Bar Crispin to open in Soho
Called Bar Crispin, it will feature a 150-strong natural wine list curated by former Hakkasan sommelier Stefano Cazzato, and a small-plates menu collaborated on by Crispin head chef Naz Hassan and former Loyal Tavern chef patron Tom Cenci.
Taking on the former Urban Tea Rooms site on Kingly Street, the bar will hold a total of 42 covers - encompassing 20 seats in the main bar, 12 in the downstairs private dining room, and a further 10 on the outside terrace.
Bar Crispin will open from early morning until late every day, serving up breakfast pastries and specialty coffee (from Assembly Roast) first thing, through lunch service and into the evening where the 'ever-evolving' natural wine list will be served alongside a concise menu of snacks, cheese and charcuterie, and weekly house specials that will range from £3 to £10 per plate.
Similarly to the Spitalfields restaurant, Cazzato's wine list will focus on old world and indigenous grape varietals, and small indie producers.
The bar will host monthly wine events in the PDR space including natural wine tastings, and wine and food pairing sessions.
Dishes set to feature on the menu include Secret Smokehouse salmon with house pickles; white beans with green sauce and Le Coste olive oil; and Crispin's ‘Fish in a Tin’ featuring smoked mackerel served alongside sourdough bread and butter.
Crispin was founded in 2018 by Oliver Hiam and Dominic Hamdy, who also own scotch egg slinger Scotchtails, and Aldwych coffee shop Lundenwic.
“We’ve always had a strong wine offering at Crispin, with a focus on natural wines and small indie producers, led by our in-house sommelier Stefano who brought with him a wealth of wine knowledge, drive and experience when he joined the team," says Hamdy.
"Then, during the lockdowns we saw a huge increase in wine sales both in person to take home and via our online shop, Crispin Stores. We also launched the Crispin wine club in late 2020, which has been a real hit with our customers, so it seems fair that our next site should continue this focus on the wine, alongside a knock out bar snack menu.
"We are super excited to open Bar Crispin this summer. We are right behind the iconic Liberty, just off Carnaby Street on Kingly Street, which is a great location for our first real central London site.
"After such a shocker of a year for hospitality, and the country in general, we hope we can offer some much needed positive vibes and bring the fun back to dining and drinking out, Crispin-style.”
Bar Crispin's interiors have been designed by Jermaine Gallacher, of Jermaine Gallacher Studio.
The bar will have a distinct retro feel, drawing inspiration from 1980’s Soho, with an imposing zinc bar top, bespoke light fittings by Viola Lanari, alongside Gallacher’s signature triangle mirrors and zig zag design lines.
