James Gummer, Phil Winser and Olivier van Themsche of Public House Group have announced that their new project, Cece’s, will open on Clarendon Road on Wednesday March 4.
And while the group is best-known for its elevated approach to the neighbourhood pub (The Hart, The Pelican et al), with its rustic, design-led approach and seasonal British cooking, Cece’s is not a pub. Instead, it’s an Italian restaurant, promising classic Italian dishes and a hint of Hollywood glamour.
“Sometimes we come across buildings that do not fit our ethos for pubs, but have the potential to create something truly unique and special, and this was one of those opportunities,” Gummer tells Broadsheet.
When he went to look at the space – which was once a boozer but, more recently, glitzy Argentinian restaurant Casa Cruz – he “fell in love with the glamour and unique design of the space”. And while it didn’t feel right as a pub, the dramatic interiors brought 1920s Hollywood to mind.
“The interiors are like no others in Notting Hill,” Gummer says. “They are opulent and surreal with low lighting, creating something that feels almost cinematic.
“As soon as you step through the copper door, we want you to feel transported into a different world. That is one of the incredible things about hospitality – there are not many jobs where you feel you can really give that to people.”
Set across two floors, the “playful” space is intended to blend “old-school hospitality with a sense of secrecy and surrealism”. There’ll be a bar on each level “mixing perfect Martinis”, and a menu featuring some suitably decadent dishes – such as bream carpaccio with caviar, fonduta agnolotti (meat-filled pasta served with creamy melted cheese), and beef fillet with spinach alla parmigiana – alongside classics like aubergine parmigiana and veal Milanese. The wine list leans Italian, but will also feature a sizeable burgundy and bordeaux selection, and larger format bottles for celebrations.
“Ultimately, it’s about the people who live around that area: how they’ll use it, what they’ll think. That is always our first thought when we look at a space, and this is no different,” Gummer says. “We want people to feel like they have stepped into a different time.”
Cece’s will open on Wednesday March 4 at 123a Clarendon Road, W11 4JG.
