SEXYFISH

"Spectacular aquatic-themed artworks by Damien Hirst and Los Angeles “starchitect” Frank Gehry are being installed at the opulent seafood brasserie opening in the heart of Mayfair later this month.

Restaurant and clubs tycoon Richard Caring - owner of The Ivy, Le Caprice and 34 - has commissioned the installations for the launch of his Sexy Fish venue on Berkeley Square.

It is believed to be one the most expensive collections of new artworks created for a London restaurant, where early diners are expected to include Kate Moss, Jourdan Dunn and Harry Styles.

Mr Gehry’s works include a 13ft crocodile made from metal wire, glossy black Formica ColourCore and silicone that will dominate the 190-seat dining room in an old NatWest banking hall.

The designer, who was behind the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, has also created 20 of his trademark fish lamps, the most in the world for a single venue. They will hang above the bar in front of a huge internal waterwall. Damien Hirst, said to be the world’s first dollar billionaire artist, has contributed a pair of bronze mermaids that will book-end the bar and a bronze relief of a mermaid alongside a shark.

Other features at the Martin Brudnizki-designed restaurant include a huge ceiling mural created by Michael Roberts, style editor-at-large of Vanity Fair, and what is claimed to be the world’s largest coral reef tank in a basement private room. It holds 15,000 litres of water and will be stocked with 100 species of fish including unicorn tangs and cow fish.

“He wants to bring some fun, life and excitement to this corner of Berkeley Square, with the magic mix of a compelling physical environment, full of lively contemporary art.”

The restaurant, which is estimated to have cost about £15 million to create, has floors of rare Esmeralda onyx marble from Iran.

Sexy Fish will specialise in Asian inspired seafood such as seared yellowfin tuna with dried miso and wood sorrel, but will also have meat dishes such as gochujang and miso lamb cutlets and “old favourites” from other Caring-owned outlets such as crispy duck salad. There is £90 nine-course tasting menu and a £25 two-course lunch menu.

The restaurant is set to open on October 16.

"Winter’s must-have accessory? A silver fish keyring, obviously. At least, it is if you’re a member of London’s elite. This sexy fish is being sent out to special VIPs by, funnily enough, Sexy Fish, the new Berkeley Square restaurant from Caprice Holdings, due to open next month.

Although the company’s other restaurants, such as The Ivy and Scott’s, tend towards exclusivity, Sexy Fish claims it will “appeal not only to the fashionable Mayfair crowd but also a wider audience of food and art lovers”, with an Asian-inspired menu and Damien Hirst artworks.

But some are more likely to get a table than others. The keyring allows holders access to an exclusive booking line — David Walliams, Anna Wintour and Tracey Emin have already received theirs — but staff are already being called by anxious models, actors and politicians hoping their fishy gift is in the post. With so much hype, it is sure to cause friction between those who make it and those who don’t.

“The restaurant has been getting quite a few calls from people ‘just checking’ that they are going to be receiving their keyring,” a Mayfair diner tells us. “Some are even offering to pop in to pick it up if that’s easier.” We do hope the maître d’ is letting them down gently.

The Londoner is yet to receive one.Still, at least we’re not the only ones being snubbed: Emin is top of the list but she may be disappointed not to have helped with the decorating: she contributed art works for 34 on Grosvenor Square but this time they’ve gone with Hirst. That’s what you call a slap in the face with a..." -Evening Standard