Richard Corrigan to open The Portrait Restaurant
Alongside the 70-cover restaurant there will also be a six-seater kitchen counter
Irish chef and restaurateur Richard Corrigan is set to open The Portrait Restaurant at the National Portrait Gallery on 5 July in partnership with hospitality group Searcys.
Situated on the corner of Trafalgar Square, The Portrait will serve dishes inspired by Corringan’s culinary career, while welcoming new classics to his repertoire.
The restaurant features an open kitchen and a bar area and will open across the top floor of the Gallery, overseeing Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament.
Alongside the 70-cover restaurant there will also be a six-seater kitchen counter.
The restaurant’s “unique” design by Brady Williams Studio will feature natural timber finishes, polished Caesarstone countertops, bespoke lighting fixtures, and sculptures from the Gallery’s Collection of celebrated personalities from across the years.
The walls will be decorated with hand-embodied de Gournay linen panels that draw inspiration from the Gallery’s architectural detail and the space overall will be covered with contemporary designs.
Beth Harding, formerly of Sucre, will join the team as general manager and Jon Spiteri, one of London’s “most charming and reputable” restaurateurs, will be joining the team as opening maître d’.
The Portrait’s menu will feature ingredients from the British and Irish Isles developed by Corrigan and head chef Simon Merrick who previously held the role of head chef at Daffodil Mulligan, Corrigan’s restaurant in Old Street.
Dishes will include; Sweet and Sour Tomato Scarpinocc, a reinvention of the classic vol-au-vent, this time filled with Haddock and Brown Crab, as well as a Proper Prawn Cocktail and Clam Ceviche with Pickled Ginger and Lime.
Chef Corrigan will also draw on his Irish heritage, with a riff on bacon and cabbage via Poached Pork, Onion Soubise and Pickled Cabbage.
The bar space will focus on showcasing a concise wine list available by the glass and bottle, as well as cocktails such as Summer Peach Tea (English Peaches, Earl Grey Tea, Champagne) and Nelson’s Tonic (Gin, Sherry, Vermouth, Tonic).
Alongside “bold” aperitifs, the bar will also serve an all-day snack menu, which includes a very “Corrigan” take on beloved Scampi Fries and a Smoked Fish and Charcuterie selection.
Corrigan said: “For as long as I’ve been in London restaurants, this iconic building has stood there proudly offering access to world class portraits for free and as an avid lover of art, I’ve always enjoyed visiting the place. So it’s with great pride, truly, that I can bring my passion for cooking, utilising the best of British and Irish produce, into this national institution.
“With Searcys, Britain’s oldest and most trusted catering business, we’ve assembled a fantastic team who are as thrilled as I am to serve the people that walk through The National Portrait Gallery’s doors. Whether it’s for a spot of afternoon tea or an oyster croque monsieur with a glass of English sparkling wine, we hope to match the gallery’s values of offering something for everyone.”