New Searcys restaurant Tonic & Remedy to open in London
Tonic & Remedy, a new apothecary-inspired restaurant from Searcys executive chef Paul Welburn, is set to open in the soon-to-be-launched M by Montcalm hotel in London's Hoxton, in the spring.
The concept, which takes inspiration from the "apothecary history of Shoreditch" will use herbs, spices and wine in its recipes and cocktail menu, created by the former Rhodes W1 head chef and BBC Great British Menu contestant Welburn and award-winning bartender Jeremy Pascal.
Spread across the ground floor and mezzanine of the M by Montcalm hotel on City Road, the site will offer small plates plus an a la carte menu, with dishes such as smoked eel, jelly and seaweed scones; wild garlic risotto; and rump of lamb shoulder shepherd's pie with greens.
Typical drinks will include the Apothecary, with rosemary and homemade peach butterscotch jam; the Bloody Remedy, with a secret spice mix, and celery and cucumber foam; the Lady Marmalade with pink grapefruit marmalade, and the Patience & Thyme, with a unique infusion of gin and thyme and a smoked egg.
Desserts will be from pastry chef John Grantham. The restaurant will sit within a building designed by architects 5plus, inspired by the work of artist Bridget Riley, especially her colourful and geometric Nataraja piece, which is now part of the Tate Collection. The interior, including the ground and first floor restaurants, the club lounge, and 17th floor restaurant, were designed by London-based company Tonik Associates.
The restaurant's inspiration comes from the 18th and 19th centuries, when Shoreditch was one of London's main areas for medicine-making, surgeries, and doctors.
Yorkshire-born Welburn has previously worked at the Star Inn in Harome, and Rhodes in the Square under head chef Michael James and Gary Rhodes.
He moved to Searcys as executive chef in 2013, having helped Richard Corrigan open the restaurant at 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin), and worked on the launch team of the Centenary Bar & Brasserie at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Searcys was bought by Westbury Street Holdings (WSH) in August 2014 after being advertised on the market for an estimated £25m-30m.
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