The subterranean bar on the border of Soho, Below Stone Nest, is to reopen next month after a hefty revamp.
Brothers Frank and Jackson Boxer — known for Frank’s bar in Peckham and Brunswick House, Vauxhall, respectively — have put together a “highball-focused drinks menu” and a food offering of “bold, vegetable-forward” small plates.
New cocktails include the “Ranch Water”, a “Russian Spring Punch”, and the “Ting Wray”. No details as to what might go into these has been shared, though chances are Wray and Nephew rum, and Ting, the grapefruit-flavoured soft drink, make an appearance in the latter. Most are priced at £12.
As for food, Jackson Boxer, who most recently opened the Paris-inspired bistro Henri in Covent Garden, has put together dishes such as devilled eggs with potted shrimp, octopus and guindilla, koshihikari rice with preserved vegetables, and a “Below Bikini” toasted sandwich that combines Paris ham, Temple Gall cheese, boudin noir and Aleppo pepper honey (perhaps following in the footsteps of the likes of restaurants Ibai and Lolo, which are serving similar to much acclaim).
Below Stone Nest launched in October 2021 as an intimate, pared-back space — some might say a dive bar — below the arts and performance venue Stone Nest on Shaftesbury Avenue. It closed earlier this year for maintenance work.
Interiors have been reworked by the designer Jermaine Gallacher who has, press material says, “reimagined the space to create a glam nighttime setting with a distinctive edge, retaining the iconic punk spirit of the former Limelight club.”
Now in place in the former church basement are bespoke steel and wood-stained chairs made by Ben Burgis, hand painted murals, and candle sconces fabricated specially for the project.
Frank Boxer said: “When we launched below in 2021, our goal was to create an accessible, welcoming and joyfully creative bar with a straightforward, meticulous offering. We were astounded by the popularity and thrilled that it was still possible to create a dive bar filled with bright, young people in the middle of London’s West End.
“As we prepare to reopen, we hold fast to our original vision and are excited to be working with Jermaine to present an updated experience that better serves our community, complementing the exceptional artistic programming of Stone Nest.”
