CRIMSON TIDE: Vivienne Westwood has reimagined the outdoor terrace of J Sheekey to mark the 130th anniversary of the landmark London restaurant that started as a stall holder in 1896 serving post-theater suppers to hungry thespians and audiences.
Characters from Westwood’s distinctive “Evolution of Man” archive print, first shown in the fall 1996 menswear collection, have been painted onto the windows of the restaurant’s red terrace. They have also been engraved on glassware, and appear on the terrace menus, tableware and linens. There are also illustrated coasters and custom ceramics, which are inspired by the Westwood designs.
“To reflect culture moving from the past, through the present and into the future, we chose this archive design to dress the surroundings of J Sheekey,” said Alexander Krenn, senior designer at Vivienne Westwood.
Krenn described J Sheekey as a place where “people meet, connect and spend wonderful hours together. We celebrate a place of tradition and quality, where people can understand the world through theater and the arts.”
A Black Velvet and oysters on the terrace at J Sheekey in London.
Richard Caring, chairman of J Sheekey’s owner Caprice Holdings, argued that “few places have become woven into the cultural fabric of London in the way J Sheekey has over the last 130 years. The restaurant has always reflected the quintessence of the West End — creative, theatrical and full of character. We are honored to partner with Vivienne Westwood in our milestone year, another British institution defined by individuality, craftsmanship and an enduring influence on culture.”
Inside, at the bar, a giant ice carving of Westwood’s logo, a bejeweled orb, sits alongside portraits of cultural figures on the wall.
On Monday night, the two British brands marked their collaboration with a cocktail party featuring freshly-shucked Jersey oysters, salt-and-pepper squid and Sheekey shrimp sliders.
Some cocktails were made with Tanqueray No. Ten gin, while others came with Guinness, including a Black Velvet, made from a mix of the famous Irish stout and Champagne. The collaboration will last until the end of the summer.
