Simpson's on the Strand has had something of a troubled history of late. It was one of London's truly iconic restaurants, originally opening as a club in the early 1820s, before becoming a coffee shop and then eventually a restaurant in 1848. Over the years it remained one of London's mainstays but of late it perhaps struggled to find its relevance. In 2017 it had a major refurb but outside of the new look the restaurant didn't really manage to make its mark on the restaurant scene again.
In 2020 the restaurant closed due to Covid restrictions and it never reopened. Now, they're having a major auction, selling off some of the key items from Simpson's as we're told it's "entering a new chapter". They really are selling off the silver, and that includes a "silver plated meat carving trolley" among others.
You can buy lots of the aforementioned carving trolleys, dozens of restaurant designer Robert Angell chairs, armchairs, bar stools, tables and booths. Angell designed the most recent refurb so if/when the restaurant reopens, that kind of design is definitely out the window. There are also dining tables, lighting fixtures, mirrors, prints, Wedgwood china, glassware and more. Essentially, it seems to be everything in the entire restaurant.
They're even selling off not one, but three pianos.
So if you're someone who wants to up their game when it comes to your dinner parties or if you're opening a new restaurant and fancy doing it in style - this could be for you.
As for Simpson's in the Strand? If it ever does reopen, it's going to look very different.
See the Simpson's in the Strand auction here
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