Phil Winser, James Gummer and Olivier van Themsche will open CeCe’s on 4 March on Clarendon Road, promising to bring ‘a timeless, playful feel to west London, pairing old school hospitality with a sense of secrecy and escapism’.
CeCe’ will serve a menu rooted in classic Italian dishes, ‘with a hint of Hollywood’. Dishes will include an aubergine parmigiana; bream carpaccio with caviar; fonduta agnlotti; chicken vignole; and bistecca alla Forentina.
The wine list will feature a generous selection of Italian wines, as well as a sizeable Burgundy and Bordeaux section, and classics from the rest of Europe and the US.
The restaurant will be set across two floors, with the use of low lighting with table lamps designed to create a touch of ‘old school elegance’.
Public House Group has grown steadily in the capital over the past few years with venues including The Pelican, The Fat Badger and Canteen in Notting Hill, The Hero in Maida Vale, and The Hart in Marylebone. It also operates wilderness cooking venue The Bushcamp in and The Bull in Charlbury.
The space was previously home to neighbourhood restaurant Casa Cruz and prior to that pub The Clarendon, which is why the trio say they were initially drawn to the site. “Initially we looked at the space as it was once a pub, but we fell in love with the glamour and unique design,” says van Themsche.
“The surreal interiors and character hidden behind the copper door inspired us to create a restaurant that felt both current and exciting, whilst retaining the allure of traditional hospitality.”
Gummer adds: “We want CeCe’s to feel glamorous and fun. Somewhere our guests can come to escape the day to day and transport them to a different place and time.”