Glamour is going west for the winter
FOLLOWING the slew of recent East London launches, attention is shifting to the West where things are hotting up. After the summer additions of the Brompton Club and Beaufort House, the most exciting new club for some time is heading to Chelsea in the shape of Guy Pelly’s new offering, Public on the King’s Road. Public (think school, not toilet) should shake up the Chelsea club scene as Guy bring his pedigree (Mahiki, Whiskey Mist, Punch Bowl) and serious connections to bear (he’s close chums with a certain newly-engaged prince, among many others – wedding reception, anyone?). Carved out from an old antiques warehouse the 10,000 Sq Ft space will have a New York industrial style with high ceilings, raw brickwork, steel girders and solid copper bars. Fun comes in the form of a fancy dress room, photobooth and smoking area featuring goldfish pond and fairground fish. And of course, there’ll be a VIP area too and plenty of room to dance. It opens in two weeks it after a £2m refit, with a second phase planned next year.
NYC seems to be de rigueur in West London at the moment with Brenhan Magee’s brand new and beautifully judged Manhattan loft-style bar and restaurant Brasa on Fulham Road.
There are even two launches tonight. Staying on the Fulham Road, Eighty Six offers a buzzing cocktail bar on the ground floor of an impressive Georgian townhouse. It shares owners with Verbier hot spot Coco designers with Galvin La Chapelle. Meanwhile No 92 at Notting Hill Brasserie also opens tonight (evidently street numbers are in vogue) and promises delectable cocktails from the pre-Victorian era to the present day, all served from an art deco bar in a room of quirky decadence. No 92’s from the same stable as the Ebury and The Running Horse, which also has another new Notting Hill addition, the relaxed and thoroughly English pub The Chesterfield on Chepstow Place.
Over in Kensington, even Roof Gardens are in on the opening act this week with their new Tanqueray Bar and Live Lounge with early evening live music every weekend.
Back on the King’s road, a reopened and rejuvenated Eight Over Eight (closed a year ago after a fire) completes the scene.
Tim Badham is the founder of Innerplace, London’s leading providers of VIP entertainment, including film premieres, fashion shows, launch parties and members club access.
ww.innerplace.co.uk.