'M' to Steak Out The City

This winter will see the arrival of a unique dining and drinking concept in the heart of London's City. Located in a vast and impressive venue, 'M' will house two restaurants, a wine tasting bar, a destination cocktail bar, private dining rooms, event spaces and a secret den.

Situated on the iconic Threadneedle Street, home to the Bank of England, M will be an innovative and versatile 15,000 square foot space. M will be the first solo project from Martin Williams, who left his role as Managing Director of Gaucho Restaurants earlier this year after almost a decade with the company, to establish his own restaurant group.

From the moment they enter M, guests will be struck by the sheer scale of M and its unique and vibrant design, created by award- winning interiors expert, René Dekker Design Team, well known for designing some of the most beautiful homes around the world. Playful yet luxurious, M will be a happy union of energy and fun with an undertone of sophistication. The cool blues and ebony tones of the Grill restaurant will blend seamlessly with the greys and rich reds of the Raw bar and the copper, charcoal and gold hues of the mezzanine bar. 

The venue has been created for the discerning diner with original, contemporary artwork displayed in key locations, alongside cutting edge furniture by Style Matters and lighting by Martin Eden and CTO. Other design features will include; walls finished in faux eel skin, gilded textured polished plaster from DKT, a distressed concrete effect floor and bespoke partition screens, all combing to ensure a truly breathtaking interior.

M will house two 100-cover restaurants, each offering a different style of cuisine and presided over by Executive Chef, Michael Reid who is Head Chef at Jardin Tan (part of the iconic Australian Vue de Monde Group) right hand man to Australia’s ‘Rock Star Chef’ Shannon Bennett, and formerly Executive Chef of Gaucho Restaurants. Mike has teamed up with Head Chef Jarad McCarroll, formerly of Chiltern Firehouse, to create masterful menus for both dining concepts. 

RAW will feature a Tartare and Tiradito bar, a casual dining concept featuring brightly coloured seating, sharing tables and high stools. The bar will serve up a mouthwatering selection of tartares, sashimi, pulsing salads, cured and smoked dishes and yakitori. Signatures dishes will include: Scallops and Bacon made with Scallop Tartare, Apple Jelly and Bacon Crumble, Black Sugar Cured Salmon and Onglet Steak cooked at guests’ tables over salt stones. Breakfast will be served in RAW from 7am each morning and will feature breakfast classics alongside healthy ‘brain breakfasts’ and juice. 

M will also house an international grill restaurant specialising in the finest steak cuts from around the world, with the meat served being of the highest grade in London. GRILL will offer a single cut from six selected countries ranging from £25 to £139 in price including Wagyu from both Japan and Australia alongside exotic meats such as crocodile and kangaroo. The grill area will include a walk-in aging room where butchers will be available for each service, offering beef master classes and allowing guests the opportunity to order their preferred cut and size of steak from them directly. The luxurious space will feature sunken carpets, deep booths and wing back chairs upholstered in Savile Row fabrics such as Prince of Wales check and cobalt blue leather. 

Curated by Lance Perkins, the acclaimed Bar & Beverage Director of the award-winning London Edition Hotel, M BAR will breathe new life into The City’s bar scene. Situated on a mezzanine level, the bar will have a warm and modern air and will feature a sweeping fireplace, distressed ceiling, oak floors and Slim Aarons artwork. Guests can choose from an eclectic cocktail menu and street food-inspired light bites whilst enjoying live music and DJ’s playing in the dedicated stage area, gradually building in tempo throughout the evening to create a high octane vibe. 

There will also be a dedicated wine room, where Enoteca machines will offer a range of the world’s highest quality and rare wines to taste from taps. Wines such as Opus One and Petrus, which are normally out of drinkers’ reach, will be available at an affordable £25 and £45 per tasting glass. For those seeking a more intimate setting, M DEN will offer the perfect ‘secret’ bar with vistors will enjoying personal bottle lockers, table football, a humidor, a 32-inch television screen, also doubling as a mirror, and a variety of Bang & Olufsen gadgets. M will also house four private dining and event spaces for parties of eight to fifty. 

Martin left Gaucho Group with fourteen restaurants in the UK and one restaurant in Dubai in March and created many brand building events including the ‘Gaucho International Polo’ the world’s most popular indoor Polo International, and the ‘Argentine Winemaker’s Awards’. For M he has assembled an impressive team around him with other notable appointments including Restaurant Director Francesco Cappucci (formerly of Corinthia Hotel and Cecconi’s) and staff uniforms deigned by Nelson Mandela’s favourite designer, Bunmi Olaye. 

The Threadneedle Walk site will be the first of four initial venues, and Martin has also secured future M venues in several futuristic developments, tipped to become iconic features of the London skyline, which are under construction but undisclosed. Martin sums up the project perfectly: 

“We have brought together the finest talent in the industry who are like-minded in a passion for hospitality and a determination to create ground-breaking experiences for our guests, coupled with the finest food and beverage ingredients at an accessible price point.”

M

2-3 Threadneedle Walk, 60 Threadneedle Street, London, EC2 8HP

W: mrestaurants.co.uk