The Braywood opens in November 2024, emerging from the former site of The Royal Oak in Paley Street. So how did we get from drawing board to dining destination?
Getting started
Well known and well regarded, the Royal Oak had been formerly owned by Sir Michael Parkinson and his son Nick Parkinson and enjoyed high profile visitors including a serving Prime Minister.
So when the site was put on the market in 2019, WSH Restaurants (the team behind The Woodspeen in Newbury) were keen to explore the possibilities.
World events played some small part in delaying the project, but eventually the brief was issued to Chris Bagot Architects.
The vision was clear – to create a fresh and contemporary new restaurant that paid homage to its setting but elevated the dining experience with bold architectural character, light and luxurious interiors and a signature hospitality concept.
Chris and his team went to work, and a bright and airy design began to develop from the historic core. The original landmark white building remained at the centre, with glassy architectural additions to house the main restaurant and cocktail bar, wrapped on all sides with lush landscaping. Structures and materials that hint at a carefree Californian aesthetic strike a contrast to the traditional English facade, surprising and delighting all who cross the threshold.
Fast forward to 2024, and work began in earnest – and little by little the drawings began to come to life.
Steels gave an early indication of the size of the 70-cover dining room. The kitchen which felt small initially, became generous once fitted out. And minor changes were made along the way – a bigger wine cellar, walls moved slightly, and revisions to highway access – all carefully considered to refine the finished concept.
Selection of the small but special touches followed, with regular meetings of the core team to choose menu covers and materials, napkins, table settings, and serveware – down to the smallest coffee spoon. No aspect of the experience has gone unconsidered!
An impressive wine list of over 600 bins has been carefully assembled over the course of 2024, with more than 20 wines by the glass, and a good selection of English wines. Meanwhile, Head Chef Sam Brennan was hard at work developing his first menu for The Braywood – elegant, brasserie-inspired dishes rooted in seasonality and carefully sourced for provenance.
General Manager Thomas Gammella has also been hard at work hand-selecting a team of top-notch hospitality professionals.
With just weeks to go, the final major hurdle was the installation of a vast picture window for the restaurant – a substantial single piece of glass allowing uninterrupted views of the garden beyond. Once this was safely in place, it was all systems go.
The rest of the story you can see for yourself. The Braywood opens on 23rd November 2024.
