Atherton to open wine-focused restaurant

The ever-restless Jason Atherton is to open a wine-focused tapas bar on James Street in London’s Marylebone this June.

The 70-cover Social Wine & Tapas will serve fairly priced fine and rare wines alongside modern tapas dishes made with local ingredients created by head chef Frankie Van Loo, formerly of Atherton’s Soho venture Social Eating House.

The wine list will be overseen by Atherton’s executive sommelier of ten years, Laure Patry, who will also be responsible for a wine shop on the ground floor of the restaurant, which will be run by trained sommeliers.

Wines will hail from around the world with a focus on small independent producers, with fine and rare drops offered by the glass via Coravin access system, which customers can buy at the wine shop along with glassware.

Tapas will be served from an open kitchen, with guests given the chance to sit up at the bar. Social Wine & Tapas will also feature a basement bar serving cheese and charcuterie, and wine tasting area.

The interior is the work of go-to London restaurant designer Russell Stage, who was given a brief to create an “urban” and “contemporary” space via metallic finishes, copper artwork and industrial chandeliers.

To give the two levels their own identity, banquet seating is green leather on the first floor and red leather in the basement.

Social Wine & Tapas will be open seven days a week from midday to late and will operate a no reservations policy. The wine shop will close at 10pm.

This is not Atherton’s first foray into tapas bars – he already runs two in Hong Kong: Ham & Sherry and 22 Ships, located a stone’s throw from one other on Ship Street in the city’s Wan Chai district, the former of which boasts a secret speakeasy.

A venenciador practices his skills outside 22 Ships in Hong Kong