Fortess Road’s note-perfect traditional French bistro, Patron, has long been a favourite of locals and as a reoccurring destination for food adventurers from further afield. it’s no surprise they’ve launched something new, Patron Next Door, and we have the first photos of how it looks inside to share with you.
A few years ago, they took over a small newsagent on the same strip to create Tabac, a très romantique wine bar that does it better than many in Paris.
But for a long time, they have wanted a little more room. And this week, after a painstaking design process which the owners handled fully in-house, we got a first look inside Patron Next Door, an additional dining space with a secret speakeasy bar and a lovely, atmospheric garden.
Though you’d scarcely believe it today, until recently this was a vape shop, complete with strip lighting and shelves of questionable multi-coloured liquids.
But when the Patron team took over and knocked away at the plasterboard, its original function as a butcher’s shop was revealed, including original tiling and iron rails for meat hanging on the ceiling.
The finished space adds more tables and booth seating for Patron’s diners, while also easily transforming into a promising private hire space for parties and events.
“There’ll be a big table in this spot for larger groups,” owner Tanzi tells us, as we snap the above photo.
The garden may need to wait until 2023 to have its full potential realised, but Tanzi suggests it could have a hatch serving oysters as well as a uniquely NW5 setting amongst towering Victorian industrial buildings, original shops, houses and their back yards all around.
“Diners always want to stay on for drinks after their meals,” says Tanzi of the Patron clientele, “but we’ve previously often had to tell them that we need the table back at a certain time. Now we can simply usher them through into this little room, where they can comfortably stay until we close.”
Locals will be amused to spot that the bar in this room is a piece from Camden Market’s former wildly Babylonian themed mega-restaurant, Gilgamesh.
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“I’ve been experimenting with – and obviously testing out – all the Martinis,” beams Tanzi. “We’ve gone for some unusual eu de vie infusions, like truffle, asparagus or our own lavender, which we’re growing here in the garden.”
Overall, even before we’ve seen it full and lively of a winter’s evening, Patron Next Door looks well on course to keep the high standards and important little touches that have made the neighbouring restaurant and Tabac wine bar such popular spots.
It joins the established speakeasy venues nearby, Knowhere Special and Ladies & Gentlemen, to add to Kentish Town’s enviable list of quality cocktail haunts.
Patron Next Door is now open at 24 Fortess Road, NW5 2HB
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