Sketch London is fuelled by art. It makes for a venue that looks like nowhere else in the city, or — dare we say it — the world…. The Gallery. For many years Sketch was famous for its iconic pink interiors, with the pastel walls of its flagship restaurant space covered in original David Shrigley artwork.
Shonibare created 14 new works of art exclusively for the space, comprising hand-painted wooden masks and quilted portraits referencing the African art that inspired Picasso, while new crockery, uniforms and light fittings have been commissioned from master craftspeople and designers around the world.
The menu on offer in The Gallery includes generously portioned starters like beetroot, served three different ways alongside Campari burrata ice cream; thinly sliced veal shank with raspberry and canteloupe; and even breaded frog legs with a green spelt risotto.
Afternoon Tea At Sketch London. Served daily between What follows is an exquisite array of sweet and savoury treats: delicate slices of cucumber atop soft white bread; brioche buns generously piped with black truffle cream cheese; puréed cauliflower served in an egg cup and topped with caviar… followed by miniature, melt-in-the-mouth blackcurrant meringue kisses; colourful battenburg slices; and scones heaped with fig jam.
Washing it all down is a hand-picked selection of Jing teas, running the gamut from delicate Jasmine Pearl to aromatic Vanilla Black and roasted Iron Buddha Oolong. The Lecture Room And Library. Just in case you were under the impression that the Gallery is where Gagnaire poured all of his ambition, allow us to correct you.
The food is every bit as ambitious as Momo had hoped for his new venture and — according to the three Michelin Stars the restaurant has since received — Barn och Familj bit as delicious too. The baroque veiling is painted in lush pinks and purples. The Library.
Other courses include roast Anjou pigeon and foie gras with diced lobsterVenere rice with gorgonzola ice cream, and white peach raviolo served with green curry. The Parlour. The Glade. They they took that paper, and carefully mapped it out onto the walls of the room, hand-cutting and sticking it all up seamlessly, so a to make it seem like you are in the postcard itself.
A Pink Piano. The East Bar. But The East Bar is as close as Sketch will come to any sense of normalcy. Of course — that said — it is set inside a giant, spaceship like globe, completely white on the outside, with a totally circular sunken bar in the centre of the room on the inside.
The Famous Sketch Loos. Under a multicoloured ceiling. You can find out more, and reserve a table, on their website HERE.