17/10/23 - Updated with a look inside and details of the menu
Back in 1903 the UK's first purpose-built car factory and showroom opened in Notting Hill. In the intervening years, the building has had many other uses including, most recently, operating as a photography studio. Now it's in its most recent iteration as Ladbroke Hall, a self-styled 'arts stage' which brings together modern art, architecture and food all under one lavishly ornate roof.
While art lovers will be thrilled by the long-term artworks and changing exhibitions planned for the space, we're more interested in the food and drink side of things (as you might have guessed).
The building features what sounds to be an extraordinary-looking restaurant; the design is being orchestrated by Italian designer Vincenzo De Cotiis and there will be four huge artworks by Christopher Le Brun. If you can imagine something along the lines of how Mark Rothko's art interacted with the restaurant at the now-closed The Four Seasons in New York, that'll give you an idea. There's also be a huge chandelier as the restaurant's centrepiece.
Chef Emanuele Pollini is in charge of the 60-seat restaurant. He comes to London having trained up under top Spanish chef Martín Berasategui, followed by working in Milan and Moscow for Michelin-starred chef Carlo Cracco. The menu is billed as being "a journey of taste through his childhood in Italy". it's a standard Italian menu (three courses plus pasta) and dishes include:
- Pesto di cicierchia - Umbrian wild chickpea purée, baby radish, spring onion oil
- Spaghetti alle vongole - Clams, kanzuri, yuzu
- Coda di rospo all’ acqua pazza - Cornish monkfish, clams, sweet tomatoes, bay leaf, chilli, lemon, poached in Gavi di Gavi
- Roasted mango soufflé, Bajan rum ice cream
The chef will be able to take fresh produce for any dish he wants from the hall's very own kitchen garden. Outside there's also expected to be an alfresco restaurant and private dining pavilion.
Finally, downstairs you'll find a wine cellar designed by Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek.
More about Ladbroke Hall
Where is it? 79 Barlby Rd, London W10 6AZ
When? Open now
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @_ladbrokehall.
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