The rehabilitation of King’s Cross in central London continues apace. It almost seems as if every other day the scaffolding comes off yet another fancy office building, boutique, home or restaurant in the ambitious 67 acre project.
The new kid on the block is The Lighterman. The third tasty offering from Open House – the group behind Percy & Founders, and The Larder – the three-storey restaurant is named after the Victorian drivers of the ‘lighter’ goods barges that once plied London’s waterways.
The solidly handsome brick façade by architects Stanton Williams mirrors the historic Granary Building across the square. In a way, the uniform anonymity of the exterior is a boon because the interiors provide a studied contrast of raw pale timber floors, exposed concrete and bare brickwork with burnished metal table tops and gold trim. Meanwhile, a scattering of photographs is a nod to the area’s industrial history and transportation.
All of which is a rugged setting for executive chef Diego Cardoso’s robust all-day menu of British classics (ham hock and leek pie, anyone?) and grilled steaks, with a judicious lashing of mod Euro plates like cured trout and spiced mayonnaise, and salt-baked beets with watercress and feta. And if summer ever arrives in the capital, the three alfresco terraces are ideal for tossing back sours and mint juleps.
INFORMATION
Website
ADDRESS
3 Granary Square
-
The Subaru Forester is the definition of unpretentious automotive designIt’s not exactly king of the crossovers, but the Subaru Forester e-Boxer is reliable, practical and great for keeping a low profile
-
Sotheby’s is auctioning a rare Frank Lloyd Wright lamp – and it could fetch $5 millionThe architect's ‘Double-Pedestal’ lamp, which was designed for the Dana House in 1903, is hitting the auction block 13 May at Sotheby's.
-
Naoto Fukasawa sparks children’s imaginations with play sculpturesThe Japanese designer creates an intuitive series of bold play sculptures, designed to spark children’s desire to play without thinking
-
Marylebone restaurant Nina turns up the volume on Italian diningAt Nina, don’t expect a view of the Amalfi Coast. Do expect pasta, leopard print and industrial chic
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Treehouse Hotel Manchester: you may not want to leafTreehouse Hotel Manchester offers a nature-infused biophilic sanctuary amidst the city’s ever-growing architectural canopy
-
Dining at Pyrá feels like a Mediterranean kiss on both cheeksDesigned by House of Dré, this Lonsdale Road addition dishes up an enticing fusion of Greek and Spanish cooking
-
London restaurant Tatar Bunar puts Ukrainian heritage front and centreFamily recipes and contemporary design merge at this new east London restaurant by Ukrainian restaurateurs Anna Andriienko and Alex Cooper
-
Corner Corner may be London's most unique entertainment destination yetThe newly-opened venue combines food, jazz and—yes—urban farming beneath one sprawling roof
-
For a taste of Greece, head to this playful new restaurant in London’s ChelseaPachamama Group’s latest venture, Bottarga, dishes up taverna flavours in an edgy bistro-style setting
-
A buzzy Korean pop-up becomes a permanent fixture in East LondonChef Joo Won has turned his Calong pop-up permanent in the arty enclave of Stoke Newington
-
New London restaurant Alba is a sun-soaked affairIts name meaning ‘sunrise’ in Italian, Alba is a new Amalfi-inspired restaurant set to shine in Knightsbridge
