Latest news with #MidlandGrand
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Michelin-starred chef 'shuts down restaurant' in 'the finest dining room in London' after just six months
A Michelin-starred chef has shut down his restaurant in the finest dining room in London after just six months. Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand, based out of the St Pancras London hotel near the famous train station of the same name, only opened in February. But it now appears to have served its last diners, after stopping taking bookings and staff telling The Caterer it closed its doors on July 15. The eponymous American chef had only just replaced Irish cook Patrick Powell's The Midland Grand Dining Room in the five-star hotel's 65-seater dining room. It came after he won his Michelin star, the highest culinary gong, in 2021, for his Californian restaurant SOLA in the capital's Soho area, which opened in 2019. It is as yet unclear why the restaurant appears to have closed without warning, with the website down and guests unable to make bookings. Mr Garvey, working out of what is widely considered one of London's most opulent dining spaces, charged an eye-watering £139 for a seven-course tasting menu. There was also an even more lavish 14-course tasting experience, alongside the normal a la carte menu, The Standard reports. Dishes included red tuna, with white peach, roasted leek and a green almond sorbet - as well as a lobster served out of its shell with its own roe, along with spiced carrot. The two businesses that have most recently occupied the restaurant space were called after the building's original name - The Midland Grand Hotel. The Grade I-listed Gothic revival building in central London is one of the most iconic sights in the capital - with a restaurant space equally as impressive. Upon taking over the historic dining room earlier this year, Mr Garvey said: 'A dining room of this stature deserves a menu that matches its grandeur.' Calling the space 'one of the best dining rooms in the world', he described the menu as 'honouring the foundations of classical French cuisine while embracing modernity'. When the restaurant launched, he told The Caterer: 'A chef only gets an opportunity like this, where they are offered a big dining room, once or twice in their life. 'It happened to Joël Robuchon, to Alain Ducasse, all the big guys, and I'm very excited.' He had explained the menu as a reinvention of traditional French dishes: 'We're making it sexier, we're making it lighter.' Mr Garvey described being approached by St Pancras London hotelier Harry Handlesman to take over the space. 'He wanted to have a Michelin star here and for it to be one of the best restaurants in the world and one of the best dining rooms in the world', he explained. 'I thought - I'm pretty sure I can do that.' The restaurant's adjoining Gothic Bar currently remains open. The apparent closure of Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand will be a shock to food lovers across the capital, after it received glowing reviews from the country's top critics. Giles Coren said: 'Victor is doing fancy French now, and quite brilliantly, of course.' The chef's predecessor Mr Powell was behind the room's relaunch in April 2023 but he left just over a year later, in July 2024. He said at the time: 'The time has come for me to move on and I am hugely excited for the future and my next chapter.' Mr Powell also left his restaurant Allegra, in London's Stratford area, at the same time, which he also worked on with St Pancras London hotelier Harry Handlesman. The Irish chef is currently working as culinary director at French and New York-inspired restaurant One Club Row in the capital's Shoreditch area. The building is more than 150 years old, with several hotels having been run out of it over the years. The Midland Grand Hotel was designed by English architect Sir Gilbert Scott - also behind the Albert Memorial in London's Kensington area - and built in 1873. But it shut down in 1935 and was nearly demolished in the sixties - before it was reopened as The Renaissance in 2011, after being used as railway offices. The restaurant was relaunched as The Gilbert Scott and run by British celebrity chef and MasterChef: The Professionals judge Marcus Wareing until the pandemic. The building is now known as the St Pancras London Autograph Collection hotel and managed by Marriott International. But the name change came only last month, when Marriott transferred the hotel from its Renaissance brand to its Autograph Collection. The dining space appears to have closed only just over a month after this rebrand. Renaissance hotels aim to give guests 'curious, unique and local experiences', according to the brand's website - while Autograph ones offer a distinctive interior. As part of the rebrand, the hotel's 254 rooms and suites have been undergoing extensive renovation since January. Marriott boss Sandra Schulze-Potgieter explained at the time: 'St Pancras London is exactly the kind of property Autograph Collection was created to celebrate - rich in character, rooted in place, and full of story. 'This new chapter brings that story to life in a way that feels both intentional and unforgettable.' Mr Garvey was born in New York to an American father and French-Spanish mother, moving to Barcelona aged six. He has worked in restaurants across Spain and in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tokyo and Copenhagen before arriving in London.
