Claridge’s, the Art Deco hotel in Mayfair, has announced the opening of a new intimate bar, The Painter’s Room. Conceived by interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan, the bar has an installation by British artist Annie Morris and is overseen by new Director of Mixology Nathan McCarley O’Neill. The Painter’s Room aims to continue Claridge’s legacy of offering premier cocktails, joining the Fumoir and the Claridge’s Bar.
The Painter’s Room is named as a homage to the same space at Claridge’s that was created in the 1930s with murals by renowned artist Mary Lea. Positioned in the space bridging Claridge’s ballroom and the Talking Heads Gallery by Artist in Residence David Downton, The Painter’s Room was renovated by O’Sullivan, who took inspiration from the old 1930s photos. The bar, in blush-colored stone, is the centerpiece complemented by a skylight of peach and cream-colored glass with metal work, inspired by the signature deco design doors of Claridge’s, and an intricately designed Deco light.
British artist Annie Morris was specially commissioned to create the installation which runs across the entire space. A painted monochrome mural above the pink onyx features her iconic whimsical characters in addition to her first ever stained glass work. Morris found inspiration in the historic relationship between bars and artists, and how artists sit, observe, sketch and chat within them. The mural reflects the free sketch style with which one would scribble on the back of a menu. Morris’s characters additionally appear on the menus and are monogrammed onto the bar team’s jackets.
The drinks menu focuses on cocktails inspired by the culture, art and design of Europe, and is divided into four chapters: Light, Interpretations, Complex and Clean. Food will be small plates ranging from crispy scampi to beetroot tartar.
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