Cult Barcelona wine bar and restaurant, Bar Brutal, will be bringing its irreverent, bodega-style atmosphere to rooftop restaurant Seabird at The Hoxton in Southwark from October 2 until the end of November.
One of Spain’s pioneers of the natural wine movement, Bar Brutal has built a reputation for pairing ingredient-driven, seafood-forward Mediterranean cooking with more than 3000 low-intervention labels since it opened in 2013.
Usually tucked inside a historic cellar in Barcelona’s El Born district, the collaboration will see the institution take over The Hoxton’s 14th-floor eatery with its signature wax-dripped bottles, red-neon lighting and Bar Brutal merch.
“We love London,” the Bar Brutal team tells Broadsheet. “It’s home to so many friends, and its food, wine and music scenes are truly special. The idea of bringing a little bit of Brutal to one of our favourite cities for two months just felt too fun to pass up – so we said: let’s go.”
There will be eight dishes channelling the Catalonian spirit, using smoked and cured fish, Ibérico pork cuts and pickled autumn vegetables. Each is matched to one of three natural wines chosen to amplify the flavours, including a zippy white 2023 rupestris from Celler Pardas, a vibrant red Terroir al Límit’s 2022 Historic Negre – a red blend – and a textured orange, Escoda-Sanuhuja’s 2022 Bassotets. Meanwhile, Seabird’s regular seafood-heavy Mediterranean menu will still be available.
Monkey Shoulder will curate the cocktails, which include a malty stout Old Fashioned with coffee and orange; a bold smokey Rob Roy spiked with Oloroso and soy sauce; and a “not a Hot Toddy”; which layers roasted figs, blood orange, vermouth and chocolate.
The launch party on Thursday October 2 will see the Bar Brutal team cooking in the kitchen while NTS Radio regulars Ruby Savage and Marshmello soundtrack the night. After that, DJs will spin every Saturday until the end of November.
“Just like at Bar Brutal in Barcelona, we’re here to make sure people have a good time,” says the team.
Bar Brutal at Seabird will run from October 2 until November 30.
Seabird
14th floor, The Hoxton Southwark, 40 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8NY
Hours:
Mon & Tues midday–9.30pm
Wed to Fri midday–10pm
Sat & Sun 11.30am-10pm