The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Michelin-starred chef closes ‘spectacular' restaurant for good after just five months
A MICHELIN-starred chef has been forced to close his "spectacular" restaurant after just five months. Victor Garvey's namesake diner in St Pancras, North London, appears to have shut its doors for the final time this week after only opening in February. 3 Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand has closed its doors Credit: Victor Garvey Official 3 The fine dining restaurant has closed after just five months Staff at Victory Garvey at the Midland Grand - situated in the luxury St Pancras Renaissance Hotel - reportedly confirmed that the Garvey had relaunched Irish chef Patrick Powell's restaurant earlier this year alongside businessman Harry Handelsman, who owns the hotel. Powell left the business in July last year. And now the latest partnership with Garvey is understood to have come to an end, with the restaurant having closed on July 15. Read more in Money The business' website is currently down and guests are unable to make bookings. It will come as a shock to many as the establishment - which seats 65 people - had received glowing reviews from food critics. Praising the restaurant, The Times critic Giles Coren said: 'Victor is doing fancy French now, and quite brilliantly, of course.' Ahead of its opening, Garvey, who also runs Michelin-starred restaurant Sola in Soho, described the space as "one of the best dining rooms in the world". Most read in Money Speaking to The Caterer, he said: 'I'm really excited. The idea for me is old world, new ideas. 'Rather than recreating old dishes I'm looking at the philosophy behind those old French dishes. "These are all very traditional French things but we're making it sexier, we're making it lighter. "One day Harry came to me and said that he wanted me to take over the Midland Grand Dining Room. 'He had been thinking a lot and said he wanted to have a Michelin star here and for it to be one of the best restaurants in the world and one of the best dining rooms in the world. Huge restaurant chain 'up for sale' putting 70 sites at risk of closure "I thought – I'm pretty sure I can do that." A seven-course tasting menu at the fine dining location would cost diners £139 per person. Dishes included lobster tempered in butter and served out of the shell with its own roe and spiced carrot. Another popular menu item was the red tuna served with white peach, roasted leek and a green almond sorbet. The hotel was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott and opened in 1873 next to St Pancras Station. But it was closed in 1935 and relaunched as the Renaissance almost 80 years later. Now owned by Marriott, the hotel sits at the front of the busy St Pancras train station. 3 A seven-course tasting menu at the fine dining location would cost diners £139 per person Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Michelin-starred chef closes ‘spectacular' restaurant for good after just five months
The restaurant was hailed as "one of the best dining rooms in the world" KITCHEN CLOSED Michelin-starred chef closes 'spectacular' restaurant for good after just five months Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MICHELIN-starred chef has been forced to close his "spectacular" restaurant after just five months. Victor Garvey's namesake diner in St Pancras, north London, appears to have shut its doors for the final time this week after only opening in February. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand has closed its doors Credit: Victor Garvey Official 3 The fine dining restaurant has closed after just five months Staff at Victory Garvey at the Midland Grand - situated in the luxury St Pancras Renaissance Hotel - reportedly confirmed that the restaurant had closed. Garvey had relaunched Irish chef Patrick Powell's restaurant earlier this year alongside businessman Harry Handelsman, who owns the hotel. Powell left the business in July last year. And now the latest partnership with Garvey is understood to have come to an end, with the restaurant having closed on July 15. The business' website is currently down and guests are unable to make bookings. It will come as a shock to many as the establishment - which seats 65 people - had received glowing reviews from food critics. Praising the restaurant, The Times critic Giles Coren said: 'Victor is doing fancy French now, and quite brilliantly, of course.' Ahead of its opening, Garvey, who also runs Michelin-starred restaurant Sola in Soho, described the space as "one of the best dining rooms in the world". Speaking to The Caterer, he said: 'I'm really excited. The idea for me is old world, new ideas. 'Rather than recreating old dishes I'm looking at the philosophy behind those old French dishes. "These are all very traditional French things but we're making it sexier, we're making it lighter. "One day Harry came to me and said that he wanted me to take over the Midland Grand Dining Room. 'He had been thinking a lot and said he wanted to have a Michelin star here and for it to be one of the best restaurants in the world and one of the best dining rooms in the world. Huge restaurant chain 'up for sale' putting 70 sites at risk of closure "I thought – I'm pretty sure I can do that." A seven course tasting menu at the fine dining location would cost diners £139 per person. Dishes included lobster tempered in butter and served out of the shell with its own roe and spiced carrot. Another popular menu item was the red tuna served with white peach, roasted leek and a green almond sorbet. The hotel was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott and opened in 1873 next to St Pancras Station. But it was closed in 1935 and relaunched as the Renaissance almost 80 years later. Marcus Wareing went on to run the Gilbert Scott restaurant when the hotel reopened. Now owned by Marriott, the hotel sits at the front of the busy St Pancras train station.
