The Hive by Wild Honey opens at Sofitel London St James
The Hive by Wild Honey has officially opened within Sofitel London St James, marking the latest evolution of Anthony Demetre’s Michelin-starred Wild Honey St James.
Designed as a more personal extension of Anthony’s culinary identity, the new restaurant brought together food, art and culture in a refined dining room created by designer Jim Hamilton.
The space is anchored by a striking central table featuring hexagonal motifs, referencing the building’s former life as the headquarters of Lloyds Bank, whose 1765 emblem included a beehive.
Artwork curated for the room includes a bespoke piece by artist Eleanor Carlingford, while books line the shelves to give guests a sense of warmth and informality. A small lounge provides a relaxed area for pre-dinner drinks.
About Anthony
Anthony Demetre didn't originally plan on being a chef.
When he was 19, he signed up for the Fleet Air Arm division of the Royal Navy. However, he was unable to join due to recurring knee dislocations from playing rugby at school, and thus had to look for a career elsewhere.
Having always had a love for food and cooking, he went to Shaun Hill of Hill’s Restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon for advice. Even though Hill's restaurant was on the verge of closing down and he only worked there for one day, it was all the inspiration he needed to become a chef.
Read more: 1 Michelin Star Chefs: Anthony Demetre, chef owner, Wild Honey St James
Anthony's culinary career truly started at Lucknam Park in Wiltshire, before he moved on to The Castle in Taunton.
After that, he worked at The Greenhouse in Mayfair before his next move took him to The Four Seasons Hotel in London. He worked there under head chef Bruno Loubet for three years before leaving to join Loubet for the launch of his restaurant Bistro Bruno in Soho, as well as L'Odéon on Regent Street.
In October 2018, Anthony opened Vermuteria, in the new Coal Drops Yard development in King's Cross.
The chef co-owns the café and bar, which - as its name indicates - offers a vast selection of European Vermouths,
as well a select menu prepared using produce from respected suppliers.
Wild Honey's Mayfair site closed early in 2019 to reopen at Sofitel London as Wild Honey St James.
In 2021, Anthony joined the team at The Crossing (formerly The Tree House) in Barnes as a consultant chef, working with head chef Alessandro Carulli to create a menu which reflects his style.
After two years of tumult for the hospitality industry, Wild Honey St James was awarded a star in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland 2022.
A menu shaped by the hotel’s rooftop hives
True to its name, The Hive by Wild Honey makes use of honey harvested from the hotel’s rooftop beehives. Anthony has incorporated the honey across the menu in a way that complements his familiar style: modern European dishes rooted in British produce, elevated with classical French technique.
As with Wild Honey St James, the menu is ingredient-led and shifts with the seasons. New dishes introduced for the opening include Isle of Orkney hand-dived scallop with white vermouth, XO sauce and sea herb salad; Scottish hare royale; grilled rare breed sirloin of beef with crisp Anna potatoes, salsify and bordelaise sauce; and Lancashire cheese farinette with heritage beetroot, crab apple and preserved pine cone.
A continuation of Anthony Demetre’s bistronomy legacy
The Hive by Wild Honey joins Wild Honey St James and the Bistrot at Wild Honey as part of Anthony’s growing family of restaurants. Widely known for helping shape modern London bistronomy, Anthony has remained committed to authenticity, simplicity and responsible sourcing. Sustainability, low-waste principles and farm-to-table practices continue to underpin his work.
Anthony said: “The Hive by Wild Honey represented many of the things I love about hospitality; warmth, generosity and a connection to nature. I wanted to create a space that had the spirit of Wild Honey St James but with its own identity and on a more personal level.”
The restaurant is now open at Sofitel London St James.
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The Hive by Wild Honey opens at Sofitel London St James
