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Fabled Studio reimagines London’s three-Michelin-Star restaurant, Core by Clare Smyth
A new era is dawning at Core by Clare Smyth with Fabled Studio’s highly-anticipated redesign of their restaurant in Notting Hill, London.
Core, which reopened in October, has been a London dining institution since it first opened its doors in August 2017. The restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars for its modern take on British Fine Dining as well as receiving the top accolade of five AA rosettes. Other noticeable awards include ‘Best Restaurant’ at the GQ Food and Drink Awards as well as being voted ‘Best Gastonomic Experience in the Harden’s guide 2023.
As part of the redesign, Fabled Studio is elevating the interiors with an elegant makeover; an ode to the craft and capability of the British Isles. An amplification of Core’s DNA will be expressed through indigenous materiality to align with the ethos of this three-star kitchen. Core’s appeal lies not only in its seasonal cooking, but also its natural warmth and effortless charm - team this with Fabled Studio’s timeless interior style, and the result is a modern, confident, assured and progressive restaurant.
Fabled Studio’s house style is sophisticated, modern and assured Known as one of the foremost interior designer practices in the industry, the studio has undertaken the design of commercial and residential projects the world over, including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Socca, and Oncore by Clare Smyth, to name just a few.
Led by Fabled Co-Founder, Steven Saunders, his aim is to "look to the heritage of the restaurant to envision a design that's full of character; yet comfortable in its own skin and always looking forwards. I wanted to create a space that complements the restaurant's ethos and the refined cooking of Clare Smyth.”
The new stylish bar, ‘Whisky and Seaweed’, is an elegant addition to the restaurant, able to host visitors for a relaxed drink in a separate area to the main dining space. Embracing a dark and brooding colour palette of sea greens, deep purples and warm coppers reminiscent of the sea and kelp forests, the space is dominated by features including a 3.5m metre-long bar, in a textured copper with an iconic whisky display and ladder to access over 300 varieties of the finest whiskies sourced from the British Isles. Signature panelling with verre eglomise mirror by Emma Peascod wraps around the room, to create another striking feature along the walls.
Additional artwork by Ewan David Eason bar seating, and chairs sitting at a cocktail height with tables, allow diners to sink back and enjoy their sophisticated surroundings. A warm glow from the sculptural tea lights shimmering on the glass table tops makes for a relaxed, residential feel.
From there, guests are led through the chef’s table, which is carefully curated and inspired by the unique charm of British eccentricity, with a framed ceiling and living flourishes throughout. The setting allows for private lunches, and dinners for special guests who want a front row seat of the kitchen pass.
Onwards is the Restaurant area. The new design captivates the essence of British sensibilities and craft with an understated formality and relaxed elegance. It features a framed entrance, new burr oak service points, smoked oak timber flooring and bespoke wall lamps and chairs which complement the brass detailing and chairs in varying shades of sage green. Artist Hanny Newton has been commissioned to create bespoke panelling around the restaurant wrapped in linen and embroidered in a stitched copper vine detail, reminiscent of the vine from Core’s logo.
Core by Clare Smyth’s new interiors capture and celebrate the character of this iconic restaurant, offering a distillation, amplification and sharpening of the Core DNA.
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