On Monday 1 February 2010, Boyd’s Brasserie & Bar launched within a magnificent marble setting at 8 Northumberland Avenue, off Trafalgar Square.

Built in 1887 as part of a 500-room ‘grand hotel’, the elegant and classical space, once named The Marble Hall, recently opened its doors to the public having been occupied by the Crown since 1940.

Boyd’s Brasserie is owned by Charles Boyd, the previous owner of Chester Boyd, a top-end caterers who are held in such high esteem that they are even employed for the Queen’s Garden parties. The talent behind the design is Noel Pierce of PDI who designed K West and the Peninsula in Hong Kong.

The all-day brasserie offers modern British cuisine created by Head Chef, Richard Hawthorne. Dishes include Chicken liver and foie gras pâté with fig chutney and toasted brioche; Crab and lobster bisque, aioli; Confit leg of duck, cassoulet style; and Breast of free range Sussex chicken with cep risotto and truffled rocket. Desserts feature Fine apple tart with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce; and Gypsy tart crème fraîche with peanut brittle. There is a tapas menu, as well as a bar menu. The pre-theatre menu is £16 for two courses and £19 for three courses.

The double-height bar space, which is adjacent to the restaurant, was originally occupied by an impressive staircase which was removed in 1914 to become a coffee room linked to the Marble Hall. Today it houses an impressive black granite bar adorned with antique mirrors, which the designer describes as a “jewel box of a bar”.

A focal point within the restaurant are two original Victorian wine refrigerators. These meticulously restored furnishings used to keep wine bottles chilled using large blocks of ice in the central cavity. The works of art are now used for wine storage.

Chef	Richard Hawthorne
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