David Collins Studio leads extensive refurbishment at The Georgian, Harrods, London
Harrods’ The Georgian restaurant re-opens offering quintessentially British dining.
Since first opening in 1911, The Georgian has played a starring role in the dining history of London. For over 100 years, it has offered an authentic taste of true British style, with the highest calibre of dining experience and service over the decades.
On 4th November, The Georgian re-opens after an extensive refurbishment, to once again host London’s finest. Offering historic and traditional charm mixed with contemporary style, the restaurant has been redeveloped to present unique, quintessentially British dining experiences to local clients and travelling visitors, with two very distinctive offerings from day into evening.
Spanning 10,333 square ft on the fourth floor of Harrods, the redevelopment, led by David Collins Studio and the Harrods in-house development team, honours the heritage of the building, preserving much of the Art Deco architectural grandeur of the room, while adding more touches of glamour, style, opulence, quality and comfort. Seating 164 covers, including the gilded outdoor Georgian terrace, there are 25 beautiful chandeliers throughout, creating a fairytale lighting environment. An entertainment programme throughout the day adds to the sophisticated ambience – a central piano is played through the tea service, and the music evolves into an evening repertoire inspired by the history of the room, including the Jazz Age of the 1920s.
The Georgian’s Afternoon Tea draws inspiration from Harrods’ heritage and authority as a tea merchant, which has evolved since its humble beginnings in 1849. Highly trained expert tea sommeliers are on hand to concoct custom blends, while the Harrods in-house pâtisserie team, led by Executive Pastry Chef Markus Bohr, prepare a service rooted in theatricality, eccentricity and flair, promising to be like no other afternoon tea experience in London. The seasonal menu includes a new spin on classics, such as English cucumber, cream cheese, mint and pink pepper on white pain di mie; the Confit duck sandwich with orange marmalade on tomato bread, followed by pâtisserie selections such as Pistachio, pear and cinnamon sablé Bréton; Black Forest gâteau; and Blackberry tart with blackberry and lime curd, blackberry gel and fresh blackberries.
In the evening, The Georgian returns to its roots as a vibrant destination, harking back to the atmosphere and decadence of 1920s London nightlife. Led by celebrated British chef Calum Franklin, The Georgian celebrates British ingredients and classic cooking, highlighted by the show-stopping exclusive signature ‘The Georgian Pie Experience’. Celebrated as “the pie king”, after his successful role at Rosewood London’s Holborn Dining Room, and Public House in Paris, Calum Franklin’s pies are world-famous for their level of detail, creativity and flavour impact that showcase a level of familiarity, while being elevated and refined. The wider evening menu for The Georgian celebrates the 120 years of history and heritage of the restaurant, with recipes inspired from the Harrods archive, updated with a contemporary focus. Classic snacks such as British oysters and caviar are followed by starters including the ‘1909 – Harrods Diamond Jubilee’ Consommé; Pâté en croûte 1960 with Cumberland sauce; and Cornish crab tart. The extensive pie selection includes ‘The Georgian Pie Experience’ to share, as well as classics such as Beef shin, Chicken penny, and Beef Wellington.
Every element of The Georgian celebrates quintessential British elegance, personality and charm, transporting guests to another world of entertainment, while offering the highest levels of service for which Harrods is famous. Internationally recognised as the home of luxury, Harrods has a brand origin that is deeply embedded in British culture. The Georgian embodies this quintessentially British heritage, with a thoroughly distinctive and modern dining experience.
Ashley Saxton, Director of Restaurants and Kitchens, comments:
“Our ambition for all Harrods restaurants is to evoke the finest elements of the Harrods brand —the atmosphere, the service, and the quality — while ensuring each space reflects its unique identity and proposition. While every dining space within Harrods has a rich history, few embody this more than The Georgian, which has been at the heart of high society dining since the Edwardian era. Our challenge and opportunity as the custodians of this historic restaurant are to restore its vibrancy and secure its future for the next century. By providing a world-class proposition through partners like Calum Franklin, we aim to blend The Georgian’s iconic charm with modern excellence and reaffirm its place as one of London’s most important dining destinations.”