Dining reflections with the blinds down
Doorman David Fennell sitting at the bar with blinds down at The Wolseley, London (2017) | Photography by Dearing & Flynn.
We will meet again, and when we do, may our meeting place be where we always had a fondness for, with all the warmth, nourishment and vibrant personalities involved in creating the dynamic spaces we often spent our time. These places were there for us every day, closed momentarily until the next morning, the life of a restaurant begins its cycle again.London, May 2020.
How is our dining culture going to look like in the future?
As restaurant establishments manage this downtime assessing, creating new initiatives and plans for their return, it is brought to our attention by our friend, The Artful Eater, a photograph from his archives reflecting an event from the past, echoing presently, considerably louder.
In 2017, the doors of The Wolseley were temporarily closed for a kitchen refurbishment. The blinds unusually down during the day, doorman David Fennell is photographed sitting alone at the bar. A rare, solitary moment captured in what usually is one of the most lively, landmark dining spaces in London and continued so when they returned.
Abruptly, earlier this year in March 2020, temporary closures were imposed on businesses.
Reflecting back on the photograph, its relevance reappears, adding complex meanings to the words – ‘closed until further notice’. While the industry is navigating through a challenging passage towards a reconstructed future, this photograph now shares two stories of significance in The Wolseley's operational history.
In this moment of pause, sitting in a room with the blinds down, we have a great deal to consider.
The Wolseley, London (2017) | Photography by Dearing & Flynn