There are changes afoot at the Old Vic which is getting a bit of a refurb at the moment, and part of that means a change to the Pit Bar next door. It's being revamped into a new all-day cafe to be run by Julian Porter and Lauren Johns - who are behind the very popular Milk (which is going through its own changes at the moment).
It'll be an all-day affair with a focus on local produce. Coffee will be from Workshop Coffee and their wine selection will have a big focus on biodynamic and natural wines (plus craft beers, of course). And they'll also have fresh juice throughout the day, using seasonal fruit from New Covent Garden Market - starting with "blood orange, watermelon & wild ginger".
As for the food, the day will kick off with pastries from The Little Pedlar (in Bermondsey) and dishes include "smashed avocado, Sussex ricotta, garden herbs on Brixton sourdough" and "poached organic Oxfordshire eggs with herb salt". They'll have small plates that include "beechwood smoked anchovies on toast, chilli salt" plus cheeses from the British Isles with acorn flour crisps.
As the Waterloo area still isn't blessed with the best of restaurants (the previous Pit Bar was one of the better places), here's hoping this heralds more change in the area.
Penny is next to The Old Vic at The Cut, London SE1 8NB and opens September 1. The opening hours are 8am–1am Monday–Wednesday and 8am–2am Thursday and Friday, 10am–2am Saturday. For more, follow them on Twitter @oldvicpenny
