London & South East

London House is unveiled

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

The Gordon Ramsay Group has recently unveiled their newest venue; London House restaurant following an extensive three month project.

The venue is nestled in South West London’s historic Battersea Square and opened its doors at the beginning of February this year.

Before the building was added to The Gordon Ramsay Group the property it had been vacant for a year and a half; the venue formerly housed Bennett’s oyster bar. Michael Doherty, Director of Hammerdon, acted as the main contractor and the project manager during the London House development. He said:

“Hammerdon provides both a consultancy and construction service for the Gordon Ramsay Group. Previously we have acted as the quantity surveyor, project manager and also in combined roles as the construction manager and quantity surveyor. Owing to our continued success in delivering high quality results with very strict budget and programme criteria we were again approached to provide a similar role on this project.

“We were initially approached about the project in March 2013; however the site had several key hurdles which hindered rapid progress. Namely the condition of the existing building and location of the mains services, as well as a complicated lease agreement which requiring negotiation under two tiers of Landlord.

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

“Once the building was able to be worked on, the job involved a complete strip out of all finishes, non-structural walls and all plumbing, mechanical & electrical services. The challenge then became implementing the concept design which had many specific design criteria whilst bringing the building back up to date with all modern luxuries, whilst complying with current building regulations.”

London House provides diners with Modern European cooking and a polished destination cocktail bar. The menu is heavily influenced by Irish born Head Chef Anna Haugh-Kelly; having worked in some of the finest kitchens in Ireland, France, Spain, London and most recently, Los Angeles, diners are in good hands. The venue is being managed by Paul Halliwell, whose 17 year career has seen him manage The Glasshouse in Kew, Odette’s in Primrose Hill and most recently La Trompette in Chiswick.

Overseeing the bar at London House is Edinburgh born bar manager Paul Graham, who has previously worked for The Borough Hotel and the Bramble Bar. Paul brings a great wealth of experience to his role and previously hosted the cocktail bar for the royal wedding of Zara Phillips at Holyrood Palace. London House is not Paul’s first brush with the Gordon Ramsay Group, as he has previously worked with the group at Bread Street Kitchen.

Paul is joined by Naples born head sommelier, Raffaele Connocchia who has worked with the Gordon Ramsay Group since 2008. Raffaele’s first appointment with the group was commis sommelier at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay before transferring to Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s. After qualifying as sommelier in 2010, Raffaele progressed to the position of assistant head sommelier in 2012, before being appointed head sommelier at London House.

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

The Gordon Ramsay Group developed the interior design concept and worked closely with Hammerdon who coordinated the details in order to implement the final product. The venue has been split into two zones; the main dining space and the lounge bar which are decorated in contrasting shades. Upon entering London House guests can visit The Lounge Bar, located on the right of the venue. This elegant environment is the place to sample bespoke and classic cocktails, as well as tasting the plethora of London bottled beers on offer. Interior designers, Macaulay Sinclair, were instrumental in the design and creation of the venues bar which is now situated pride of place in the middle of the restaurant.

The separate sitting room inspired lounge has its own distinct look and feel with sapphire velvet and burgundy leather furniture and bespoke tartan covered windows, which offer privacy as well as adding warmth and colour to the space. Painted wood paneling, mirrored glass, a feature fireplace and coffered ceiling further add to the feeling of indulgent relaxation.

To the left of the entrance guests will find the main restaurant which contains an impressive wood and copper-topped long bar which both zones share. The main restaurant is filled with well-spaced tables and soft leather seating which is complimented with dark stained wooden floors. The dining area also contains smaller dining booths offering a more private, intimate experience for those who want it.

Dishes such as Crab and Scallop Tortellini with Black Radish and Crab Broth, Roasted Venison Haunch with Cauliflower Purée and Lentil Ragout, are but a few of the delicious dishes diners can sample. Mouth watering desserts such as Frozen Nougatine with Rhubarb Purée will also feature on the European inspired menu celebrating the best in season.

Michael added that Hammerdon feel very privileged to have been involved in the London House project:

“All involved got quite a buzz working alongside such a reputable and well known organisation. We hope that our relationship with Gordon Ramsay Group is something that continues to mature; we are currently negotiating further works that we hope to be part of in the coming year. We consider The Group a very important client which we work hard at keeping satisfied.

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

“It is clear to see that Battersea, and this area of the south bank is in a significant state of development from Wandsworth to Vauxhaul. As far as fine dining goes there appears to be limited offerings on the South Bank so London House should be a great addition to the area.”

In addition to its work on London House for the Gordon Ramsay Group, Hammerdon Construction has a diverse array of projects within its portfolio, from high end residential schemes to retail and government projects. Past projects have included Legoland Windsor, Brighton Football Club and a number of sites for retailer Marks & Spencer. Hammerdon Construction also provided services on the Gordon Ramsay Group’s Union St Café project.

