Hoppers, the restaurant inspired by the home cooking and roadside stalls of Sri Lanka and southern India from JKS restaurants, will open in Pancras Square, King’s Cross in February 2020. The inspiration for Hoppers King’s Cross follows the much-travelled coastal journey from Colombo, the island’s capital, to the historical Dutch town of Galle.
Taking cues from iconic landmarks along the scenic coastal route, the interiors are led by Article Design Studio and incorporate features from the Geoffrey Bawa-designed Bentota Railway Station and the Coat of Arms Bar at Jetwing’s Lighthouse Hotel in Galle.
Welcoming guests will be a centrepiece iron-clad concrete bar, complemented by warm, terracotta-toned floors throughout the main dining area. Batik-patterned designs adorn the ceilings, and the walls are decorated with traditional hand-loom fabric panels woven exclusively for Hoppers by Selyn, Sri Lanka’s only Fair Trade guaranteed company and retailer working with and empowering weavers and artists in local villages. The lighting within the space will imitate the Dutch influences throughout the town of Galle, with cast iron framed glass lanterns illuminating the main dining room.
Staying true to Hoppers’ philosophy of family-style feasting, the menu will feature all-new bar bites, seafood grills and beachside snacks. Negombo Crab Kari, Jaffna Isso Vade, Black Pepper Curry Leaf Prawn Skewers, Quail Kari, and Sprat and Brinjal Pahe will be exclusive to the Kings Cross menu.
Hoppers King’s Cross will have a much larger bar than the previous sites, featuring a selection of beers on tap, including two of Hoppers’ own brewed beers- the ‘Hoppers SPL’ (Sri Lankan Pale Lager) in collaboration with local brewery Camden Town Brewery, a fresh, crisp lager with the addition of green mango; and a ‘Toddy Ale’ in collaboration with SALT Beer Factory in Bradford, a rich, creamy coconut IPA inspired by toddy, a fermented coconut drink from Sri Lanka.
The cocktail list will feature sharing punches, swizzles and coolers inspired by classic 1960s Tiki-style drinks, blended with tropical flavours from the sub-continent. Guests can also order ‘tap cocktails’ such as Nitro Frothy Kappi, a spiced creamy nitro cold brew espresso martini made using Sri Lankan coffee, and Arrack Attack No.3, a house fermented ginger beer with Ceylon Arrack and lime.
