In an email to customers, Simeone said that while the concept was designed to be ‘a unique and immersive’ cocktail experience, the team had shifted its focus more to the food served alongside the drinks and as a result this had affected the ‘creativity and consistency of the drinks offer’.
“For this, I sincerely apologise,” he said.
“To realign with our mission, we’ve decided that the future of the brand will be dedicated solely to curating and delivering the best cocktail-only experience.”
Simeone, who leads the Scotland-based Sixco Limited group, launched Somewhere by Nico in Glasgow back in January and subsequently opened a second site under the brand in Edinburgh in June.
Similarly to the chef’s Six by Nico concept, which revolves around a six-course tasting menu that changes every six weeks and is themed around different places, memories and ideas, Somewhere by Nico originally featured a six stage cocktail experience that saw drinks paired with different dishes.
Like Six by Nico, the menu at Somewhere by Nico changes every six weeks and is always inspired by different a ‘themed world’.
“We created Somewhere by Nico out of a passion for crafting experiences that inspire connection, unity, and inclusion,” Simeone continued.
“Building upon the same foundations and ethos as Six by Nico, we aimed to incorporate the qualities that make us unique, such as a theme that changes every six weeks and an accessible fixed price point.
“However, with Somewhere, we wanted to go a step further by drawing inspiration from new and novel worlds through the art of multi-sensory mixology and cocktails.
“Our goal is to be known as the most extraordinary cocktail bar and venue, offering a unique and immersive experience like no other.
“Since launching Somewhere by Nico, I’ve felt that our proposition has become unclear. Our focus shifted more towards food, which unfortunately affected our cocktail creativity and consistency.”
Sixco operates 16 restaurants across the UK under its flagship Six by Nico brand.
The group also has several offshoots including patisserie and café concept Valaria and charitable restaurant Beat 6, which are both based in Glasgow.