The Gordon Ramsay Group comprises the restaurant business of acclaimed chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author Gordon Ramsay. Run by Managing Director Stuart Gillies, the organisation employs more than 700 people in the UK including its support office in Catherine Place, London and 12 restaurants in London.

The well-known fiery front man of The Group was brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon, despite both his parents being from Scotland. Gordon Ramsay’s hopes of a career in football were brought to an end due to an injury, so he returned to college to complete a course in hotel management.  Before long Ramsay was undergoing training with some of the world’s leading chefs, such as Albert Roux and Marco Pierre White in London, and Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon in France.

In 1993 Gordon became the chef of Aubergine in London, which within three years, was awarded two Michelin stars. In 1998, at the age of 31, Ramsay set up Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which quickly received the prestigious award of three Michelin stars.  Today, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is London’s longest-running restaurant to hold this award, and Ramsay is one of only four chefs in the UK to maintain three stars.

Now internationally renowned, Gordon has opened a string of successful restaurants across the globe, from Italy to the United States and holds seven Michelin stars. The group has continued to blossom year on year with two ventures in Doha, Qatar opening in 2012; a total of three restaurants in Las Vegas with Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris, GR Pub and Grill at Caesars Palace and GR BurGR at Planet Hollywood; and the latest now open Union Street Café in London’s borough market.

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

Ramsay received an OBE in 2006 for services to the industry. Gordon has also become a star of the small screen both in the UK and internationally, with UK shows such as Gordon Behind Bars, Ultimate Cookery Course, Gordon’s Great escapes, Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait, as well as four top-rated FOX shows that air in more than 200 countries worldwide: Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, Masterchef US and Hotel Hell.

The Group has a total of 25 restaurants globally and 7 Michelin stars, with international restaurants spanning Europe, the US and the Middle East. Originally routed in fine dining, the Group has expanded to include more casual fine dining sites. 

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea is the Group’s flagship venue, which has held three Michelin-stars for more than 12 years. The Group’s flagship venue was established in 1998 and is headed by Chef Patron Clare Smyth and her team. The restaurant offers modern French cuisine and was set up by Gordon Ramsay at the age of 31. Meanwhile, Union Street CafĂ© offers quality Italian influenced food with a daily changing menu, prepared in an open theatre style kitchen.

The Group also operates Pétrus, who were awarded a Michelin Star in 2011, a venue that represents fine dining at its pinnacle. The stylish and modern French menu is perfectly complemented by the restaurant’s stunning environment. Led by Head Chef Sean Burbidge’s, the Modern European menu is full bodied, yet delicate and light and delivers big flavours that are clean, elegant and beautiful with intense taste. Roasted loin of rabbit with pithivier of confit leg, celeriac and tarragon jus followed by poached Cornish lemon sole with clams, girolles, rock samphire and farfalle pasta are just a few of his dishes. 

The Gordon Ramsay Group has also branched out into the hotel industry and now operates the York & Albany Hotel. Located between Regent’s Park and lively Camden, the York & Albany is a stylish and sociable townhouse.

 Such is the popularity of Chef Ramsay, the Gordon Ramsay Group offers guests the opportunity to enhance their experience with a range of gifts, from vouchers and master classes to lunches and overnight stays. For real food connoisseurs, the Gordon Ramsay Group offers a truly unique experience, which allows guests to witness, first hand, what it is like to be in a Ramsay kitchen with the Kitchen Table experience.

For more information about the Gordon Ramsay Group, please visit: www.gordonramsay.com.

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

 HDL Technology Ltd 

 HDL Technology Ltd specialise in the manufacture and installation of a range of building control products. The firm provide lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation and audio products to the residential and commercial industries. The HDL brand has been around since 1985, but is still relatively new in the UK, as the UK office only took over distribution two years ago. HDL products are available in 80 countries around the world.

 The team have worked on a number of high profile projects including designing and installing the lighting products for Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill, manufacturing the lighting for the Bentley showroom in Qatar, as well as providing a range of lighting control products for BMW World in Germany.

 HDL supplied all of the lighting control products and light switches, as well as a large proportion of the LED lighting for London House. HDL was employed by the electrical contractor working on the project and provided support and guidance to the contractor.

 Premier Hospitality caught up with Nick Sutton the General Manager of HDL’s UK office:

“It was great to be involved with the London House project and work with a prestigious client such as The Gordon Ramsay Group. We were especially keen to supply the best products because the restaurant is opening in a part of town where there is a lot of attention, and so we wanted to play a part in making the venue successful.

 “There was a focus on energy saving in London House as well so we were able to use products in order to help the venue save electricity and be greener. Design wise we had the opportunity to use a lot of different types of lighting and so the end result was a stunning bit of design.

