Crispin founders to launch Soho wine bar

The duo behind London restaurant Crispin have announced they will open a natural wine bar with food under the same name in Soho this summer.

Dominic Hamdy and Oliver Hiam’s Bar Crispin will offer a 150-strong natural wine list curated by Crispin sommelier Stefano Cazzato, with a focus on old world and indigenous grape varietals and small independent producers.

The 42-cover site, which incorporates a private dining room and outside terrace, will open all day serving breakfast pastries as well as a lunchtime and evening menu of bar snacks, small plates, cheese and charcuterie.

The menu will be curated by Crispin head chef Naz Hassan in collaboration with consultant executive chef Tom Cenci, formerly of Joël Robuchon, Loyal Tavern and Stoney Street.

Dishes will include secret smokehouse salmon and house pickles; white beans, green sauce and Le Coste olive oil; and Crispin signature dish Fish in a Tin – smoked mackerel with sourdough and butter.

Hamdy said: “During the lockdowns we saw a huge increase in wine sales, both in person to take home and via our online shop, Crispin Stores. We also launched the Crispin wine club in late 2020, which has been a real hit with our customers, so it seems fair that our next site should continue this focus on the wine, alongside a knock-out bar snack menu.

“We are super excited to open Bar Crispin this summer. We are right behind the iconic Liberty, just off Carnaby Street on Kingly Street, which is a great location for our first real central London site. And after such a shocker of a year for hospitality, and the country in general, we hope we can offer some much needed positive vibes and bring the fun back to dining and drinking out, Crispin-style.”