The Crown Estate has secured a letting to Michelin star chef Jason Atherton for a new British brasserie called Sael at St James’s Market in London’s West End.
Atherton and his wife Ihra Atherton, are due to open the 9,088 sq ft restaurant at 1 Carlton Street in the summer. The menu will only feature ingredients sourced from the British Isles and the kitchen will be run by chef Dale Bainbridge, who has worked in partnership with Atherton for a decade.
Just down the road at 12 Waterloo Place, The Crown Estate has also let a 7,793 sq ft unit to Claro, a farm-to-table venture focusing on Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, run by chef patron Ran Shmueli. The restaurant – which is set to open for autumn 2024 – is Claro’s first flagship establishment outside of the Middle East.
Richard Ellwood, head of customer partnerships and marketing at The Crown Estate, said: “These two exciting new restaurants brilliantly complement our burgeoning line-up of world class restaurants in the West End. With one showcasing the very best of British cuisine, and the other bringing a refined taste of the Eastern Mediterranean to the historic heart of the capital, both are well-placed to attract diners from London and further afield. We are excited about these partnerships and supporting both restaurants to flourish and carve out their own unique places in London’s hospitality scene.”
Jason and Ihra Atherton, co-directors of Sael, added: “St James’s Market is an iconic British landmark in the heart of London. Originally the site of a medieval cattle market, it is steeped in a rich history that makes it the perfect location for our new concept, Sael.
“To be able to work with The Crown Estate in such a location on a quintessentially British-style brasserie is a dream of ours, delivering affordable, no-holds-barred cooking to the British public and international visitors. By celebrating our fantastic ingredients in an innovative way, we can get rid of the shackles of traditional fine dining and create a place for people to relax and enjoy not only the excellent food and drink, but the whole atmosphere, with a carefully designed fit out and artwork showcasing British music icons past and present.
“We feel that, after four unsettled years during and following the pandemic, Sael will provide a much-needed celebration of all the amazing culinary delights from our Isles.”
Ran Shmueli of Claro said: “We are very excited to open Claro in London, which is a culinary centre and a great challenge for us. We are looking forward to working closely with local farmers and artisan producers and serving our seasonal happy food in the beautiful capital of the UK.”
