Lee Westcott to oversee Elodie and Vervain restaurants in Croydon

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Lee Westcott has finally been confirmed as the chef who will be heading up the restaurants at new Croydon-based hotel Birch when it opens this spring.

The former Pensons and Typing Room chef will oversee the food at Birch’s signature restaurant Elodie as well as all-day dining British brasserie Vervain.

Opening on 27 April Elodie (pictured below) is described as being ‘driven by nature’ and will serve a seasonal five course tasting menu celebrating the best produce the British Isles as well as using foraged for ingredients and those taken from Selsdon’s grounds.

Located within the 19th century mansion house, Elodie will have space for 100 covers in the Victorian period dining room.

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Vervain will launch earlier, on 13 April, and will be a seasonal British brasserie that will be open to members and overnight guests for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Its menu will comprise small and large plates as well as a family style Sunday roast.

Westcott’s name has been linked to the property, that will have 181 bedrooms, a lido and a wellness space, for the past few months.

Set within 200-acres of rewilded landscape, Birch Selsdon is described as being part hotel, part members club, part working space, part wellness getaway, and part creative hub. It will be the sister venue to Birch in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, which opened in 2022 and which has two restaurants under the culinary direction of Robin Gill.