New venue offers cider a Platform

A former London strip club relaunches next week as a bar and restaurant with a distinctly wholesome edge.

Tucked under the arches of London Bridge station, Platform represents a partnership between restaurateur Tony McKinlay and Devon farmer Barnaby Butterfield, bringing diners a direct “gate to plate” experience.

The setup is designed to ensure fair prices for all concerned and a regular supply of flavourful rare breed beef and pork. Under head chef Jake Tutill, the restaurant team will also be able to embrace the in-vogue nose to tail approach, working with whole carcasses to reduce waste and serve up unusual, inventive dishes.

With two floors to play with, the venue is split between a casual bar area serving light snacks and the very same Devon cider which provided the inspiration behind the new venture.

Upstairs features a more secluded dining area, complete with large glass windows, kitchen view and, as a reminder of the venue’s lively past, a reclaimed mirror ball suspended from the arch above. This will swing into action in the second part of the evening, as the bar makes the most of its 3am licence.

If the Devon cider does its job, former regulars may not notice the difference.

Platform
56-58 Tooley Street,
London,
SE1 2SZ
www.platformse1.co.uk

Gabriel Savage, 06.04.2010