41 And 42, King Street Wc2

This restaurant and office building, originally drapers premises, was built in 1877 by Henry Clutton for the Duke of Bedford’s estate. The builders were Cubitt and Co, with the interior designed by C F Hayward under Clutton’s supervision. The building is constructed of red brick in English bond, with Portland stone dressings. It has a Mansard slate roof with brick and stone chimneystacks. The structure comprises four storeys and attics with a basement, featuring three windows. The attic has three dormers with casements, curved pediments, and console brackets connected by stone balustrading. A deep modillion eaves cornice is present. The upper floors have sash windows with verticals only and horns (the top half of the verticals only extends to the second and third floors), incorporating triglyph decoration, moulded architraves, and cast iron flower guards on the second and third floors. A stone balconette with balustrading is located on the first floor. Stone bands delineate each floor. The ground floor is rusticated, with a central elliptical arched opening containing a shopfront, flanked by doorcases with pediments, rectangular fanlights, and four-panelled double doors. No. 42 features stained glass oculi, while No. 41 has latticework.

Inside, a curved staircase with cast iron balusters has either been reordered or is an import. Above this is a timber well staircase with twisted balusters. Cast iron columns remain. The first floor retains two original fireplaces, two glazed screens, cornices, and ceiling roses from the drapers' premises. A cast iron firegrate is found on the second floor. This building is one of six erected between 1876 and 1890 for the Duke of Bedford in Covent Garden, designed under the supervision of Henry Clutton, who was the estate’s consultant architect.