Hilton London Olympia has unveiled its redesigned bar and restaurant, Society. The re-launch sees the introduction of new menus by Executive Head Chef Grant Ferguson, and the creation of a new logo identity, designed by cutting-edge agency, Social.The concept behind the bar and restaurant has been inspired by the Victorian era in Kensington, which is typified by a sophisticated sense of style. In Victorian times a person’s hat was an indication of their position in society, and the designers have cleverly featured this idea in the menu illustrations which features rows of silhouetted hats in a variety of styles from the period.
Interior design company, design LSM, was tasked with revamping the bar and restaurant. The bar now boasts a colour scheme of cyan, dark chocolate brown and burnt orange. The dark chocolate brown of the wooden benches and high-backed leather chairs are complemented by bursts of orange and electric shocks of cyan throughout. The crushed velvet armchairs bring texture and luxury to the bar, and low hanging singular coloured glass lights, contrasted with candle chandeliers, mix the old with the new.
The restaurant exudes a sultry atmosphere with a mixture of red, black and cream. The simplicity of the black and cream is complemented with a splash of red in the lampshades hanging above each table.
The bar now offers classic bar food with a twist including a miniature full English breakfast; an onion ring tower (with Japanese panko breadcrumbs) and burgers (3 mini sliders with a custom baked bun), as well as signature cocktails. The restaurant offers more complex dishes with an emphasis on sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients. There are comforting dishes such as steak and kidney pie with mash; gammon with fruit jus; braised beef rump with root vegetables; alongside a succulent pork fillet with creamed cabbage and apple sauce; and a delicate salmon with saffron cream. The dessert list includes firm childhood favourites such as profiteroles, trifle, bread & butter pudding, sticky toffee pudding and apple and blackberry crumble, all with a bit of a modern-day makeover to appeal to a discerning, cosmopolitan audience.
The renovations are part of an ongoing refurbishment plan that has seen a £7million investment into Hilton London Olympia and is due to continue into 2012.
