New restaurant Wild By Tart opens in former power station
We discover Wild By Tart, a new restaurant in Victoria that doubles as a fully immersive, multi-purpose space.
Housed in a former power station and coal store, Wild By Tart is a new 9000 sq. ft. neighbourhood restaurant launched in October, in London’s trendy Victoria. Located in Eccleston Yards, the new restaurant is a co-creation between the duo behind bespoke catering company Tart London – Jemima Jones and Lucy Carr-Ellison – and the founder of Lock Studios, Tom Warren.
From the start, Jones and Carr-Ellison had a very strong vision for what they wanted to create inside the restaurant’s expansive space. “[We wanted it] to look [like] an oasis inside busy Victoria,” they explain. “That feeling of sun-drenched Morocco, [with] deep pink walls. [Somewhere] comfortable, vibey and fun.” However, when they started working with an interior designer, it “didn’t work out. [The designer] wanted to create the space to fit their portfolio.” Instead, the duo ended up creating the restaurant’s interiors themselves, “which was amazing, but very time consuming!”
With this in mind, Jones and Carr-Ellison have created a welcoming, warm atmosphere, filling the restaurant with an abundance of greenery. The building’s original high glass panelled ceiling, which dates back to the 19th century, has been retained to showcase the distinctive arched roof and several skylights. In the day, this unique feature fills the restaurant with natural light, providing a bright, open feeling; meanwhile, in the evening, Jones and Carr-Ellison’s clever lighting choices stop the glass ceiling from feeling dark or imposing.
Across the restaurant, Wild By Tart has a range of different seating options; the long, open kitchen features a bar with counter dining, and there are several communal tables in the centre of main space. Jones and Carr-Ellison have also chosen to incorporate more traditional options for diners who prefer their own tables, bringing in an earthy tone with dark wood and wicker chairs. At the front of the restaurant, there is a lounge area filled with foliage where guests can enjoy a pre-dinner drink; meanwhile, a private dining room lies overhead, looking down on the hustle and bustle of the restaurant from a raised mezzanine.
As well as the main restaurant, Wild By Tart’s Eccleston Yards location is also home to a bar, deli, coffee and juice kiosk, a retail space (where diners can purchase Wild By Tart homeware with designs from Mallorca, Puglia and North Africa), an events space, and a photography studio. An expansive 2000 sq. ft. space, the photography studio is separated from the main restaurant by floor-to-ceiling crittall sliding doors; the ceiling overhead allows for an abundance of natural light, making the studio an ideal location for a range of private events.
Jones and Carr-Ellison have not only created a variety of spaces for their new restaurant, but at Wild By Tart there is also a variety of food options. In the main restaurant, Jones and Carr-Ellison have created a delectable sharing menu, serving nourishing, wholesome food from a seasonally changing menu. Meanwhile, the Wild By Tart deli and kiosk offers breakfast and lunch options, which have been design designed to support ‘modern wellness’. These including several choices of soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods and homemade granolas.
