The café, which launched in Cheapside in the summer of 2018, will reopen early next month serving a more refined menu but still with an emphasis on informality.
The relaunch follows Blackburn’s flagship restaurant, The Old Stamp House, being awarded a Michelin star last year, which has led to a 35% increase in custom at both lunch and dinner, according to the restaurateur. As a result of the 28-cover fine dining restaurant now being at full capacity, Blackburn says he has made the decision to introduce a new dining concept to Kysty that is more reflective of the food at The Old Stamp House.
Menu items will include smoked mackerel pate, pickled cucumber and sorrel; Garside’s lamb rump, roasted broccoli, mint and anchovy emulsion; and custard tart with poached rhubarb.
Dan Hopkins, previously sous chef at The Old Stamp House, will head up the kitchen with Laurentiu Bulprich, previously the Michelin-starred restaurant’s assistant restaurant manager, moving over to run front of house as Kysty’s restaurant manager.
“Our journey since winning the Michelin Star at Old Stamp House in October 2019 has been stratospheric,” says Blakburn.
“As a result, we’ve taken what some people might think is a bold step to transform Kysty into an informal neighbourhood restaurant but to be honest we just simply can’t ignore what our diners have been asking for.”
Whilst Kysty is keeping its name, the interior is being revamped with the kitchen is being altered to create a better working environment for the chefs. It will benefit from new tables and chairs as well as new lighting and art pieces.