Venue of the Month – Corrigan’s Mayfair
On-Trade Progress’ October Venue of the Month took me deep into the heart of London’s West End, and to the timelessly classy Corrigan’s, in Mayfair. Just a stone’s throw away from the leafy grounds of Hyde Park, Mayfair is one of the most exquisite areas in our Capital and boasts a wealth of exclusive hotels, gourmet restaurants, high-end bars and traditional pubs. With such a variety of top-class choice, I had to find somewhere that really stood out, even amongst some of the best establishments that London has to offer, and Corrigan’s certainly fits the bill.
Standing outside Corrigan’s on this cold September night, there’s a fantastic autumn feel in the air and I enter through elegant, polished wooden doors into a hearty, warm setting. Corrigan’s is owned by award-winning, Michelin star chef, Richard Corrigan, who’s glistening career has seen him journey from Ireland, spend several years in the Netherlands and work for some of the finest restaurants in London.
Corrigan’s has a graceful and stylish bar area with a varied selection of drinks to choose from. There’s a fantastic atmosphere in this part of the venue, suited to all, whether you are just in for a drink or looking for somewhere cosy to finish your bottle of wine after dinner.
The restaurant itself, is beautifully decorated with stone-blue leather seats and booths scattered around the room, set together perfectly by low-hanging, ambient ceiling lights. Each wall features an impressive piece of artwork which really helps to set the tone for the distinguished atmosphere. The Starter Menu boasts Vietnamese Oysters, Beef Tartare with Smoked Eel and Cornish Crab with Gazpacho. The pick of the mains are a Pumpkin & Stilton Risotto, Lamb Cutlets and Roasted Grouse. You can choose from the likes of Cherry & Hibiscus Cake, Melon Cheesecake and Banoffee Soufflé on the Desert Menu. The absolute star of the show, however, has to be the Monkfish which is served with exquisitely curried mussels and onions which are glazed in pale ale.
Outstanding food aside, what Corrigan’s does really well is create an atmosphere to match the niche and the target audience they are trying to achieve. Regular readers will hear me bang on, month after month, about how important it is to choose the niche of your establishment. The old saying “jack of all trades, master of none” is so relevant to hospitality venues. In order to design the interior of your premises as faultlessly as Corrigan’s, to make your menu as mouth-wateringly exciting or to create the atmosphere that suits each and every guest so perfectly, no matter the time of day, then you have to know what you are aiming for. In my humble opinion, this is what Corrigan’s do best. They have a fantastic team of chefs, which are highlighted through a remarkable menu. The wonderful food on offer, is served to you in a simple, yet elegant room which has been designed to create the perfect atmosphere to enjoy fine food.
This venue has identified their niche… their unique selling point, and every aspect of this has been executed flawlessly. Corrigan’s oozes class and luxury from every single feature, and you can tell that every single detail has been meticulously planned and chosen. If your target audience is a high-end punter, looking for a gourmet, ostentatious environment perfect for “wining & dining”, then take a leaf out of Corrigan’s leather-bound, book – because they have created a winning combination!
