1 Lombard Street celebrates 15 years of serving the City
The story begins 16 years ago, when Soren Jessen left behind a glittering banking career, as Executive Director at UBS and Goldman Sachs, to open a serious City restaurant. Soren discovered a historic Grade-II listed banking hall which had been empty for four years, and it was here that 1 Lombard Street Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie was born. In August it will be 15 years since 1 Lombard Street launched and there is much to celebrate.
Within a year of opening, 1 Lombard Street was nominated for Best New Restaurant at the London Restaurant Awards and the following year it was awarded the first Michelin Star in the City of London for the Restaurant. Since opening 1 Lombard Street has served over 1.5 million customers and created over 60 new jobs. Over 500,000 bottles of wine and champagne have been popped, 30,000 lobsters served and 780,000 cups of coffee drunk. The team at 1 Lombard Street is also proud to have weathered the biggest financial crisis in history by adjusting to its customers changing needs.
The Brasserie menu includes classic dishes such as roasted hake saucisson de morteau, veal Milanese, and calf’s liver with bacon, sweet potato mash and sage gravy, which over the years have helped the restaurant become a city dining institution loved for its classic and comforting European dishes. Set within the energetic hum of the Square Mile, right by Bank tube station and just 15 minutes from the West End, the Bar has become a favourite city drinks destination, and served over 200,000 cocktails. Framed by the striking domed skylight, the bar serves up classics alongside cocktails with unusual twists and fresh seasonal creations. Live music on selected Friday nights mean the bar becomes a celebratory end-of-week destination.
In 2012, Jessen fully renovated the old restaurant and launched a beautiful new 40-cover dining room: 1776. Situated behind 1 Lombard Street, 1776’s name commemorates the earliest recording of the Grade-II listed former bank. It was here that Charles Dickens’ first great love, Maria Beadnell, lived with her family. Her father, George, was bank manager of Smith, Payne and Smith’s Bank at No. 1 Lombard Street. With both the Brasserie and 1776 the historic exterior of the building is rejuvenated by its contemporary interiors. The walls of 1 Lombard are adorned with modern art that is frequently updated and mostly for sale and in 1776 guests sit beneath crystal chandeliers as they access the extensive drinks menu on iPads at the table.
The menu at 1776 is classic, simple, and flexible to the customer’s preferences. Head chef Juri Ravagli describes the menu as modern British with international influences, perfectly articulated in dishes such as English snails and pancetta in a potato nest, caramelised black cod with ponzu sauce and pak choi, a selection of tartare of meat or fish, tonnarelli with native lobster and black truffle risotto. The silver service meat trolley with ‘Todays Roast’ for carving at the table adds a touch of traditional elegance.
To celebrate an incredible 15 years, 1 Lombard Street is planning a series of events, soon to be announced, culminating in a party to thank all of the regulars, supporters, and the well over 1.5 million customers they have welcomed since opening in 1998.
1 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9AA
1lombardstreet.com
