Brasserie of Light, a new restaurant from Caprice Holdings boasting a giant Pegasus statue by British artist Damien Hirst, has opened inside Selfridges in London.
Taking centre stage at the venue is a 24-foot, crystal-encrusted statue of winged stallion Pegsus, which appears to have burst out of the restaurant’s concrete wall.
Inspired by the famous creature from Greek mythology, Hirst’s flying statue towers over the tables with its 30-foot wingspan.
“I love the myth of the Pegasus. This is such an exciting project and I love the scale of it. I hope it’s going to look like something beautiful from another world,” Hirst said of the installation – his largest artwork in London to date.
Designed by man of the moment Martin Brudnizki, the Art Deco-inspired interiors play with the idea of light with the use of multiple mirrors of different shapes and sizes.
Electric blue and burnt orange leather banquettes and mustard seats offer bold splashes of colour to the high-ceilinged room, which boasts a central bar and private dining room.
Headed up by Emanuel Machado, formerly of Covent Garden favourite Balthazar, the all-day brasserie will serve British classics and international dishes.
Among the dishes on the debut menu are hand-dived scallops with red peppers, roasted fennel and capers; spaghettini with lobster, datterini tomatoes, chilli and garlic; and a ‘Pegasus Pie’ pud served with a yuzu coconut cloud.
Cocktails tip their hat to the restaurant’s London location and include The Queen of Time, a British take on a Kir Royale featuring English fizz Ridgeview Bloomsbury Brut, and the Est. 1909, a blend of Beefeater gin, St. Germain elderflower and Prosecco.
“When you think of the capital city of the world, you think of London. When you think of London you think of Selfridges. In the future when you think of London restaurants I hope you will think of Brasserie of Light,” said Richard Caring, owner of Caprice Holdings.
“Brasserie of Light is a spectacle where the input of Damien Hirst, Martin Brudnizki and the strength of Selfridges has resulted in something very beautiful,” he added.
This is the first time in Selfridges’ 109-year history that it has offered after-hours dining for its guests thanks to a separate entrance on Duke Street.
