The Wolseley City is more than just the younger sibling of the famed The Wolseley on Piccadilly; this is the hospitality group’s new offering in the City of London that aims to recreate the 'Grand European Café' tradition for the 21st century. It was a welcome challenge for its designers, Fabled Studio, the practice behind expertly orchestrated interiors such as Manzi's in Soho and Harrod's Baccarat Bar; but one that its team responded to with aplomb, drawing parallels between the two venues, while carving out a distinct identity for the newcomer.
The Wolseley City: a new member to the brand's family
'Understanding the integrity and social currency of the original Wolseley restaurant was key for us, and we were fully aware of the expectation and calibre that was required to install a sibling of such a legendary establishment on the London restaurant scene. We were keen to understand the influence that inspired the original building, and use those references to form our own incarnation of the space – the design speaks of authenticity, relevance, heritage and reference to its parent – in no way a facsimile, but a member of the family in its own right,' says Fabled Studio's founder and director Steven Saunders.
‘We spent a lot of time immersing ourselves in the DNA of the original Wolseley, to understand its heritage and incarnation. We wanted to explore other design trends of the 1920s; whereas the Piccadilly site is layered with Far Eastern flourishes of Chinoiserie and Japan Lacquer, we explored the period of Egyptian Revival – inspired by Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 – to give a separate but relevant identity.'
In order to avoid creating a replica of the Piccadilly restaurant, the team used its colour palette of black, gold and cream, and applied it to The Wolseley City’s key features – such as its floor pattern, and vestibule screens, which are layered in Egyptian detailing. It's all encompassed within the space as soon as the visitor steps foot in the grand, double-height main space.
Everywhere, luxurious materials prevail. Marble is used throughout the interior, such as the Egyptian Brushed Limestone and Nero Marquina floor, trimmed with Red Jasper. There is hand-painted black lacquer and gold gilding work across the vestibule screen and furniture. 'We worked with many artisans to create these finishes and applications, and developed them to look aged and lived in – giving the interior its familiar warmth and soft feel,' Saunders says.
The menu responds to the same Grand European Café vibes – including its breakfast classics such as eggs, Bubble & Squeak, Grilled Kippers and Smoked Haddock Kedgeree. The all-day menu, spans a variety of meat, fish, shellfish and vegetable options that mix Welsh Rarebit, Chicken Soup with Matzo Dumplings, and Red Mullet. A selection of cocktails and traditional cakes and desserts (think, Battenburg and Crème Brûlée) bookend a meal.
As for Saunders' favourite part? 'For me, it has to be the iconic flooring design we created and the vestibule screens surrounding the bar and salon. Having the chance to create our own version of one of the most iconic floor patterns in London was a challenge we relished, and the vestibule screens are so layered in Egyptian detailing and add striking punctuation to the interior,' he says.
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