Time Out
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
One of the most glamorous dining rooms in London has shut without warning
A historic hotel restaurant in St Pancras has closed with no warning. Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand launched at the start of the year, taking over the space previously known as the Midland Grand Dining Room. The restaurant, which is part of the St Pancras London hotel, has apparently stopped taking bookings and staff members have confirmed to the Caterer that the restaurant closed on July 15. Chef Victor Garvey, who is also behind Soho's Michelin starred spot Sola, took over the restaurant from chef Patrick Powell, who was behind the iconic room's relaunch in 2023, but left in 2024. Powell is currently cooking at One Club Row in Shoreditch. The relaunched Midland Grand promised a modern take on classic French cooking under Garvey, who is yet to remark on the closure of the restaurant. Time Out has reached out to the Midland Grand for comment. On the restaurant's launch, Garvey told the Caterer: 'A chef only gets an opportunity like this, where they are offered a big dining room, once or twice in their life. It happened to Joël Robuchon, to Alain Ducasse, all the big guys, and I'm very excited.' The glitzy room was home to Marcus Wareing's The Gilbert Scott for a decade until the pandemic. The George Gilbert Scott -designed hotel opened in 1873 and was known as the Midland Grand Hotel until it closed in 1935. The building was then used as railway offices until reopening as a hotel in 2011. The restaurant's adjoining Gothic Bar – also designed by Gilbert Scott – remains open. 'We challenge you to find a more spectacular drinking den in all of London,' says the Time Out review. 'A majestic, ludicrously high-ceilinged space… the Gothic Bar is a feat of Victorian architectural sass.'
Spectator
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
A man's restaurant: Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand reviewed
The Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station is George Gilbert Scott's masterpiece: his Albert Memorial in Hyde Park (a big dead prince under a big gold cross) has just too much sex to it. Late Victorian architecture seethes with erotica. The facetious will say imperialism was really just penetration, and there's something in that. It is now the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London – oh, the fretted imaginings of marketing departments – and, on a more conscious level, the closest you will get to the great age of rail, though spliced with plastic now. The modern station is ugly and translucent and sells face cream to tourists, and buns. But it hasn't lost its drama. This is the gateway to Europe and Derby. There is a monumental statue of lovers embracing by the platforms: it is 30ft high, and bronze. I think her skirt is from Hobbs, but I went to a girls' school. Inside is Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand, formerly the Gilbert Scott, a fine-dining restaurant (the phrase should be suppressed) in the French style (Garvey's grandmother was Charles de Gaulle's cook). The hotel's interiors – bloody Catholic neo-Gothic – are familiar from a bewildering panorama of films, which I should like to see welded together, and here: Richard III, The Secret Garden, Batman Begins. But sumptuousness does not intrude into the dining room; rather, the drama stops. It's a lovely room, tall and curved, and they have broken it. Neo-Gothicis camp itself: too much is not enough, as sang the Kids from Fame. Blood will have blood. This is decorated with creams and browns, possibly because men – this is a man's restaurant – think bright colours are feminine, to which I say: meet William Morris. Someone has installed Art Deco lighting. I know worse things happened to the Midland Grand when it was a British Rail office, but still. We are on a vast table on a small stage. It feels like Posh and Becks's wedding. The staff are young, charming and very literal. They stick to the script. And that is French haute cuisine, skilled to the point of agonised. There is a menu gourmandise for £179 and a menu experience for £139. (Wine pairings are £99 to £219.) We eat à la carte, because tasting menus are torture. Even so, we are brought, unasked, a dish of tomato stripped, remade and laid with flowers. I know Garvey is a brilliant chef. I can feel his childhood strivings. Faced with them at dinner, I just wish he'd try less hard. Whatever he performs on his tomato – and he does every-thing you can conceive of, and somethings you can't – it is already perfect. He is tilting at tomato phantoms. We eat Devon rock crab with sweet pea and seaweed vinegar, shrouded with foam (£28); a jumbo quail with girolles, broken apart and reconstituted as if by a tiny murderous Borrower (£32); tortellini with morel (£29). If it is all intense – this food needs Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor to accompany it – the only real failure is the tortellini. It appears under a slick of foam so thick I think I am driving in fog. You clear the foam as if seeking an airway: food as a scream for resuscitation. The warm bread, though, is perfect. All gifted chefs do this. It is a taunt. Still, the clients – tables of financiers, you can tell from the haircuts – seem happy. On the wall is a cracked mirror. If they look hard enough – and they won't – they will see Garvey's ideal version of themselves. Sign up for the Lunchtime Espresso newsletter Sign up
