Located in one of the former stable blocks within Updown’s extensive grounds that was previously used for storage, Bar Vita will accommodate up to 30 guests.
The ground floor will feature a long marble bar with stools, alongside banquette seating.
A semi-private snug on the mezzanine level will overlook the main seating area.
During the summer months, a large covered terrace will open, providing space for a further 20 guests and offering views across Updown’s ancient woodland.
The space is described as an ode “to the glamour and bustle of these timeless Roman watering holes”, with design details including marble, lacquered wood and luxurious banquette seating.
Made and served by staff dressed in branded cream jackets (pictured above), the cocktail menu will include martinis, fig leaf negronis, shakertos with clementine.
There will also be “plenty of grappa” and a selection of wines from the Updown cellar.
A simple snack menu will complement the drinks offering, with dishes including croquettes ‘cacio e pepe’, chopped liver toast, anchovy and lardo bruschetta, pizzetta bianca, and deep-fried apple with pecorino and honey.
“Bar Vita is a love letter to the country that has stolen our hearts – it’s everything we love about Rome; the bright lights that tempted us down untrodden paths to hidden gems, the simple but delicious cocktails paired with inventive snacks,” the pair say of the opening.
“It’s got the glamour of Harry’s with the charm of Bar San Callisto, and an atmosphere that makes it open to all, from hotel guests to those just popping in for a drink.”
Bar Vita will be open seven days a week from midday until late.
Leigh and Brown launched Updown in 2022 within a 17th-century farmhouse in Betteshanger, near Deal.
Set within a conservatory, the restaurant focuses on seasonal, Italian-accented British food and is currently listed in Restaurant’s Top 100 Restaurants in the UK.