This restaurant is closed.
In its short life it gave memorable tastes and moments of gastronomic happiness to its customers. It opened in the Spring of 2011 and closed in December 2012. It was an investment of Trevor Gulliver and Fergus Henderson, owners of the ‘St. John Restaurant’ in East London, that went bad.
Before it became ‘St John Hotel’, the building housed Manzi’s, a high quality fish restaurant. One day Mr. Manzi sold everything, and headed off to Monte Carlo, giving to Fergus Henderson and his business partner Trevor Gulliver the opportunity to try out their hotel and restaurant concept in Central London.
In April 1838, the building housed the ‘Hotel du Commerce’. Johan Strauss, the Austrian composer of the Radetzsky March lodged there on his first visit to England.
Planning for the hotel and the restaurant started in 2007. The hotel would have 15 rooms only. The contractor assured the owner firm ‘St John Chinatown Ltd’ that the works would be completed by the end of 2010. Based on this assurance, the owner hired personnel and took hotel bookings for Christmas 2010.
The contractor failed to complete the works by Christmas 2010. Only half the rooms were ready in April 2011.
The total cost of the renovation and other investment came up to 5.5 millions UK Pounds, 2.5 of which were contributed by friends of Trevor Gulliver και Fergus Henderson.
The delay in the completion of the renovation resulted in operational loss of 1.4 million UK Pounds for 2011.
While the owners were struggling with the financial problems of the hotel and restaurant, the critics loved the restaurant, and Michelin awarded it a star.
On the 19th October 2012 the business went into receivership as it could no longer serve its debts and other financial obligations. St John Chinatown Ltd lost 2.98 millions UK Pounds. The investment might have been successful if it included only the restaurant, a business that the owners knew well.
The dining hall was rectangular, with an open kitchen.
The staff was exceptional. During my two visits they made me feel right at home.
And what is most important for the weary traveller, is that the kitchen was open continuously from 12 noon to 12 midnight, and even later if the customers wanted it.
Here are the dishes I tasted in my visits to the restaurant.
Ox Heart, Beetroot and Red Cabbage
Snails, Duck Hearts and Lovage
Cuttlefish, Fennel and Green Sauce
Gastrolvios 