London Shell Co.
Floating restaurant concept London Shell Co. was founded in 2015 and launched aboard a restored cruising wide beam barge called The Price Regent in 2016. Lunch and dinner cruises are available, with the boat journeying down Regent’s Canal from Paddington to Camden and back while diners tuck into their food.
Below is an extract from Douglas Blyde’s review, written before lockdown:
Given the popularity of their cruising vessel, The Prince Regent, siblings, Harry and Leah Lobek needed a bigger boat. Cue the launch of the larger vessel, The Grand Duchess, a static craft which previously acted as the marketing suite for Paddington penthouses. Given the absence of an engine, this vessel is capacious enough to feature a semi-private “Captain’s Table”.
Opening with John Masefield’s 1902 “Sea Fever”, the list aboard The Grand Duchess is themed around noble fish. Hence, under “A Pint of Prawns” expect reds “light enough for drinking but still plenty to make a meal of”, such as aromatic “Experimental Batch” EB42 Summer Lovin’ Pinot Meunier (Mac Forbes). And honouring the mighty “Turbot” expect “decadent wines to impress your friends…” such as thickly-textured Langhe Bianco (Solea Roagna). Other sections include “Mackerel”, starring an Australian Petit Manseng (Symphonia) described as “Savennières in style”, and “Departures”, where Austrian Beerenauslese (Umathum) is offered by-the-glass. “When you dine with us, you will most likely ask yourself if today is a Mackerel or a Turbot day?” says Lobek. “Tongue in cheek, the most important thing to us is that our wines have character and integrity.”
The Lobeks love the Loire, particularly, “bulletproof Chenin” and “chic” Melon de Bourgogne. “Vincent Caillé, Monnières-Saint Fiacre has me as happy as a clam at high tide,” says Lobek.
Dishes by head chef, Stuart Kilpatrick may include Devon crab and Guinness rarebit, and cod with curried mussels, cauliflower and kale. Blending Bacchus and Pinot Gris, house bubbles are produced in collaboration with Hampshire’s Hattingley Valley – a nifty fit with oysters. “In our opinion the best value English Sparkling Wine you can buy; winemaker, Emma Rice is smashing it every year.”
