Celebrating 30 years of the era that put London at the centre of British culture, The Ivy invites guests to revisit the nineties with a new menu featuring the return of its legendary Bang Bang Chicken
Thirty years after Cool Britannia captured the mood of a generation, The Ivy Collection’s central London restaurants are turning back the clock with a limited-edition Cool Britannia Menu, celebrating the food, music, fashion and unmistakable confidence of the 1990s. Available Sunday to Friday for lunch, and now for pre-booked dinner reservations, guests can enjoy two courses for £19.96, in a playful nod to a defining year for the era.
From Britpop and the Young British Artists to era-defining fashion and a new wave of British film, London was at the heart of the cultural renaissance that became known as Cool Britannia. Three decades later, its influence is firmly back in the spotlight, as a new generation rediscovers the music, style and cultural confidence of the nineties.
The Ivy has its own connection to the era. Throughout the decade, The Original Ivy on West Street was a celebrated meeting place for the actors, musicians, artists, designers and media figures shaping London’s cultural scene. The new menu draws on that heritage, revisiting familiar flavours and much-loved dishes through an Ivy lens.
To begin, guests can choose the comforting Onion Soup, topped with gratinated cheese croutons and parsley; Smoked Mackerel Mousse, served with pickled fennel and toasted granary bread; or Shredded Duck with Capers, accompanied by gherkins, soft herb dressing, lamb’s lettuce and toasted bloomer.
Also making a fitting return is Bang Bang Chicken, served with cucumber, peanuts, sesame and chilli. First introduced at The Ivy during the 1990s, the dish became one of the restaurant’s most talked-about favourites, with guests famously clamouring for its return when it disappeared from the menu. Three decades later, its appearance on the Cool Britannia Menu offers a genuine taste of The Ivy in the nineties.
For mains, the 90’s Coconut Curry combines sweet potato, spinach, broccoli, sun-blushed tomatoes and lemongrass with crispy lotus root and aromatic rice. The Minute Steak and Chips is served with peppercorn sauce, onions and watercress (£4.95 supplement), while Pan-roasted Sea Bream comes with shaved fennel and a roasted red pepper and Calabrian chilli sauce.
Completing the selection is The British Banger, pairing hand-rolled Cumberland sausage with mashed potato, red wine, crispy onions, pink peppercorns and parsley – a playful celebration of a British classic.
Desserts are available for an additional £8.95, continuing the nostalgic spirit with Bittersweet Frozen Berries, served with yoghurt sorbet and white chocolate sauce; Doughnuts After Dark, with pumpkin-spiced doughnuts, dark chocolate sauce and citrus yoghurt; and Best of British Mature Cheddar, accompanied by crackers, apple and celery. Guests can also opt for the Black Velvet Fudge Parfait, combining Guinness-infused fudge with dark chocolate mousse, vanilla ice cream and milk foam (£1.95 supplement).
To toast to the era, The Ivy has partnered with Cointreau to create two limited-edition cocktails inspired by the music and cultural icons that defined Cool Britannia. The Champagne Supernova (£12.50) combines Cointreau, cherry and lemon, topped with Champagne, while the Spice Girls (£13.50) brings together Cointreau Spicy, The Botanist gin, rhubarb, hot honey and cranberry for a playful nod to the decade.
Mark Askew, Group Executive Chef at The Ivy Collection, says:
“The nineties were a brilliant period for food in London. Diners were becoming more adventurous and embracing flavours from around the world, while there was still a real affection for generous, familiar dishes and British classics. That’s something we’ve had a lot of fun revisiting with this menu. Bringing Bang Bang Chicken back feels particularly fitting – it first became an Ivy favourite during the nineties and is a dish guests still remember today. Alongside it, we’ve taken familiar flavours from the era and given them an Ivy twist, creating a menu that feels nostalgic without simply recreating the past.”
Whether revisiting the decade over lunch or making an evening of it, the Cool Britannia Menu is available Sunday to Friday at participating London restaurants. Lunch is available in line with the existing Cool Britannia offering, while dinner is available exclusively to guests who book the menu in advance via OpenTable or The Ivy website.
Guests are invited to book a table [here]. The menu is priced at £19.96 for two courses, with dessert available for an additional £8.95.
