Wright Brothers Transform a Tobacco Factory into Covent Garden's New Seafood Destination

Wright Brothers, renowned for their premium seafood, are set to elevate Covent Garden's gastronomic landscape with their latest venture. Opening on 28th November, the restaurant finds its home in a former tobacco factory where Great Queen Street intersects with Drury Lane. Founders Ben Wright and Robin Hancock, who began their journey as oyster merchants in 2002, have since built one of the UK's largest seafood supply chains. Their new establishment promises a menu that marries British and European catches with Mediterranean sensibility.

In the kitchen, expect a masterclass in seafood innovation. Dishes like butter-grilled oysters adorned with black winter truffle and ink-braised cuttlefish with sea aster reveal a deep respect for both ingredient and technique. Blue belly shrimps come alive with citrus and jalapeño, while a winter leaf salad gains complexity from bottarga, pecorino, and pine nuts. The signature ink-braised cuttlefish stands out, a dish that encapsulates the restaurant's ethos of quality and creativity.

For those who prefer a bounty of the sea, the fruit de mer platters deliver. Whole Devon crab, Atlantic prawns, clams, mussels, and whelks are piled high, each element a testament to the Wright Brothers' sourcing prowess. Oysters, sourced from the finest beds in the UK, Ireland, and France, are a highlight, and dessert defies convention with an oyster gelato, enriched by olive oil and caviar — a daring finale to a seafood feast.

The room, designed by PNW Studio, reflects the restaurant's maritime theme with teal leather banquettes and dark panelling. Café curtains and fluted wood accentuate the building's historic columns, preserving the site's legacy while creating a contemporary dining environment. At the heart of the space lies a scallop-tiled bar, behind which a seafood display and high counter seating offer a front-row view of the oyster shucking. Jonathan Waights' hand-painted mural tiles and Dan Whiteson's marine artworks further infuse the space with artistic sensibility.

Wright Brothers' new opening is a testament to their enduring commitment to quality and innovation in the London dining scene. The careful balance of old and new, history and modernity, speaks to a discerning audience eager for authenticity. Ensure a seat at the bar to experience the theatre of oyster preparation firsthand, and don't miss the ink-braised cuttlefish — it's as much an artistic statement as a gastronomic one.