While his “edgy, modernist culinary temple” Story by Tower Bridge undergoes a complete refurb, celebrated chef Tom Sellers will launch a banqueting-style pop-up in Bermondsey from 4-22 April. Merry Men is designed to give an immersive dining experience in the heart of SE1. The name is an homage to Tom’s Nottingham upbringing and Robin Hood’s band of outlaws.
Merry Men will draw on Tom’s passion for history and provenance by bringing elements of storytelling into the menu.
The banquet-style menu will focus on traditionally prepared meats, alongside drinks selected by Story’s head sommelier. Dishes will include: Bone marrow, eel and parsley; Smoked haddock in milk; Braised and hot smoked lamb leg, anchovies and capers; Beef cheeks in hay; and Lardy cake with salted blackberries and cultured ice cream.
Each Wednesday the pop-up will host a guest chef, such as Jason Atherton on 18 April (more dates and names TBC), who will collaborate on a menu and cook alongside Tom. In true philanthropic Merry Men style, the project will donate a portion of each ticket sold to Hospitality Action, with a larger portion being donated on guest chef evenings.
The 60-seat venue – a former warehouse at 32 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TU – will be open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. A bar accommodating up to 40 guests will serve a woodland-themed cocktail menu created by mixologist Matt Whiley and supported by Bombay Sapphire, alongside a smaller snack menu called ‘Pig Tales’.
Tickets must be pre-booked and are priced at £60.27 for four courses including a drink. Bookings will be available from 19 February 2018 via Eventbrite.
To mark the final evening of ‘Merry Men’ on 22 April, the team will host The Last Feast, a market day where all elements of pop-up will be for sale, from crockery to cutlery and glassware – Tom Sellers will donate the profits made on the sale of these items to Hospitality Action. The venue will also be available for pre-arranged private hire for large parties during this period.
Story will close on 31 March for the first since opening in 2013, the restaurant’s new look will ‘reflect Tom’s development as a restauranteur’.
