Cophenhagen Concepts Signs for Regent Street’s Art Deco Brewer Street Restaurant

May 21, 2012

Following its restoration of two of London’s most famous and iconic Art Deco restaurants, Davis Coffer Lyons has advised The Crown Estate to secure MASH (Modern American Steak House), owned by Copenhagen Concepts ApS, at the Brewer Street restaurant at Quadrant 3.

Together with the Sherwood Street restaurant which was let to Rex Restaurant Associates last year, the Brewer Street restaurant has been painstakingly restored over the last three years as part of The Crown Estate’s £300 million Quadrant 3 development.

Situated just off Regent Street and close to Piccadilly Circus, this will be the first MASH restaurant outside of Denmark. Founded and part owned by Jesper Boelskifte, one of Europe’s most successful restaurateurs and the organisation’s CEO, Copenhagen Concepts ApS is the company behind the renowned Le Sommelier and UMAMI.

Commenting on the news, David Shaw, Head of Regent Street Portfolio at The Crown Estate said: “In MASH we have unquestionably found the ideal operator for the historic Brewer Street restaurant. Copenhagen Concepts ApS are one of Europe’s most successful restaurateurs and we know they will deliver the best steak restaurant in London.”

Jesper Boelskifte, Chief Executive of Copenhagen Concepts ApS, added: “For our first restaurant outside of Denmark we could not have chosen a better location. Regent Street’s transformation over the last ten years is remarkable and we plan to add to the attraction of the area with our MASH concept which has been so successful elsewhere. The MASH experience is based on the best meat in the world, professional service, and a location that creates a unique atmosphere. That kind of location we have found at Brewer Street.”

Inspired by the great steak houses in New York, MASH offers a high quality, tailored service which delivers an authentic experience. Two Michelin starred chef, Francis Cardenau, and award winning sommelier, Peter Trauboth, will both be based at Brewer Street.

The Brewer Street restaurant is steeped in history. It was once an integral part of the 800 room Regent Palace Hotel, which was built between 1910 and 1913. In the 1930s, the space was revitalised by Oliver Bernard, a revered West End stage set designer. Bernard’s design brought the glamour of the 1930s and all the theatre of the stage to these historic dining and entertainment destinations. It is this Bernard design that has now been painstakingly revitalised as part of Quadrant 3.

Timber veneer, gold leaf architraving, marble, brass, mirrors, ceilings, and even original wallpaper have been meticulously catalogued, removed and reinstated by expert artisan craftsmen, led by architect, Donald Insall Associates, before being put back together again like a complex jigsaw.

The restoration work was based on detailed research into the original 1930s designs and features, which in many cases, by the late 20th century had been lost. These lost interiors have been resurrected in the Brewer restaurant with the help of Bernard’s original drawings and photographs.