What: Watch House Somerset House
In a nutshell: New cafe for Somerset House
Summing it all up: Taking over the old Fernandez & Well site, Watch House will serve up coffee by day, moving through to small plates, wine and British cocktails by night.
The low-down
A coffee house group, which makes a point of opening only in buildings that are beautiful and historic, is taking its next step by opening at Somerset House.
Watch House, which already has cafes in Bermondsey, Tower Bridge, Fetter Lane and Spitalfields, is taking over the old Fernandez & Wells site. They've spent a fair old while making the space over. "Each one is designed to highlight its specific history," they say, "but equally to bring it into our contemporary moment and make that atmosphere accessible to anyone who steps in."
At Somerset House that means, for example, adding "a 5m tall living tree positioned right in the middle of this Georgian masterpiece."
By day they'll be a cafe, serving up top coffees and pastries and at night, it'll take on more of a wine bar vibe. They've teamed up with Ozone for their espressos and there's also going to be a single origin filter coffee brewing bar with a choice of coffees.
Food-wise, there'll be the usual pasties, porridge and granola in the morning, moving through to sandwiches and soups at lunch and then small plates and British cocktails to go with their wine. They also go big on brunch.
More about Watch House Somerset House
Where is it? Somerset House, East Wing, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
When does it open? 24 February 2020
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @watchhouse
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