Premier Hospitality

Clipstone

Clipstone
Written by Roma Publications

Clipstone

Clipstone

A new neighbourhood restaurant has been introduced to London, situated on the corner of Clipstone Street in Fitzrovia. Clipstone focuses on the same high-quality food, wine and service as its sister restaurant known as Portland, however in a more informal setting.

Well-known design practice Article Design Studio was responsible for the design and deliverance of Clipstone, working alongside Bluecrow Shopfitters, who were the main contractors on the project.

Premier Hospitality caught up with Katy Manolescue, Lead Designer and Founder of Article Design Studio, who commented:

“The level of food, drinks and service are still superior as with Portland – however the setting is more casual and there are smaller plates on the menu, with a focus on sharing as opposed to the typical starter, main, dessert arrangement that Portland encourages.

“I was introduced to the owners in the early part of this year and we started onsite at the beginning of June. The project was completed in July, so the restaurant hasn’t been open that long, however it seems to be doing very well.

“It isn’t a vast restaurant, with 50 covers and some outdoor seating, and what is lovely about it is that it’s a corner site, so two of the elevations have two glazed windows so there is lots of natural light coming into the space.”

A ground floor level restaurant, the main focus at Clipstone is the open kitchen which adds a great sense of drama to the space. An attractive bar area adds a sense of allure to the venue, which radiates conviviality and intimacy throughout. Fascinatingly, the restaurant also features onsite fermentation and pickling processes with various fruits and vegetables that are utilised in the dishes on the menu.

Clipstone

Katy said:

“The feedback has been very positive! Part of the brief from the client was that what they had established at Portland was a really simple but elegant interior which reflected the food and dishes on the menu. It was decided that they wanted a similar ethos for Clipstone and there was to be a calm, blank canvas for the interior to let the food do the talking. However there are fantastic details, lighting features and warm textures that contribute to the relaxed dining atmosphere.”

Traditional Victorian-style awnings greet customers as they approach the exterior of the venue, with antique brass lighting fittings placed within the window to create a subtle glow. Double entrance doors with reclaimed door handles lead to the entrance area decorated with a beautiful saffron coloured linen curtain.

To the right customers can see there is a bench seat accompanied by tables for two for flexibility, as well as the bar area which boasts good quality wine on tap, making an exciting feature at Clipstone.

A stylish mosaic tile runs throughout the space, displayed on the floor and the bar front, complemented by a conglomerate marble top. The kitchen area presents lots of action and a large overhead metal frame gantry which stores equipment and ingredients.

Katy added:

“The biggest challenge was getting the balance right between a kitchen area and restaurant, trying to ensure that there wasn’t too much noise or disturbance from the dining experience within Clipstone.

“It means an awful lot to be working with such fantastic restaurateurs and it’s really nice to be involved with a restaurant that appeals to me personally. The food and the venue are fantastic and the personalities that are employed there create a warm and welcoming environment for people to visit. There are lots of exciting dishes on the menu too!”

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Roma Publications