So the French-Brit duo of Tanzi and Jean-Francois are at it again. Eighteen months after the doors opened to their atmospheric French bistro they’ve snapped up another outlet on Fortess Road.
With its restored interior and retained EJ Evans newsagent signage, the new venue from the hit restaurateurs will be called Patron Cave à Manger, a deli, charcuterie and wine shop.
You may remember it as the former Housepresso estate agent and coffee shop. And don’t fear, it will retain all of its features, including high ceilings, wooden floors, architraving and original fireplace – along with the pleasing old newsagent’s sign from the 1900s.
“From the outside it will have a warm glow and be very inviting to the customer,” says Tanzi. “We’ve acquired all the furniture at French flea markets and brocantes during our travels across France. We hope it’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time, or have just discovered a hidden gem on the off streets of Paris.”
Fair enough. And handily, a large hand drawn map of France will be on one of the walls to explain where the produce originates to quizzical customers.
This new Patron will serve a small selection of fare – from cheeses to hams, breads and wine – sourced directly from farmers and producers, while a communal wooden sharing table seats ten people, so you can dine in too. An enomatic wine dispenser will enable the customer to sample the wine before buying.
So all in all, a far cry from its incarnation as pop-up cinema successful run earlier in the summer, eh?
Article updated September 29th