The pub, which is due to reopen in September, will be split over two floors and sit within a building that was once home to an 1850s Watney pub, located on a corner of Barnes right on the waterfront. There will be an outside dining space spanning the entire frontage of the pub with a capacity for 14 covers plus space for a private dining room on the first floor for up to 16 covers.
It will be led in the kitchen by head chef Sam Andrews (pictured below), who previously headed up the kitchen at the Camberwell Arms and Soho’s Ducksoup. Downstairs it will offer a simple bar menu of dishes such as lamb rib, yoghurt and honey; and small ‘toasts’ such as sourdough charred over the coals finished with rouille and mussels.
Downstairs and upstairs, the pub and restaurant space will offer an a la carte menu featuring seasonal dishes such as cannelloni, pumpkin and radicchio; hake, mussel, tomato and bread stew; spit roast chicken with chicken fat polenta; and rainbow trout with cicoria and preserved lemon.
There will also be a rotating specials board featuring whole market fish cooked over coals, sharing chops and steaks from the in-house, whole-animal butchery, a Sunday menu focused on sharing as well as a set Lunch menu on Fridays with two courses at £21 or three courses for £26.
Leading the front of house team will be general manager Simon Walsh, formerly of the Anglesea Arms in Hammersmith.
“The Watermans Arms has been a long-time dream of mine and, as soon as there was the opportunity to take the space and prospect of building something truly special within an area I grew up in, there was no looking back. The bones of the place are incredible with high ceilings, beautiful original windows and doors along with a balcony overlooking the water. There are not many locations like it in London, it’s completely unique and iconic,” says Grossman.
“It's in fantastic hands with Sam and Simon spearheading the project – two absolute legends who I’ve known for a while and always greatly admired. We want to build a place that people cherish and come back to again and again. A place that is built into the fabric of the community and a destination for food and drink lovers to come and discover.”
The Watermans Arms will open for reservations on 28 September
“Having grown up in Barnes, Joe will bring all the passion and excitement of a true local champion to the former Watermans Arms site,” says Richard Thomas, director at property agency at Shelley Sandzer Shelley Sandzer that acted on behalf of the landlord for the deal.
“He has picked up huge hospitality experience across the capital, and this new venture will follow in the same footsteps. Soon to be a cornerstone for the neighbourhood, The Watermans Arms will deliver on both its pub and restaurant elements, in a way that is elevated but instantly recognisable.”