The Pawn in Wan Chai will close for 2 months to unveil a brand new concept in October (UPDATED)

UPDATE: Some clarification from a representative from the Press Room Group: the upcoming venue opening will be temporarily shutting down until October, and will have a new interior, a new menu and  a new executive chef but the building and the name will remain the same. The new concept by Tom Aikens will still be part of the Press Room Group. So in short, a completely revamped Pawn will be revealed after 2 months of renovation! Sorry for the confusion. 

Original article below:

The Pawn on 62 Johnson Road, will bid adieu after six years, a much-loved beacon for preserving the city’s heritage in a town notorious for knocking down the cherished old to make way for the shiny, soulless new. Regulars to the British-style gastropub have until July 24th to savour the kitchen’s seafood pies, full English fry-ups featuring homemade sausages and organic plum crumble while tears stream down their faces.  

The venue was the third venture by the Press Room Group, the dining company behind The Press Room in Hollywood Road, the Classified cheese room and restaurant chain, Duddell’s in Central and more.

When The Pawn debuted in 2008 it became an instant hit, a success that put the trio founders Alan Lo, Paolo Pong and Arnold Wong on the global map, for achieving a rare feat: transforming a local heritage site into a dining concept that also became a revered city landmark. On its whirlwind success, Lo told The Reserve Asia magazine last year: “Nothing like that was done before.” Aside from accruing many accolades, the property became frequently cited in guidebooks and media around the world as a must-see dining destination, which explains its strong following amongst tourists and residents alike. The restaurant entrepreneur often told the media that the venue was his most proudest achievement in his culinary career.

The three-storey premises, with its colonial exterior and pawn-shop facade (the space was formerly Woo Cheong Pawn Shop), was more widely praised for its design than food, courtesy of local artist and movie director Stanley Wong who tastefully revamped the 19th century building. Hongkongers will be sure to miss the alfresco dining on the rooftop or sipping cocktails by the balconies that overlook the hustle and bustle of Wan Chai. The restaurant was also credited for turning the area once devoid of much into a hip dining destination, a neighbourhood that is now home to a cluster of high-cuisine venues, including the triple Michelin-starred Bo Innovation, also on Johnston Road.

The space will be reincarnated into “a brand new concept” slated to open in October this year, by multi-Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens from Britain, according to the restaurant’s press release announcement yesterday.

A representative for the dining group did not answer queries on whether low sales or rent rises have driven the Pawn to its final chapter but gave a mysterious, evasive answer instead: “As you may know Press Room Group always look for innovative ideas, and with the great opportunity with Tom Aikens, we would like to surprise the public with a different look of The Pawn.”

Fans who will be nostalgic of the gastropub can purchase a piece of restaurant: true to its origin, on July 26th and 27th the operation will be pawning off its interior pieces, kitchenware and more; 20 percent of sales will be go to anti-slavery charity Liberty Asia.

Photo: The Pawn website



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