Tom Sellers launched Restaurant Story in Tooley Street, London, SE1, in April 2013. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star within five months of opening, and, among other accolades, it has maintained a top rating in the Waitrose Good Food Guide with a position in their “Top 50 Restaurants”, and five rosettes in the AA Restaurant Guide. Tom has also been included in Forbes 2016 ’30 under 30’ list and the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000.
From 31 March 2018, Restaurant Story will temporarily close to undergo an extensive month-long interior renovation, the first since its launch. Re-opening on 8 May, the redesign will not only transform the look and feel of the restaurant, but will coincide with a new menu concept and a refined guest experience. Diners will no longer be given a menu upon arrival, rather each table will be treated individually, creating their own bespoke ‘story’. Similarly, as much of the food and beverage service as possible will be performed in the dining room in front of guests, from a drinks trolley to table-side food preparation.
The overall interior refurbishment, will primarily focus on the improvement and maturation of the dining room, with the addition of a feature ceiling installation of swallows taking flight. More textured materials and colour will be presented throughout, including the introduction of tablecloths, more luxurious curved seating and glazed window panels to bring warmth into the room. Music in the dining room will feature a playlist curated by the band Rudimental.
Commenting on the refurbishment, Tom Sellers noted: “It is important that the physical space within Story reflects the way that my team and my style of cooking have developed over the years. I was very fortunate, but very young, when Story first opened, and I’m excited to look to the future and bring an entirely different experience to our guests.”
