Honky Tonk Group launches French-Vietnamese restaurant and boutique hotel

The owners of the Honky Tonk Group, the American themed restaurant brand, have launched their first ‘quirky’ boutique hotel in London’s Chinatown.

The group purchased the site, formerly the One Leicester Street hotel, from international hoteliers The Unlisted Collection in July 2014, and re-launched the venue as Leicester House earlier this month.

Fifteen bedrooms and two suites have been redecorated with ‘fun touches’, and new features including Apple TV’s.

French-Vietnamese cuisine

Chef Bruce Wilson, previously of the Tate Modern restaurant, is heading up the kitchen of the new on-site French-Vietnamese restaurant.

The 50-cover all day dining offering serves shellfish cooked on a Robata charcoal grill, with dishes including Langoustines served with Pickled Seaweed and Rapeseed Mayonnaise; and Blackened Squid with Salt, Pepper, Lime and Chilli.

Ingredients have been sourced in collaboration with SeeWoo foods, one of the oldest oriental suppliers in Chinatown.

The bar menu, designed to cater to the pre-theatre crowd, features a selection of Bánh mì - bread filled with a combination of French and Vietnamese ingredients.

Expansion

Honky Tonk Group co-owner Mark Cutler told BigHospitality last year that the group wanted to make the hotel ‘quirky and fun’, and were hoping to build a brand.

He also emphasised the importance of the sites food and beverage offering.

“The restaurant previously had Michelin-star food and we want to make it more accessible to the public,” he said.

Leicester House is located at 1 Leicester Street, London, WC2H 7BL.