Now open: All day dining hotspot, Riding House Bloomsbury
Riding House Bloomsbury, the decade-long awaited next iteration of Fitzrovia’s Riding House Café, is now open. The latest opening from restaurateur Adam White, Riding House Bloomsbury sees the cosmopolitan area welcome the next evolution of their much-loved contemporary all-day menus, courtesy of Chef Partner Henry Omereye.
Having opened Riding House Café in 2011 and Rail House Café in 2017, both of which were preceded by the Garrison and Village East in Bermondsey, White has long been committed to opening restaurants which can make a significant difference to the neighbourhood. Riding House Bloomsbury follows in these footsteps by providing the historical and burgeoning foodie area with a members club-like venue which brings residents together through offering a lively modern brasserie that works for any occasion.
Menus are international, contemporary and unfussy, comprising breakfast and all-day dining as well as healthier options, bowls and skewers alongside more decadent dishes. Together, Omereye and Riding House Bloomsbury’s Head Chef, Gerald Mirey, who has rejoined the Riding House family having previously been Head Chef of White’s The Garrison, have created a range of new dishes which are exclusive to the venue.
Inspired by the respective time Omereye and Mirey have spent abroad – across the Caribbean, Nigeria and Japan – small plates and skewers include Grilled flatbread, smoked cod roe, tomato, wasabi tobiko, Earl grey cured trout, citrus kosho & sour cream and Flat iron steak & comté yakitori with goma dare. Main dishes highlight Caraway harissa chicken and cassava chips with fennel and cardamom gravy, Teriyaki rabbit legs, shiitake mushroom, sweet potato champ & crispy kaleand Miso grilled sea bass, nuoc cham & pickled cucumber whilst dessert sees new versions of old favourites such as Hot doughnuts with milk jam and Rhubarb & vanilla cheesecake.
Breakfast and brunch, for which Riding House is acclaimed, brings Pea fritters, oak-smoked salmon and asparagus and Green shakshuka, green tomato confit, asparagus, spinach, peas and St. Ewe egg. This sits alongside a dedicated Malted Deep Dish pancake menu, with options including Toasted marshmallows, coconut clotted cream, white chocolate & banana-infused maple syrup or smoked streaky Dingley Dell bacon, blueberry compote, sour cream and maple syrup.
Riding House Bloomsbury is housed in The Brunswick Centre, an acclaimed Brutalist piece of architecture. Interiors see White work again with Lou Davies of Box 9; and the two have continued what has become an unintended theme of contrasting stark exteriors – in this case, the listed exterior of the Brunswick – with warm, timeless interiors.
Together they have created a number of different zones, moving from significant concrete booths that take inspiration from the building to velvet-lined banquettes and spacious group tables. In addition, the space is dominated by a long, imposing open bar and kitchen – something which has become a Riding House trademark and features an irreverent mural of a giraffe – the restaurant’s logo. A private dining room seats 14 around a salvaged timber round table with a great marble ‘lazy Susan’ centrepiece which allows large groups to share food in a convivial way.
These areas are punctuated by a softening myriad of salvaged restored furniture and bespoke pieces, with complimenting tables that have been created by innovative British tradesmen using repurposed stone, marble and metal, in various combinations, to give guests a unique experience depending on their table. Heavy mahogany doors, salvaged from a historic Mayfair members’ club, are used throughout the building, with oak panelling which was rescued from Oversley Castle in Warwickshire before it was redeveloped, lining the walls.
Drinks are overseen by Harry Hughes who has joined from the likes of The Ned, and sees a bar dominated by large whiskey barrels of Negroni, Martini, Old Fashioned and rum Manhattan, aged within the barrels. New in-house cocktails making their debut at Bloomsbury include the Piña Picante with Tequila infused in-house, pineapple skins and chilli, shaken with citrus and sweetened with agave, the refreshing Caribbean Storm; a blend of Guatemalan and Jamaican rums muddled with fresh watermelon and topped with ginger beer, and the Mile High; a smart, elegant drink with Aviation gin, violet, blackcurrant, citrus and cherry bitters.
Joining Omereye, Mirey and Hughes at Riding House Bloomsbury is accomplished General Manager Antony Colli – of Gordon Ramsay Group and the Providores – who was previously General Manager at Riding House Café. He brings across with him many of the trusted long standing team members from the original location who all look forward to replicating the Fitzrovia magic in Bloomsbury.
Riding House Bloomsbury is now open Monday – Sunday with bookings to be made here.
Riding House Bloomsbury, The Brunswick Centre, Bloomsbury, WC1N 1AF
Opening Times
Monday – Friday | 8am – 11.30pm
Saturday | 9am – 11.30pm
Sunday | 9am – 10.30pm
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