The Typing Room will open in the former site of the Michelin-starred Viajante restaurant in the ground floor of the Town Hall Hotel, and Westcott will also oversee the food offering in the hotel’s Corner Room brasserie and its new Peg & Patriot bar, as well taking charge of the Town Hall’s conference and banqueting menus.
Town Hall’s restaurant was taken over by Jason Atherton after the departure of Viajante, but although the Typing room is backed by him it is ‘very much Lee’s restaurant’ and Westcott has taken charge of the menu and design of the new venture.
Westcott was previously working among Atherton’s team of executive chefs in Hong Kong, running his 22 Ships and Ham & Sherry restaurants. He has also worked in Chelsea and New York, alongside names such as Tom Aikens, Rene Redzepi and Gordon Ramsey.
Westcott’s menu
The Typing Room’s menu is refined European and has been put together to focus on utilising British produce and seasons. It follows Westcott’s signature style and includes five snacks, five starters and five mains, though there will also be six-course and eight-course tasting menus available. Dishes featured include: Mackerel with Passion Fruit, Burnt Cucumber & Dill, Pigeon smoked in Pine with Salt Baked Celeriac, Lovage and Hazelnut, and Green Tea with Yoghurt and Sesame.
Westcott has also selected a varied wine list that mixes classic wines with more unfamiliar options and brings in drinks from smaller producers. English wines will also be available by the glass.
The restaurant will serve lunch from Wednesday to Sunday and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday.
Inviting environment
The restaurant has taken its name from the original typing room in the Town Hall, where communications from the mayor, council and judicial system were recorded. The designers for the Typing Room, Ariana Rees Roberts and Lucinda Johnson, kept the décor in tune with the original historic features of the building, which dates back to 1910.
The natural landscape is the design inspiration for the restaurant and Westcott intends to create an inviting environment for diners. Materials such as ceramic, marble, brushed brass and oak were all incorporated into the décor of the restaurant and the artwork on the walls focuses on the East London setting and the history of the hotel. The focal point of the site is the open kitchen, so customers can see the culinary team at work.
The Town Hall Hotel’s general manager Marie Baxter said: “We are extremely excited to introduce this new restaurant venture to the area and to our guests. Lee has been focusing on an elegant yet casual dining experience, with a relaxed service. The creative menu, together with the newly decorated room and a brilliant team brings it all together.”
Typing Room is located at the Town Hall Hotel on Patriot Square and is taking bookings from 28 April.