Searcy's opens private members' bar to the public with new restaurant launch
Spanning both the 39th and 40th levels of 30 St Mary Axe – also known as The Gherkin - Helix restaurant and the Iris bar will offer menus of predominantly British ingredients designed by executive chef Daniel Loftin, formerly of Royal House London and Peninsula Restaurant.
Dishes will include the likes of English green asparagus, Dorset crab, grapefruit, soy and sesame; and Rhug Estate Welsh lamb with bell peppers, aubergine, courgette, pepper and pine nuts.
The Iris bar will open from 11am, and will serve a cocktail list inspired by the sights that can be seen from its windows including 'The Little White Bird', inspired by the Kensington Gardens; and the 'Jack the Ripper', inspired by the Whitechapel murderer.
The Norman Foster-designed building offers 360° views of the city. The names of the new bar and restaurant are taken from the way Foster intended the building to form the shape of an iris when viewed from above to represent its role as the 'eye over the city', and the helix shape of the pinnacle of the building.
Helix and Iris join the Gherkin's new collection of meeting rooms, Alto, Cirrus, Stratus, Nimbus and Cumulus, which are available for small conferences and private dining rooms.
“We are delighted to be launching Helix restaurant and Iris bar at the iconic Gherkin this July. As restauranteurs and event caterers our work is to make our guests and our teams feel special, creating memorable experiences," says Searcy's managing director Matt Thomas.
Searcy's operates more than 30 UK venues, and recently launched the UK's first champagne school at its brasserie at St Pancras Station.
The group's other restaurants includes Osteria and Bonfire at the Barbican; The Roman Baths Kitchen and The Pump Room in Bath; and The Orangery at Blenheim Palace.
