Celebrating 125 years of J. Sheekey

Few London restaurants are as old as J. Sheekey. This year, Covent Garden’s celeb-hewn seafood hangout is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

After seeing off the world’s latest woeful distraction – after two world wars and various other challenges, the pandemic – the restaurant is still shucking oysters and turning tables. 

We caught up with Caprice Holdings’ chef director Tim Hughes to find out what J. Sheekey has in store as it gets post-lockdown dining underway. More fish pie, we hope.

It’s a huge milestone, what does 125 years mean for J. Sheekey?

We’re very excited to be celebrating our 125th anniversary this year with a fresh new look and special menu items. We were established in Covent Garden in the 1890s, so we have a lot of history and it’s brilliant to see J. Sheekey is still here in the heart of theatreland.

What are some highlights over the years? Any quirky, fun anecdotes from guests past? 

We’ve been serving theatre-goers, cast members, with the finest seafood and shellfish from our home in St Martin’s Court for many years now. Our former maître d’, the late John Andrews, was famed for being able to recognise our regular guests instantly, always remembering to seat them at their favourite table and memorising their dish, champagne and cocktail preferences. It’s these little touches that have made the J. Sheekey experience so special.

We often have guests commenting on their photos on the walls at J. Sheekey. Some even request to sit next to their black and white framed portraits when dining in the restaurant.

Are you as busy as ever? How have you navigated the pandemic? 

It was a brilliant feeling to open the doors to J. Sheekey following the most recent lockdown, and to be reunited with our guests and team members. It felt good to be around people again. 

We used the time to carry out a refurbishment of the restaurant, and since re-opening on Monday 21 June, we have been busy. As theatres and opera houses return, we look forward to welcoming tourists and visitors to London back to Covent Garden.

What does J. Sheekey bring to London that others don’t? 

We’re a timeless classic – a unique and beautiful restaurant. 

What’s next – any bold plans for the future? Any big changes afoot? 

The restaurant has recently undergone an extensive renovation, including a new crustacean bar and fully ‘winterised’ terrace which can be enjoyed no matter the weather with a retractable roof. 

We also have new Asian-inspired influences on our menu including mixed sashimi with wasabi and pickled ginger, ceviche, and yellowfin tuna tartare.

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