Fans of liver, lights, and madeleines won’t be able to visit Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver’s renowned Michelin-starred ode to offal at its flagship Smithfield location for three weeks starting from February 6th, as it undergoes a well-deserved renovation, as per a newsletter from St. John. During this period, patrons can savour the complete St. John experience at the prestigious Fortnum & Mason.
The transition will involve the entire St. John team moving to their temporary home, and even the Fortnum & Mason ground floor restaurant will be painted white to mimic the Smithfield site’s ambience. To truly capture the essence of St. John Smithfield, the original tables and chairs will also be relocated to Fortnum & Mason.
The menu promises to feature “classics” from the restaurant, so it’s reasonable to expect the famous roast bone marrow with parsley salad to make an appearance, alongside undisclosed nods to its temporary setting.
Trevor Gulliver remarked, “While Smithfield may be closed, it is not absent. For these three weeks, we must not neglect our duty to provide our community with their vital St. John fix, from a flying rarebit and a Fergroni in the bar to rolling courses in the dining room. This little jaunt feels rather frivolous, which is Fortnum’s forte. Painting it white is a bit cheeky – and a bit of cheekiness is always a good foundation for an extremely good time.”
