Damien Hirst’s new restaurant, Pharmacy 2, located at Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall has opened in collaboration with Mark Hix, celebrated Chef behind HIX restaurants.

Newport Street Gallery is the result of Hirst’s long term ambition to share his art collection with the public. While the gallery will continue to host exhibitions of other artists’ work, Pharmacy 2 gives visitors the opportunity to view some of Hirst’s own art, which reflects his interest in science, through medicine and pharmaceuticals. It features works such as the Medicine Cabinets, the butterfly Kaleidoscope paintings, glass windows depicting DNA strands and a bar that incorporates a stainless steel and glass vitrine. Individually crafted pill designs are enclosed into the marble floor as well as decorated onto the leather banquettes. The restaurant’s name is a reference both to the artist’s seminal installation piece of 1992 and the renowned Hirst designed Notting Hill Restaurant, Pharmacy Restaurant & Bar, which was open between 1998 and 2003.

“Pharmacy 2 combines two of my greatest passions; art and food. I’ve always loved Mark as a chef and his approach to food, so it’s great we’re working together on this.” – Damien Hirst

Above Right: Shaved winter squash with Trevisano and Graceburn cheese.
Above Left: Crushed avocado on toast with chilli

The menu reflects Hix and Hirst’s shared passion for quality food made from fresh ingredients. The restaurant serves classic British and European food, catering for visitors to the exhibitions throughout the day, and evening diners when the gallery is closed.

What to order

Highlights include: Brick a l’oeuf de carnard with harissa; Shaved winter squash with treviso and Graceburn cheese; Crispy squid with green chilli, garlic and almonds; Mark’s interpretation of the traditional German dish, ‘Heaven and Earth’; Reg Johnson’s duck curry with basmati rice; Soft white polenta with a Burford Brown egg yolk and shaved Wiltshire truffles; Pineapple upside-down cake; and poached Yorkshire rhubarb with saffron ice cream.

“Damien and I have been friends for many years, sharing a love of food and art. Damien designed a formaldehyde ‘Cock and Bull’ for my restaurant Tramshed so it makes sense for me to exchange my skills by creating the menus at Pharmacy 2.” – Mark Hix

Newport Street Gallery, Newport Street London, SE11 6AJ

© 2H Restaurant Ltd. All rights reserved, 2016