Jason Atherton to open ‘Victorian grocery’ restaurant

Unstoppable chef Jason Atherton has added yet another string to his bow with the opening of a restaurant designed to look like a Victorian grocery in London’s financial heart.

There’s no stopping Jason Atherton it seems

Housed next to Tower 42 – home to Atherton’s Michelin-starred City Social – Temple & Sons is a collaboration between the chef and Restaurant Associates.

The name tips its hat to the history of Tower 42, which was once the site of Palmerston House, named after former British Prime Minister Henry John Temple, Third Viscount Palmerston.

Taking a more casual approach with the new venture, the split floor venue will feature an 80-cover grill restaurant and a 40 cover all-day deli designed to look like a vintage grocery.

Seasonal British produce will be championed throughout, with Atherton and City Social’s executive chef Paul Walsh collaborating on the menu.

The ground floor deli will be peppered with sardine tins and British cured meats and will serve comfort foot like game sausage rolls with creamy mash and HP gravy.

By night the deli will double as a cocktail bar serving carbonated cocktails canned on site like the Can Can made with Reyka vodka, Aperol, Prosecco and strawberry and black pepper jam, alongside The Social Company’s own bottled lager.

Cocktails will also be served in milk cartons and sardine tins and will feature iconic British ingredients like Gentleman’s Relish and Lyle’s Golden Syrup.

The Gentleman’s Relish cocktail is a twist on a Bloody Mary made with Gentleman’s Relish infused Portobello Road gin and Worcestershire sauce. The after dinner Golden Lyle meanwhile, features Lyle’s Golden Syrup, Yellow Chartreuse, Monkey Shoulder whisky and cacao.

The custom built grills in the main restaurant will burn with charcoal, hay and different types of wood. Food will be comforting and nostalgic, like wood-fired pork chop, collar and crackling with sage & pine nut crumb; and whole grilled Newlyn line-caught turbot with pickled Cornish cockle and pork vinaigrette.

Interiors include Victorian angle-poise lamps and a custom-made feature light suspended over the staircase between the two floors.