Gin and Great Britain headline Piccadilly relaunch

A revamped dining offer at Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel in London is bolstering the trends for British food and the resurgent gin category.

Terrace Grill & Bar at Le Méridien Piccadilly

From its Central London location, the lower level of the Terrace Grill & Bar serves dishes focused on British meat, game, poultry and fish, while the upper level offers a “modern and sophisticated” gin bar with over 30 different styles.

Sourcing meat solely from within the UK, head chef Michael Dutnall has compiled a menu of options such as cured beef with horseradish, slow-cooked duck leg and steamed seabass with mussels. The dessert selection keeps to the classic British theme, with bread and butter pudding, Bakewell tart, and Sherry trifle.

Upstairs, the gin selection takes in major brands and their super-premium extensions alongside more boutique producers, reaching in scope from London distilleries as far afield as Scotland, France and the US.

To show off the category’s stylistic breadth, the venue has compiled a collection of both classic and more contemporary cocktails. These range from the “Asian G&T Martini”, a blend of Japanese green tea-infused Beefeater 24 with Choya sake-coated ice and Fever Tree tonic, to “The Last Word”, a prohibition era mix of Tanqueray gin, green Chartreuse, Maraschino and lime juice.

The hotel is also offering a twist on a British tradition with its “G&T Afternoon Tea”, which features a selection of herbal and fruit-infused gins with tonic syrup, including Monkey 47 with lavender and Gin Mare infused with sweet basil and stirred with rosemary.

“I am thrilled that the Terrace Grill & Bar is championing great British produce and traditional cuisine”, remarked Oscar del Campo, general manager for Le Méridien Piccadilly.

“We are sure that hotel guests and locals alike will appreciate the fantastic combination of a dedicated gin bar with dishes showcasing some of Britain’s finest meat, poultry and seafood served in a setting overlooking one of London’s most iconic thoroughfares, Piccadilly”.

This development marks the latest revamp within Le Méridien hotel group, whose 100 venues in 50 countries have been undergoing a relaunch since they were bought by Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2005. The group is now planning a major expansion within the next five years, focused on the US, Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.

Other gin-focused venues to open in London recently include Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar at The Marriott, County Hall, and The Arch Bar at The InterContinental Park Lane.