Erik Lorincz to open Kwānt bar in London

Erik Lorincz, former head bartender at The Savoy’s American Bar, has revealed plans to open Kwānt bar in London this spring – his first project since departing the iconic London hotel.

Ex-American Bar head bartender Erik Lorincz will open Kwānt in London

Lorincz announced the news on his Instagram account, revealing that the new bar will be called Kwānt and will open “spring 2019” beneath London Mediterranean and African restaurant Momo.

The renowned bartender will transform the space beneath the restaurant into Kwānt, with posts on the bar’s social media pages saying “the vision will soon come to life”.

Further details of the space are being kept under wraps.

Momo recently underwent an extensive refurbishment thanks to London restauranteur Mourad Mazouz. The restaurant will officially reopen on 18 March.

As part of the restaurant’s reopening it also announced that former Sketch head chef Hervé Deville would join the venue as executive chef.

Lorincz was the 10th head bartender at the American Bar at London’s Savoy Hotel, a role he held for eight years. He left the hotel bar in 2018 after it won the title of World’s Best Bar at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.

Before joining the team at The Savoy, Lorincz graduated from hospitality school in his native Slovakia before embarking on a three-month intensive bartending programme in Prague.

After working at Greenwich cocktail bar in Bratislava, he moved to The Attica Club in 2004, where he worked as a glass collector while practicing his English. He then moved quickly up the ranks to the role of head bartender.

Lornicz was succeeded at The Savoy’s American Bar by Maxim Schulte, who became the 11th head bartender in the venue’s 125-year history.