George Bukhov and Ilya Demechev of the hedonistic house of Goodman (Burger & Lobster, Beast, Goodman, Zelman Meats) contacted Archer Humphryes in 2019 to create a new concept for a neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Chelsea. The location was a former pub and the timeline was immediate. Our team worked closely with the duo to create an atmospheric Italian with sparkles of luxury in a humble rustic recreation in the former pub – where local residents are happy to order expensive wine in their pyjamas mid-week. At the heart of the restaurant is a flaring pizza oven that dominates the spatial planning. Curved banquettes in ‘ dusty pink’ and terracotta velvets give a soft sumptuous feeling – to settle you in for a long evening. The dining chairs and tables are hydraulically controlled to prevent rocking on the rustic reclaimed tiled floor. Furniture is robust and unpretentious with nail details and hessian fabrics – keeping it the ‘tavern’ idea authentic. Awnings in rustic Italian Red create the exterior identity on Chelsea Green

Giles Coren fantastically reviewed the eatery for The Sunday Times in March the week before the pandemic lockdown. “And so, to Wild Tavern in Chelsea, one of the best new restaurants I’ve been to in a while. It’s a nicely put together space – from the ancient terracotta floor tiles to the handblown, bum-shaped pendant lights– from the brilliant Russian guys behind the Goodman steakhouses and Burger & Lobster chains. This is very much a one-off though, a restaurant focused almost exclusively on wild (and thus very expensive) ingredients, left pretty much to themselves.” He continues.” Yes, I’m sold on this one. They’ve got old tiles, lamps like bums and they just take top-quality wild stuff and do very little to it. It’s all I ask for in a restaurant and if we’re all still here come post lockdown, this is where you’ll find me.”