 “We pride ourselves on the service and support we provide to clients, as well as ensuring high quality installations.”

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

 K & C Construction Ltd

 K & C Construction Ltd specialise in bar, restaurant and office fit-outs; as well as offering a broad range of construction services to clients. The firm have been in operation for 12 years and have worked on a number of high profile projects in the past including completing the bar fit-out for Beagle Bar in London and working on Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant. The team are currently involved in a joint fit-out of Chartazzi restaurant in Mayfair.

K & C were the general builder on the London House project and worked alongside Hammerdon overseeing the day to day running of the site. They undertook all the building works, construction works and fit-out works on the project and were on site for just nine weeks.

 Kieran Kerr from K & C Construction Ltd said:

 “It was a very challenging project as the time frame was very tight but we worked through it all and got the works completed. It was a nice project for us to be involved in as we haven’t done a full fit-out job for The Gordon Ramsay Group before; we have only done part fits for the Group so it is nice to have this one under our belt.

“We pride ourself on making plans come to life; we deliver on time and on budget so our previous clients always come back to us. We live off the back of our reputation.”

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

Noble Russell Ltd 

 Noble Russell Ltd specialise in the creation and production of contract furniture to the leisure and hospitality industry. They have been in operation for 22 years and have worked on numerous Gordon Ramsay restaurants previously including Bread Street Kitchen and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay; the chef’s flagship venue. The team have also been involved with the Wolseley restaurant development and the National Gallery Dining Rooms project.

 Noble Russell Ltd provided custom made banquette seating to complement the London House design. The seating is very understated and comprised of dark stained show wood timber details with rich dark blue leather. The made to measure seating is thoughtfully constructed using long lasting materials and so is comfortable and durable.

We caught up with Laurence Noble, one of the company’s Founding Directors, to find out more about the company:

 “We are able to adapt to all of our clients requirements; sometimes pieces need to be theatrical and outlandish and other times they need to be restrained and elegant as in this case. We pride ourselves on our customer service and the quality of our products.

 “It was great to be involved with London House as this project acts as a continuation of a longstanding relationship we have with The Gordon Ramsay Group. We like working with the team and they are good clients of ours.”

London House, Gordon Ramsay, London, Battersea Square

 Smart Fire UK Ltd

 Smart Fire UK Ltd specialise in the supply and installation of bio-ethanol fires; a fire box system that can be placed anywhere without the need of a chimney or a flue. The fuel that the fire burns emits only carbon dioxide and water vapour and so is completely safe. The team fit the fires in various venues including flats, houses, hotels, clubs, bars, and even swimming pools.

 The firm have been in operation for over two years and have delivered their product to a plethora of high end establishments including the Mandarin Oriental, The Savoy, The Dorchester, One Hyde Park, Helen Green, MSMR 1508, Berkley Homes and Sir Robert McAlpine.

Smart Fire UK Ltd were most recently involved with London House and provided a bio-ethanol fire to feature in the venues lounge section. The Gordon Ramsay Group approached the firm with a concept image and idea; they then designed a fire box and burner subject to the Groups requirements.

Premier Hospitality caught up with the firm’s Business Manager, Thomas O’Brien, to find out more:

“We were able to provide a solution to the Group’s problem; they required a fire but couldn’t have a normal one because it was located on an exterior wall, so they had to look for other options. It is always nice to be involved with a reputable organisation; it helps the profile of our company and allows lots of people to view our products.

 “We pride ourselves on our commitment to safety, first and foremost, as well as our design flexibility. We are also proud that we often act as solution provider to a problem.”

Belico Lighting Company

 Belico Lighting Company specialises in the creation of bespoke lighting, working in both the retail and commercial sectors. Belico co-founders Paul Sanderson and David Barker have over 15 years’ experience in the lighting industry, and so are well equipped to create an array of products in line with client’s requests.

Belico have worked with a number of high profile clients in the past, including Manhattan Loft Corporation and the Restaurant Group. The firm has also provided lighting for Penhaligons and L’Occitane throughout the UK and abroad.

The company became involved with the London House project because of their links with

Fabled Studio, who were the architects on the project. Having been recommended by Fabled

Studios, Belico were contacted by main contractor Hammerdon and asked to produce bespoke

lighting for the venue.

The Belico team supplied 25 light fittings in total to the venue, including the back bar lights, brass banquet lamps, the waiter station lights and the large alabaster box lights which hang over the main bar area.

Paul Sanderson said:

“Through our links with Fabled Studio, it was fantastic to be able to get involved in the London House project. With Gordon Ramsay’s reputation for quality we are proud to have our lights in one of his restaurants.

“Our highly skilled team are able to produce many varied styles of fittings, all with the same exceptional quality. We are used to liaising with designers and contractors in order to assist them in working to deadlines; we always go the extra mile to deliver what the customer wants.”

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