Albion & East, the Imbiba-backed restaurant and bar group behind Martello Hall in Hackney and Canova Hall in Brixton, is to open a casual Italian café and bar, Cattivo, this autumn in Brixton, South West London.
Opening October, on the site that was previously Cabana on Ferndale Road, Cattivo will be the group's second opening in Brixton and will precede the launch of Serata Hall, which will open at The Bower, Old Street (early 2019). Located adjacent to sister site Canova Hall, Cattivo will comprise of a laid-back Italian style café at street level, with a decadent subterranean cocktail bar below.
Cattivo will be the first concept of its type from the Albion & East team, offering a departure from the popular voluminous all-day dining model occupied by Martello, Canova and Serata Halls.
Expanding upon the group’s Italian-American culinary influence, Cattivo will provide a strong focus on Southern Italian small plates with home-cooked ragu, meatballs and filled pasta taking centre stage.
Drinks programming will see Albion & East further develop the onsite gin distillery themes from sister venues by introducing speciality gin blending and cocktail masterclasses, as well as entertainment every night. With a late license on Fridays and Saturdays, Cattivo will cater for a variety of private dining and events.
Cattivo will host an eclectic mix of nightly changing shows and activities, with an emphasis on experiential event led activity. These include a ‘dinner and a show’ package featuring cabaret, jazz, circus performers and magic, complementing a showtime brunch available weekends. The Liquor Club will invite guests to bring their own liquor and have the drinks experts mix and create different cocktails across a 2-hour sitting.
Albion & East Managing Director, Sarah Weir, said, “We’re super excited to introduce Cattivo to the vibrant Brixton neighbourhood. It complements our sister bar Canova Hall but offers something different and continues to add to the energetic Brixton night life and restaurant scene.”
Backed by Imbiba, specialist investors in the UK hospitality market, Martello Hall opened in December 2016, followed by Canova Hall in May 2017, with their third project, Serata Hall within The Bower development at Old Street set to open early 2019.