite operator, Yorkshire Pub Stuff, has taken on its sixth long-term lease with Star Pubs & Bars.
The Major Oak pub in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, will benefit from a £325,000 joint investment from the firms, the first joint refurbishment for the duo, and has been signed under a five-year lease.
Yorkshire Pub Stuff director Garry Astle explained while the pubco has been in the site for the last two years, the joint venture with Star, which brings the pubco’s estate to 32 sites, will help give the Major Oak a “new lease of life”.
The pub will be closed for five-weeks from Monday 7 August as work to completely refurbish and renovate the site, which Astle stated had not had any improvements made to it since the 1970’s, takes place.
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