Gillray’s adopts timely “Quintessentially English” theme

Gillray’s Steakhouse and Bar has reopened after refurbishment with a suitably patriotic – and timely – theme: Quintessentially English.

The bar is hidden from the tourist track in the London Marriott Hotel County Hall at Westminster Bridge, and offers a range of English-themed drinks focusing on native ingredients, with the spotlight on gin.

The bar and restaurant are named after the satirical cartoonist, James Gillray, who portrayed political life of the late 17^th century through his irreverent drawings.

In keeping with the theme, the menu is broken down into different eras of English history, and many of the drinks are named after the famous cartoons. Each picture has a brief explanation about the subject of the cartoon offering some coherence between the drink and the historical period to which is it linked.

“The menu, like the history of alcohol, is always evolving,” explained bar manager Leo Zangarini. “We work with seasonal produce, so long as it is always English.

“The idea is to set a benchmark for English food and drink, because English fare is good, and should be recognised as that.”

While a propitious time for an English themed bar to open with the Jubilee and the Olympics, the idea has been a long time coming. The bartenders and their drinks are also pushing their sphere of influence beyond the bar itself, with a “kick start” drinks menu flyer that has made its way into the food menu.

SB recommends the Gunpowder and Smoke and the Lyrical Ballad.