The Ivy owner to open restaurant with 24ft crystal statue at Selfridges

Caprice Holdings, the restaurant group behind The Ivy, is to open a new restaurant inside London department store Selfridges next month called Brasserie of Light, with a 24ft crystal statue by British artist Damien Hirst taking centre stage.

Set to open next month, the Art-Deco all-day brasserie will offer a menu of British classics and internationally-inspired dishes, with the kitchen helmed by Emanuel Machado, formerly of Covent Garden favourite Balthazar.

Spaghetti with lobster will be a signature main course, followed by a Pegasus Pie served with a yuzu coconut cloud for dessert is one its the dishes. While its cocktail list will include The Queen of Time – an English interpretation of a Kir Royale, and the Est. 1909, which combines two hot drinks trends, gin and Prosecco.

At the centre of the restaurant will be a striking artwork by artist Hirst – a 24ft crystal-encrusted statue of Pegasus, with a 30ft wingspan, galloping above diners. It will become Hirst’s largest scale artwork in London to date.

“I love the myth of the Pegasus and this is such an exciting project and I love the scale of it. I hope it’s going to look like something beautiful from another world,” says Hirst of creating the installation.

Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the light-filled restaurant is part of the final stages of the department store’s £300 million investment in its flagship location.

“The Brasserie of Light is a new look spectacle where the input of Damien Hirst, Martin Brudnizki and the absolute strength of Selfridges; this mix has resulted in what I believe to be something very beautiful. It is about light, make-believe and dreams”, said Richard Caring, owner of Caprice Holdings.

It will also see Selfridges, for the first time in its 109-year history, offer after-hours dining for its guests, thanks to a separate Duke Street entrance.

Brasserie Of Light is set to open in Selfridges in late November.