Two minutes with Smith & Willis, Johnny Smith and Daniel Willis.
What are the key qualities that characterise all Smith & Willis restaurants?
All Smith & Willis restaurants are - or will be - places which are Built to Last & Committed to Craft. We want to run places people love, with some of the greatest culinary minds in the industry.
Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect to see happening at The Loft?
The Loft is our studio space above LUCA, designed by Johnny in collaboration with Vitra. By day, it serves as the head office for Smith and Willis; by night, it transforms into an event space. It is a space designed not only for creativity but for shared experience; a place to experiment with new ideas that bring people together in a striking setting.
After two decades in the industry, what is the most important lesson you've learnt about hospitality?
The importance of relationships. Not just between each other or ourselves and the people we work with, but also with our suppliers, likeminded collaborators and - of course - our guests.