The Don restaurant set to reopen in April

The Don in St. Swithin’s Lane, London, is reopening after being closed for the past four years due to a complete refurbishment.

The restaurant is located next door to its sister establishment, a Portuguese wine bar called Bar 1790. Both are in Sandeman House, the building to which the Sandeman family moved their wine importing and bottling business in 1805. The opening is another step in the return of Sandeman to St. Swithins Lane.

General manager Peter Horton said: “The Rothschilds and the Sandemans were neighbours in St. Swithin’s Lane from 1809 until 1967, when the Sandeman moved to larger premises. To mark this long association, we have a highlighted selection from the Rothschild wine estates around the world, including, of course, Château Lafite in Bordeaux.”

Sandeman moved the business to St Swithins Lane in 1805 as the cellars were ideal for ageing and storing the wines, and were easily accessed by an underground passage from the Thames. These cellars now offer some of the City’s “finest sites for private dining”. After the renovations, the heritage dining room, the Sandeman Room, can host up to 16 people, while the old Barrel Cellar offers a large private dining space.

The Don’s head chef, Toby Lever, formerly of Lutyens, has developed a modern European menu that is based on seasonal ingredients “that haven’t been mucked about with”. The wine list, which focuses on Italy, France and Iberia, has over 600 wines that have been selected by the head sommelier. 

In addition, the Don has used Champagne expert Simon Stockton to compile a list that includes what he calls ‘the usual suspects’ with a wider range of well known and lesser-known Champagnes. Paying homage to George Sandeman’s Scottish birth, the Don also offers an extensive whisky list, with grand names like Macallan and newcomers like Ardnamurchan.  

The restaurant is set to open its doors in April.