The winners of the BBC's TV show The Restaurant with Raymond Blanc will open their second cocktail bar in central London next year, Caterer and Hotelkeeper can reveal.
JJ Goodman and James Hopkins, who won the final series of the reality TV programme in 2009, will open their second London Cocktail Club on Shaftesbury Avenue in February.
Housed in the basement site previously occupied by the Grape Street wine bar, the business is a partnership between Goodman, Hopkins and Blanc as well as his advisers on The Restaurant, David Moore and Sarah Willingham. London leisure specialist Restaurant Property brokered the deal for the site.
Goodman told Caterer and Hotelkeeper the new site would be inspired by the British Navy, with a special focus on rum grogs and punches.
"The Goodge Street site was inspired by gin and this one is all about rum. We will have Black Tot "Last Consignment" British Royal Naval Rum, which we'll serve in 71ml shots - which is half an Imperial gill," he said.
Interiors at the 100-cover venue will be inspired by a tattoo parlour, with artworks of sailor-type tattoos on the walls. "It'll have a vintage feel with pictures of pin-up girls - it'll be a bit cheeky," added Goodman.
The food offer, meanwhile, will comprise a menu of bar snacks, which the duo have developed together with Blanc's team at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons. Dishes will include chicken liver parfait, smoked mackerel pâté, cheeses from Neal's Yard and Spanish charcuterie.
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By Kerstin Kühn
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