Mr Lyan returns to East London with Seed Library at One Hundred Shoreditch
AWARD-WINNING BARTENDER MR LYAN RETURNS TO EAST LONDON WITH THE OPENING OF SEED LIBRARY, A LO-FI COCKTAIL BAR AT ONE HUNDRED SHOREDITCH
The acclaimed and multi-award-winning Mr Lyan has announced the opening of a new cocktail bar, Seed Library, located at East London’s newest hotel, this March. Opening at the beginning of the month, it marks a return for Mr Lyan and his team to East London, an area with which Mr Lyan has had a special relationship since the opening of his first bar, White Lyan, in 2013. Located in the basement of One Hundred Shoreditch, the bar will have a lo-fi, analogue approach to bartending.
Seed Library will be overseen by Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, along with the group’s global brand director Alex Lawrence, whilst day-to-day operations will be run by general manager Stevie Kane and head bartender Dan Garnell. Both Stevie and Dan have worked in Lyan venues previously, including Cub and Lyaness respectively, alongside other acclaimed cocktail bars in London and across Europe. Together they will bring the irreverent and welcoming brand of Lyan hospitality to Seed Library for which Ryan’s bars are well known.
The bar will have a relaxed, neighbourhood feel, with walk-ins encouraged. Designed by Lore Group Creative Director Jacu Strauss, the interiors feature panelled wood and bespoke furniture upholstered in orange and red tones with an eclectic, warm soundtrack to provide a sanctuary from the bustle of Shoreditch High Street above. In contrast to the progressive and philosophy-led ethos of the group’s award-winning bar Lyaness, the venue’s drinks programme will focus on a more ‘lo-fi, analogue’ approach to cocktail making.
The Seed Library name and its stripped back approach are both inspired by the origins of classic cocktails and the stories and knowledge held within alternative flavour sources. Alongside a short, frequently changing list featuring new takes on classic mixed drinks, the bar will also feature a curated list of low-intervention wines alongside a diverse range of beers from craft brewers. The food menu will offer sharing snacks and seasonal picks, including guest dishes from a rotating collection of friends from both East London and further afield.
Ryan comments;
“Seed Library marks our return to East London – which has been home to the Lyan team since the brand’s inception a decade ago. The project is really exciting for us too as it provides the opportunity to explore a totally different facet of our philosophy – giving a creative route for the team and I to really challenge ourselves and the Western approach to bartending, and to create a bar that is very much reflective of the spaces where we’d want to hang out!
A short selection of drinks from Seed Library’s launch menu can be found below: Curry Leaf Stonefence Using the herbal aromatics of curry leaf to highlight the greener side of a white rum and small batch Perry mix to create a more golden profile to the cocktail Perilla Gin & Tonic Pulling out the bitter sweet profile of the global favourite, but using perilla seed to add a greener, nutty note to contrast.
Served lo-ball style to change the trajectory of the cocktail, it’s a balance of complex and easy drinking Sancho Leaf Martini In lieu of the classic olive or citrus zest, we are using the floral-spiced citrus profile of szechuan leaf to contrast with a combination of very cold gin or vodka, and a complimentary vermouth.
Image Credit: CAITLIN ISOLA
@seedlibraryshoreditch