In conversation with designer Russell Sage, of Russell Sage Studio.
When you step through the doors of Lilibet’s, the elegant new restaurant in Mayfair, it feels as if you’ve been transported to another era, one where glamour, grace and impeccable craftsmanship reign supreme. The site has been re-envisioned, by restaurateur Ross Shonhan, and brought to life by Russell Sage Studio.
Russell Sage and his team are renowned for designing evocative, story-led interiors, from storied members’ clubs to historic hotels.
“Ross wanted an interior design practice that could tell a story, one that understood British luxury and could reimagine what life might have been like for Elizabeth before she became Queen,” says Russell.
“It wasn’t about falling back on what we know of her later life, but about asking, what if. What if she remained in that townhouse, surrounded by the fashions and finery of 1930s Mayfair”
Photographer Sim Canetty-Clarke
To create this imagined world, the Russell Sage Studio team immersed themselves in the design and society of the inter-war years. They looked to icons such as Nancy Lancaster, and Norman Hartnell, drawing inspiration from an era defined by refined glamour and quiet confidence.
“We researched the colours and materials that truly spoke to the 1920s and 1930s,” explains Russell.
“Brands like Asprey were producing extraordinary, opulent pieces in shagreen and soft, jewel-toned hues. We wanted the palette to echo that understated luxury - rich yet restrained, elegant without shouting.”
The result is a space that feels both intimate and theatrical: floral fabrics, sumptuous upholstery, and layered lighting. Across the dining rooms, each seating area is distinct, no two banquettes are alike, reflecting the restaurant’s residential feel and the spirit of a private townhouse.
Tatler describes the building as “a shiny new fixture just around the corner from the Hermès boutique on Bond Street… underneath a scalloped awning, … the doorway feels unmistakably like the entrance to a London townhouse.”
From the outset, George Smith was the natural choice for the upholstery.
“If you’re going to reach this level of luxury,” Russell recalls telling Ross, “there is only George Smith.”
The collaboration saw over a dozen unique banquette styles produced, each trimmed and upholstered with exacting precision. Every detail was reviewed repeatedly to achieve the perfect balance of comfort and refinement.
“We had around twelve different banquettes, each with its own design and five different trims,” says Leila from the Russell Sage design team. “It was incredibly complex, but working with George Smith gave us total confidence - every piece was made and checked to perfection.”
Lilibet’s has already captured hearts across London, but most telling are the loyal guests who return again and again.
“Some restaurants come and go, but this one is here to stay, it is a future classic,” says Russell. Tatler also noted: “Once we have eaten our fill … we still linger, reluctant to leave the honeyed golden low-lights, the flickering fire, the sensation that all is right with the world. It feels elegant and easy, warm, homely and oh so English.”
From its opening, the restaurant has been quietly discovered rather than loudly launched, allowing guests to fall in love with it organically. As Russell puts it, “We always hoped it would become people’s favourite place, somewhere you could go for a celebration or just because it feels good to be there.”
