Jackson Boxer and the Experimental Group to open Henri in Covent Garden

Renowned chef Jackson Boxer and the hospitality pioneers behind the Experimental Group are set to launch a new Parisian-inspired restaurant, Henri, on the ground floor of the hotel, Henrietta Experimental, in Covent Garden, opening on 17 June. The launch follows the success of the team’s recent collaboration at Cowley Manor Experimental in the Cotswolds. The ongoing partnership combines Boxer’s experience crafting London restaurants including Brunswick House, Orasay, and Jackson Boxer at The Corner, with that of Experimental Group leaders Xavier Padovani, Olivier Bon, Pierre-Charles Cros and Romée de Goriainoff. The Experimental Group has built a breadth of bars, restaurants and hotels all over the globe, including the award-winning cluster of Experimental Cocktail Club bars, Stereo and La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels. Following an extensive refurbishment led by designer Dorothée Meilichzon, Henri will see Boxer draw from his “wealth of experience and relationships with the best British suppliers”. The interiors will boast a mix of Art Nouveau accents from typical French brasseries with elements of the traditional British pub. Furnished with booths and long banquettes, botanical shapes woven throughout the space will pay tribute to the historic Covent Garden fruit and vegetable market. The space will also include dark wooden panelling, leather and velvet. Alongside the Experimental Group’s cocktails, Boxer’s expansive menu features an array of snacks, entrees, ‘plats’, larger dishes from the charcoal grill, and a more traditional three-course experience. Snacks and entrees includes Boxer’s versions of Parisian classics like the Fried Pied de Cochon with agen prune and beer mustard; a Seaweed Canelé served with crème crue and trout roe; Grilled Snails with green garlic and veal rice; as well as a Globe Artichoke accompanied by boiled egg and anchovy. Steak-Frites will be available every lunchtime, offered alongside Fried Eggs with Morels; and Raw Tuna with Green Tomato and pickled Galia Melon. Tended meat, fish and vegetables, sit on the ‘charcoal grill’ section including Cod with a crab bisque and lime leaf; Celeriac with camargue rice, burnt lemon and roscoff onion; and a half or whole Roast Chicken with turnips and morels. A 1kg Côte de Boeuf is also available to share with sides such as Duck Fat Fries; Green Beans; and Pomme Purée. To finish, desserts include Lemon Sorbet; Grand Marnier Soufflé with frozen almond; and Riz au Lait with poached apricots and dulce de leche to share. Additionally, the Experimental Group’s cocktails are named after French icons such as Marie-Antoine made with Vulson Domaine Des Hautes Glaces, Rittenhouse Rye, ginger syrup, honey-infused lapsing soughing tea, lemon juice and peach bitters; to the Gaston crafted using cognac, Rittenhouse rye, Byrrh, Aperol, green Chartreuse, maple syrup, with a dash of Angostura and Peychaud's bitters. An expansive, mainly French wine list will feature magnums of Vouette et Sorbée and Châteauneuf du Pape 2007. Boxer said: “The Experimental Group has been quietly reinstating the historic charm of Covent Garden with various openings and I can’t wait to join them in this movement with Henri. An enchanting area that has, over the years, surrendered to the chains, Covent Garden deserves a beautifully intimate restaurant with ambition which is just what we envisage for Henri. “I admire the Parisian tone, temperament and jouissance that we see across Experimental and it sits so perfectly alongside the food I have planned for the restaurant - playfully rooted in tradition and the wonderfully classical French culinary cannon. Parisians do hospitality so very differently - it never fails to delight - and I can’t wait to play a part in bringing a taste of this to central London.”

Jackson Boxer and the Experimental Group to open Henri in Covent Garden

The interiors will boast a mix of Art Nouveau accents from typical French brasseries with elements of the traditional British pub

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